In a bold move to curb the growing wave of shoplifting, the city of Long Beach, California, has taken direct aim at self-checkout lanes.
The decision has sparked heated debate — with city officials, workers, and retailers all weighing in on whether the new law will truly make shopping safer or just more complicated.
A New Kind of Law to Curb “Five-Finger Discounts”
Back in August, Long Beach rolled out a first-of-its-kind law in the United States that limits how many self-checkout registers large retail stores can operate.
The move comes amid rising concern that these unmanned stations have made it easier for customers to sneak items past scanners — intentionally or not.
The new rule, called the “Safe Stores are Staffed Stores” ordinance, requires big grocery and pharmacy chains to assign at least one employee for every three self-checkout stations.
It also limits self-checkout transactions to 15 items and bans certain products — like razors or baby formula — from being sold through these lanes if they’re kept in locked cases.
Fines, Lawsuits, and New Rules for Retailers
Long Beach isn’t taking this lightly. Stores that don’t comply face fines starting at $100 per day per violation, and both employees and customers have the right to sue if they find a retailer breaking the rules.
City leaders say the law aims to reduce retail theft, create safer workplaces, and bring back more in-person customer service. But not everyone is cheering.
Workers Celebrate While Retailers Push Back
Union workers have largely praised the new law, saying it could lead to more jobs and better safety conditions for cashiers who often face aggressive or frustrated customers.
Matt Bell, a representative for a local grocery union, told the LA Times that store employees are “on the front lines” and deserve more protection.
He argued that hiring more staff will reduce the need for expensive anti-theft measures like plexiglass cases, ink tags, or private guards.
Retailers, however, see things differently. Many businesses argue that Long Beach is targeting the wrong issue — blaming technology instead of addressing deeper causes of theft.
The National Retail Federation reported that shoplifting nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023, just as self-checkout use skyrocketed.
But store owners claim self-checkout actually helps control prices by cutting labor costs.
They fear the new rules could mean longer lines, smaller profits, and higher grocery bills for everyone.
Major Stores Shut Down Self-Checkouts
The impact has already started to show. According to KTLA, at least four major grocery stores — including Aldi, Albertsons, and Vons — have shut down their self-checkout stations altogether.
A representative for Vons confirmed that the closures were a direct result of the city’s new ordinance.
“The ordinance requires that locked or secured items cannot be purchased through self-checkout.
As a result, our self-checkout lanes are currently unavailable,” the company explained.
The Bigger Picture: A Nation Obsessed with Self-Checkout
Long Beach’s new law may just be the start of a much larger national debate.
Across the U.S., 95 percent of shoppers have used self-checkout registers in the past year, according to research from Capital One.
However, the same study found that around 20 million Americans admit to stealing from these kiosks — whether by ringing up cheaper items, entering the wrong codes, or “forgetting” to scan a few products.
Shockingly, about 40 percent said they plan to do it again, while only 30 percent have ever been caught.
A Growing Divide in the City
For Long Beach, the issue goes beyond technology — it’s about economics.
The city is home to both booming real estate developments worth millions and a poverty rate of 22.8 percent, with many residents struggling to make ends meet.
This contrast, city officials say, fuels the tension between corporate profits and everyday survival.
And in that mix, self-checkout lanes have become an unexpected battleground between convenience and accountability.
What Comes Next?
As stores adapt to the new rules, one thing is clear — Long Beach is setting a precedent that other U.S. cities will be watching closely.
Whether it becomes a model for reducing theft or a cautionary tale of government overreach remains to be seen.
For now, shoppers in Long Beach will have to get used to longer lines, fewer self-checkout options, and perhaps a few more friendly faces at the register.