PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1795, 1904, 1992         PRINTER'S NO. 2037

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 1346 Session of 1986


        INTRODUCED BY HELFRICK, O'PAKE, MADIGAN, ROSS, STAPLETON AND
           SHUMAKER, JANUARY 29, 1986

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, APRIL 15, 1986

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for identification, POSSESSION AND UNLAWFUL USE of      <--
     2     shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy cases, egg baskets,
     3     poultry boxes, bakery trays and bakery baskets and for their   <--
     4     illegal use; providing a penalty for unlawful possession of
     5     shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy cases, egg baskets,
     6     poultry boxes, bakery trays and bakery baskets; requiring
     7     bills of lading when transporting dairy cases, egg baskets,
     8     poultry boxes, bakery trays and bakery baskets; providing
     9     criteria for the unlawful removal of dairy cases; providing
    10     for designation of owners of egg baskets and poultry boxes;
    11     providing for the unlawful removal of egg baskets and poultry
    12     boxes; providing criteria for the illegal use of shopping
    13     carts and laundry carts; providing for the effect of
    14     deposits; providing a penalty; and providing for the scope of
    15     this act.; AND PROVIDING A PENALTY.                            <--

    16                         TABLE OF CONTENTS
    17  Section 1.  Short title.
    18  Section 2.  Definitions.
    19  Section 3.  Illegal use of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry      <--
    20                 boxes, bakery trays or bakery baskets.
    21                 USE OF CONTAINERS.                                 <--
    22  Section 4.  Possession of shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy    <--
    23                 cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, bakery trays
    24                 or bakery baskets. OR CONTAINERS.                  <--

     1  Section 5.  Transportation of dairy cases, egg baskets,           <--
     2                 poultry boxes, bakery trays and bakery baskets
     3                 CONTAINERS; bill of lading.                        <--
     4  Section 6.  Unlawful removal of dairy cases, bakery trays or      <--
     5                 bakery baskets. CONTAINERS.                        <--
     6  Section 7.  Egg baskets; designation of owner.                    <--
     7  Section 8.  Poultry boxes; designation of owners.
     8  Section 9.  Unlawful removal of egg baskets and poultry boxes.
     9  Section 10 7.  Illegal use of shopping carts and laundry carts.   <--
    10  Section 11 8.  Deposits.                                          <--
    11  Section 12 9.  Penalty.                                           <--
    12  Section 13 10.  Scope of act.                                     <--
    13  Section 14 11.  Initial period for return.                        <--
    14  Section 15 12.  Effective date.                                   <--
    15     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    16  hereby enacts as follows:
    17  Section 1.  Short title.
    18     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Carts, Cases,
    19  Trays, Baskets and Boxes Act.
    20  Section 2.  Definitions.
    21     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    22  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    23  context clearly indicates otherwise:
    24     "Bakery basket."  A wire or plastic container which holds
    25  bread or other baked goods and is used by a distributor or
    26  retailer, or his agent, as a means to transport, store or carry
    27  bakery products.
    28     "Bakery tray."  A wire or plastic container which holds bread
    29  or other baked goods and is used by a distributor or retailer,
    30  or his agent, as a means to transport, store or carry bakery
    19860S1346B2037                  - 2 -

     1  products.
     2     "CONTAINER."  A BAKERY BASKET, BAKERY TRAY, DAIRY CASE, OR     <--
     3  EGG BASKET OR POULTRY BOX.
     4     "Dairy case."  A wire or plastic container which holds 16
     5  quarts or more of beverage and is used by distributors or
     6  retailers, or their agents, as a means to transport, store or
     7  carry dairy products.
     8     "Department."  The Department of Agriculture of the            <--
     9  Commonwealth.
    10     "Egg basket."  Any permanent type of container which contains
    11  four dozen or more shell eggs and is used by distributors or
    12  retailers, or their agents, as a means to transport, store or
    13  carry eggs.
    14     "Laundry cart."  A basket which is mounted on wheels and used
    15  in a coin-operated laundry or drycleaning establishment by a
    16  customer or an attendant for the purpose of transporting laundry
    17  and laundry supplies.
    18     "Name" or "mark."  Any permanently affixed or permanently
    19  stamped name or mark which is used for the purpose of
    20  identifying the owner of shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy
    21  cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, bakery trays or bakery boxes.
    22     "Parking area."  A lot or other property provided by a retail
    23  establishment for the use of customers to park automobiles or
    24  other vehicles while doing business in that establishment.
    25     "Poultry box."  Any permanent type of container which is used
    26  by processors, distributors, retailers or food service
    27  establishments, or their agents, as a means to transport, store
    28  or carry poultry.
    29     "Shopping cart."  A basket which is mounted on wheels, or a
    30  similar device, generally used in a retail establishment by a
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     1  customer for the purpose of transporting goods of any kind.
     2  Section 3.  Illegal use of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry      <--
     3                 boxes, bakery trays or bakery baskets. USE OF      <--
     4                 CONTAINERS.
     5     (A)  GENERAL RULE.--A PERSON OWNING SHOPPING CARTS, LAUNDRY
     6  CARTS OR CONTAINERS MAY ADOPT AND USE A NAME OR MARK ON THE
     7  CARTS OR CONTAINERS.
     8     (B)  PROHIBITED USES.--No person, other than the owner of
     9  such name or mark, shall use for any purpose any container which
    10  is identified with or by any name or mark UNLESS AUTHORIZED TO    <--
    11  DO SO BY THE OWNER. No person shall deface, obliterate, destroy,
    12  cover up or otherwise remove or conceal any such name or mark
    13  without the written consent of the owner.
    14  Section 4.  Possession of shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy    <--
    15                 cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, bakery trays
    16                 or bakery baskets. OR CONTAINERS.                  <--
    17     Any person who is in possession of any shopping cart, laundry
    18  cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, bakery tray or bakery  <--
    19  basket OR CONTAINER with a name or mark shall be presumed to be   <--
    20  in possession of stolen property. and commits a summary offense   <--
    21  and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not
    22  exceeding $300 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90
    23  days.
    24  Section 5.  Transportation of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry   <--
    25                 boxes, bakery trays and bakery baskets
    26                 CONTAINERS; bill of lading.                        <--
    27     It shall be unlawful for any common carrier or private
    28  carrier for hire, except those engaged in the transporting of
    29  dairy products, eggs and poultry to and from farms where they
    30  are produced, to receive or transport any container marked with
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     1  a name or mark unless the carrier has in his possession a bill
     2  of lading or invoice therefor.
     3  Section 6.  Unlawful removal of dairy cases, bakery trays or      <--
     4                 bakery baskets. CONTAINERS.                        <--
     5     It is a violation of this act for any person not in lawful
     6  possession of a dairy case, bakery tray or bakery basket to       <--
     7  remove a dairy case, bakery tray or bakery basket CONTAINER TO    <--
     8  REMOVE IT from the premises, parking area or any other area of
     9  any PROCESSOR, DISTRIBUTOR OR retail establishment, or from any   <--
    10  delivery vehicle, if:
    11         (1)  The dairy case, bakery tray or bakery basket          <--
    12     CONTAINER is marked on at least one side with a name or mark.  <--
    13         (2)  A notice to the public, warning that use by any
    14     person other than the owner is punishable by law, is visibly
    15     displayed on the dairy case, bakery tray or bakery basket      <--
    16     CONTAINER.                                                     <--
    17  Section 7.  Egg baskets; designation of owner.                    <--
    18     Any person engaged in receiving, packing, handling or selling
    19  eggs in permanent baskets which contain four dozen or more shell
    20  eggs may adopt, own and use any name or mark and may permanently
    21  affix or stamp the name or mark on any egg basket, except
    22  cardboard, fiberboard or corrugated containers, owned by such
    23  person, in order to designate the ownership of the baskets or
    24  distinguish the baskets from other similar baskets.
    25  Section 8.  Poultry boxes; designation of owners.
    26     Any person engaged in receiving, packing, handling or selling
    27  poultry in permanent boxes may adopt, own and use any name or
    28  mark and may permanently affix or stamp the name or mark on any
    29  poultry box, except cardboard, fiberboard or wood containers,
    30  owned by the person, in order to designate the ownership of the
    19860S1346B2037                  - 5 -

     1  boxes or distinguish the boxes from other similar boxes.
     2  Section 9.  Unlawful removal of egg baskets and poultry boxes.
     3     It is a violation of this act for any person not in lawful
     4  possession of an egg basket or poultry box to remove an egg
     5  basket or poultry box from the premises, parking area or any
     6  other area of any processor, distributor, retailer or food
     7  service establishment.
     8  Section 10 7.  Illegal use of shopping carts and laundry carts.   <--
     9     It is a violation of this act:
    10         (1)  To remove any shopping cart or laundry cart from the
    11     premises or parking area of a retail establishment with
    12     intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner of the
    13     cart, or the retailer, of possession of the cart.
    14         (2)  To remove a shopping cart or laundry cart, without
    15     written authorization from the owner of the cart, from the
    16     premises or parking area of any retail establishment.
    17         (3)  To remove, obliterate or alter any serial number or   <--
    18     sign, NAME OR MARK affixed to a shopping cart or laundry       <--
    19     cart.
    20  Section 11 8.  Deposits.                                          <--
    21     The requiring, taking or accepting of any deposit, upon
    22  delivery of any dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, bakery       <--
    23  tray, bakery basket A CONTAINER, shopping cart or laundry cart,   <--
    24  shall not be deemed a sale thereof, optional or otherwise.
    25  Section 12 9.  Penalty.                                           <--
    26     A person who violates any of the provisions of this act
    27  commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction thereof, be
    28  sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $300 or to imprisonment
    29  for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each violation shall
    30  constitute a separate offense.
    19860S1346B2037                  - 6 -

     1  Section 13 10.  Scope of act.                                     <--
     2     This act shall not apply to the owner of a shopping cart,
     3  laundry cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, bakery tray,   <--
     4  or bakery basket OR CONTAINER, or to a retailer, or to the        <--
     5  agents or employees of the owner or retailer, or to a customer
     6  who has written consent from the owner of a shopping cart,
     7  laundry cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, bakery tray,   <--
     8  or bakery basket OR CONTAINER, or from a retailer, to possess     <--
     9  the cart, case, tray, basket or box OR CONTAINER, or to remove    <--
    10  it from the premises or the parking area of the retail
    11  establishment.
    12  Section 14 11.  Initial period for return.                        <--
    13     No person who returns a shopping cart, laundry cart, dairy     <--
    14  case, egg basket, poultry box, bakery tray or bakery basket OR    <--
    15  CONTAINER to the owner thereof within 60 days after the
    16  effective date of this act shall be prosecuted under the
    17  provisions of this act.
    18  Section 15 12.  Effective date.                                   <--
    19     This act shall take effect in 90 days.








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