Another Southern California city aims to ban self-checkout lanes

California shoppers may soon find there’s no such thing as a quick getaway from the grocery store.

A major change could soon hit grocery stores in Santa Ana, that could include customers being closely watched at self-checkout lines.

The strict new regulations on self-checkout kiosks at grocery stores and pharmacies, with supporters saying the measure will reduce theft and protect jobs while critics warn it could increase costs and slow down shopping trips.

Under the proposal, stores would be required to have at least one employee monitoring every three self-checkout kiosks in use. Customers would also be limited to 15 items or fewer at the self-checkout.

The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved the first reading Tuesday of the proposed ordinance, according to KTLA.

The rules would apply to grocery stores and retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

Supporters argue it would improve safety and customer service while helping to preserve union jobs as retailers increasingly rely on automation.

“The automation of union jobs is something that is going to cripple our economy,” Santa Ana City Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez said during the meeting, per KTLA. “It is important that when workers organize we stand with them and we support them.”

Mayor Valerie Amezcua said she stopped shopping at certain stores because they relied almost entirely on self-checkout systems.

“When I need assistance, I have to wait,” Amezcua said, according to Voice of OC.

Union officials also claimed workers are often forced to monitor large numbers of kiosks at once, creating safety concerns and increasing theft opportunities.

But grocery industry representatives strongly oppose the ordinance, arguing it would increase costs for stores and consumers.

“This will push a lot of commerce online,” a representative from the California Grocers Association said, according to KTLA.

Retail consultant Bryan Gildenberg also warned the regulations could benefit online retailers like Amazon.

The proposal would additionally allow customers or employees to sue stores over alleged violations, with penalties reaching up to $1,000 per employee per day, according to the Voice of OC.

Santa Ana now appears poised to become the third Southern California city to adopt self-checkout staffing requirements after Long Beach and Costa Mesa. Officials in Anaheim are also considering similar restrictions.

The ordinance still requires one final reading before it can officially become law.

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