LOS ANGELES : Price Gouging in State of Emergency Banned
Responding to reports of excessive cost increases for consumer items during the spring civil unrest, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance prohibiting price gouging during a declared state of emergency.
The ordinance, proposed by Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine to raise the cost of food items, repair services, emergency supplies or gasoline by more than 10% of the price charged immediately prior to a proclamation of emergency.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
