Santa Cruz County prosecutors are warning residents that price gouging is illegal while a State of Emergency is in effect.
California remains been under an emergency proclamation issued on March 4th. Since then, the DA’s office says price gouging has been illegal under California Penal Code section 396.
Under the law, it is illegal to sell items such as consumer food items or goods and emergency or medical supplies for a price greater than 10% more than that charged by the seller immediately before the emergency was declared.
There is an exception if the price increase is because of additional costs imposed by the supplier of the goods or for labor or materials.
The district attorney’s office notes that violating section 396 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
