Costa Mesa could begin regulating self-service checkouts at grocery stores in March

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The details: On Tuesday, the Costa Mesa City Council voted, 3-2, to move forward a law that would require staffing of one employee per three self-service checkout stations. It would also limit self-service checkout to 15 items or less, among other requirements. If adopted, the ordinance could regulate some 22 drug and food retail stores in Costa Mesa, though not all currently have self-service checkout stations.

Why? The ordinance cites cutting down on retail theft as one reason for the proposal.

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Who supports it: Derek Smith, political director for the United Food and Commercial Workers 324, said the union represents some 15,000 grocery workers in Orange County and southern L.A. County and supports the measure. “Putting more people in there is going to make our members’ lives much easier, and I think the customers’ lives as well,” Smith told LAist. He said some grocery store workers are asked to supervise six self-checkout machines at a time. “It’s just too many for anybody to properly supervise,” he said.

Who opposes it: The California Grocers’ Association opposes the measure. “Costa Mesa residents want groceries to be affordable and convenient, yet three Costa Mesa city councilmembers made a decision that will make life harder for thousands of grocery shoppers who rely on its convenience,” Nate Rose, California Grocers Association spokesperson, said in an emailed statement.

What’s next: The City Council is expected to take the ordinance up for a second reading on Feb. 3. If it’s approved, it could take effect within 30 days. That would make it the second city in the state, after Long Beach, to adopt such an ordinance.