SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, (LAI) – Following the declaration of a state of emergency by Governor Gavin Newsom in response to a significant storm impacting Southern California, officials are alerting consumers to the illegal practice of price gouging and urging them to report any instances they encounter. The state of emergency, announced on Sunday, encompasses Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties, areas all bracing for the storm’s effects.
Price gouging, the act of significantly increasing prices of essential goods and services during a crisis, is prohibited in California once a state of emergency is declared. Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the importance of the state’s price gouging laws, which are designed to protect affected individuals from exorbitant prices on housing, fuel, food, and other necessities. The Attorney General encourages residents to report suspected price gouging directly to his office via the online complaint form at oag.ca.gov/report or by contacting local law enforcement agencies.