ONLY a few hours remain until one of the biggest self-checkout changes begins.
Starting Sunday, retailers will be required to have a minimum of one worker supervising self-checkout sections in a bid to reduce theft and improve customer experience.
The law now prohibits items that require a form of identification to purchase, such as tobacco and alcohol, from being purchased at self-checkout areas[/caption]
The ordinance known as “Safe Stores are Staffed Stores,” goes into effect in Long Beach, California, impacting grocery and drug stores.
If a store has two or more self-checkout sections, the establishment is to maintain a staff ratio of at least one employee per every three checkout counters.
The three to one ratio comes after an initial proposal in June calling for one worker for every two self-checkout counters.
The worker(s) assigned to the self-service checkouts are not allowed any work responsibilities that would “interfere with their ability to maintain direct visual inspection and surveillance of the Self-Service Checkout operations,” the ordinance states.
The ordinance also clarified checkout sections are meant for consumers purchasing 15 items or less.
The law now prohibits items that require a form of identification to purchase, such as tobacco and alcohol, from being purchased at self-checkout areas.
Other items prohibited from self-checkout purchases include those with “special theft-deterrent measures” such as security tags, ink and items behind locked cabinets.
The goal with this law is to ensure shoppers can get the assistance they need during transactions that involve those age restricted products and security-tagged goods.
MIXED REACTION
There have been mixed reactions toward the new policy.
One social media user revealed the change is “intrusive” on businesses.
“Instead of targeting shoplifters, we’re micromanaging how businesses employ staff at self-checkouts. Why shift to such intrusive rules?” the user wrote.
“Stronger law enforcement and focused penalties on offenders would make more sense than forcing retailers to hire more staff and risking higher prices or fewer checkouts,” the Facebook user continued.
The ordinance explained that employees and customers can bring a case against any food or drug retailer who does not act within the new legislation.
A $100 fine would be issued for each employee of the establishment in violation of the ordinance, according to officials.
Each day that the violation continues will result in an additional $100 added per day until it reaches the $1,000 limit per employee, per day.
The ordinance comes amid an increase in crime throughout California.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
Shoppers have also spotted their local Walmart stores restricting customers to 15 items or less to use self-checkout machines.
Retail theft increased 11% between 2014 to 2023, according to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).
California saw a decline in retail theft during 2019 and 2020, likely due to the stay-at-home orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, LAO noted. But crime bounced back in 2021 and 2023.
Several California counties saw an increase in reported shoplifting incidents in 2022 compared to numbers from 2014.
California is not the only state that’s written up legislation issuing limits on self-checkout.
MORE CRACKDOWNS
Rhode Island proposed a bill limiting the number of self-checkout stations allowed in grocery stores to just six stations.
The bill would also require stores to have a minimum of one traditional checkout lane with a cashier.
Officials are hopeful the legislation would help consumers with disabilities, promote social interaction, especially for elderly individuals, protect jobs for cashiers and reduce theft risk.
The bill was approved by the Rhode Island State Senate in June 2024. It made its way to the Rhode Island State House in May 2025, but the law has not yet been passed.
