The wrong interpretation and misinformation of the SB-551 law have created misconceptions among citizens. The law does not stop employers or other persons from intervening to stop intruders from shoplifting
Recent misinformation has been spread that shoplifting up to $950 is allowed in California, and shopkeepers cannot stop thieves from doing it. This is a wrong and misinterpretation of the bill, as nothing like this is mentioned in the bill as spread on social media.
What is the law?
California law specifies theft in two categories: Petty theft and Grand theft. Theft of property with a value of less than $950 is considered petty theft and called a misdemeanor. This crime can lead to a punishment of six months. Conversely, theft exceeding the value of $950 is considered Grand theft and treated as a felony. This crime can include a prison sentence of up to five years.
How people are perceiving it
In the general understanding, this bill 'SB-553 Occupational Safety: Workplace Violence: Restraining Orders and Workplace Violence Prevention Plan' is interpreted as allowing people to steal accessories under $950 without fear of prosecution. Shopkeepers and others are not allowed to stop misdemeanors. However, it has been stated in the bill that employers can develop and implement violence prevention plans.
They are allowed to provide effective training to their employees to protect their shops from such misdemeanors. The bill does not specify any provisions where an individual is restricted by law to intervene when somebody is shoplifting. According to the earlier provision of the bill, it was illegal to engage and force non-security workers to intervene and stop shoplifters who are potentially equipped with harmful arsenals.
The bill was passed on September 11 and was sent to the Senate, which approved an earlier version of the bill in May.
Misinformation:
The analysis report published by The National Law Review, mentions that nowhere is it illegal to confront thieves. Allen Yong, Cortese’s spokesperson, stated about the bill that it was the "target of a misinformation campaign." Chesa Boudin, executive director of the Criminal Law and Justice Center at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, stated that posts on Facebook have exaggerated the law and spread it in the wrong way. In this case, misinformation has spread faster than the correct information.