July 11, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

DCBA Urges Vigilance as Tropical Storm Hilary Triggers Consumer Protection Measures

Emergency Declaration Prompts Price Gouging Warning in Los Angeles County

By Dolores Quintana

On August 20, 2023, as Tropical Storm Hilary swept through Southern California, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors took swift action by signing a local emergency declaration. In response to this declaration, the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) issued a stern advisory to business owners and operators in the region, particularly those in the hotel and lodging sector, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to state and county laws that protect consumers from price gouging. It is essential to note that price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal under Penal Code Section 396.

Under normal circumstances, businesses are prohibited from increasing the prices of goods and services by more than 10 percent for consumers affected by an emergency. This restriction applies equally to hotel and motel accommodations, rental housing, and short-term rentals. 

Notably, this protection against price gouging is currently in effect throughout all of Los Angeles County, encompassing areas beyond those immediately affected by Tropical Storm Hilary.

Should consumers believe they have fallen victim to improper overcharging for goods, services, or housing, DCBA strongly recommends retaining all records and receipts and filing a price gouging complaint through DCBA’s “Stop Price Gouging” online reporting tool. Interested individuals can initiate the process by visiting stoppricegouging.dcba.lacounty.gov. This platform enables pinpointing the incident’s location and direct document uploads by DCBA’s specialists for a thorough investigation. Concerned parties may contact DCBA at (800) 593-8222.

Business proprietors and operators in the housing and lodging sectors are urged to maintain meticulous pricing records before, during, and after any officially declared emergency. Non-compliance with the California Price Gouging Law (Penal Code 396) may lead to substantial penalties, including fines of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

DCBA’s diligent staff is actively monitoring the pricing of goods and services in the surrounding communities, collaborating with local prosecuting agencies to investigate any reports of alleged price gouging diligently.

Rafael Carbajal, Director of DCBA, reaffirmed the commitment to safeguarding residents and swiftly addressing unlawful conduct, stating, “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and will not hesitate to take action against unscrupulous business owners attempting to break the law and take advantage of our community. We urge the public to report any instances of suspected price gouging.”

Price gouging protections remain in effect for 30 days following a declared emergency and are subject to renewal. Additionally, protections against price gouging about contractor-related services extend for 180 days.

For comprehensive information regarding price gouging and addressing common consumer concerns in the aftermath of disasters, please visit dcba.lacounty.gov/disasterready.

in News
Related Posts

L.A. Louver Marks David Hockney’s 88th with Exhibit

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Hockney, a British artist born in 1937, gained fame with the British Pop Art movement and later became known for...

Suspect Arrested in Shoe Retail Theft Spree Across LA County

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

During the search, police recovered two firearms and a significant quantity of merchandise The Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Retail...

Culver City Seeks Public Input on New Environmental Restrictions

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Opinions on balloons and astroturf were mixed, with environmental concerns clashing with cultural or practical preferences The Culver City Council...

Father-Daughter Authors to Host Book Signing to Aid Fire-Affected Women

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Ten percent of proceeds from book and art sales will benefit the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, a nonprofit initiative created...

Culver City Police Locate Missing 75-Year-Old Woman

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The Department expressed gratitude to the community, media, and law enforcement partners for their assistance The Culver City Police Department...

Metro Reports Crime Drop, Higher Rider Satisfaction, and Progress on Major Projects

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The Authority said the drop in violent incidents—down to the lowest level since May 2019—coincided with more uniformed personnel and...

Pandemic Fraud Crackdown: Inglewood Woman Accused of Using Stolen IDs in $1.3M Scam

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Authorities Say Fake Claims Used Names of Prisoners and Out-of-State Residents Selena Stewart was arrested and arraigned Wednesday on a...

Unmasking ICE: Senators Push for Visible IDs After Secretive LA Immigration Raids

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bill Requires Federal Agents to Display Visible Identification During Raids U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on...

Bacio di Latte’s Beverly Hills Gelateria Debut Blends Italian Tradition with California Cool

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Gelateria Features In-House Gelato, Espresso Drinks, and Decadent Signature Flavors Bacio di Latte has officially opened its latest U.S. flagship...

Housing for Health Chief Appointed to Lead Unified Homeless Services Department

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Veteran Housing Advocate to Oversee Streamlined LA County Services The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday confirmed the...

Brentwood Feels Impact as Feds Slash Office Leases Across Los Angeles

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

New Tracker Reveals Over 70,000 Square Feet Cut in 2025 Alone Los Angeles County’s office market is experiencing a fresh...

One Last Bite: La Novia Bids Farewell with Final Pop-Up at Cardinale du Vin

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Inventive Latin-Asian Pop-up Serves Seasonal Small Plates for One-Night-Only La Novia, the pop-up kitchen known for its inventive Latin-Asian flavors,...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Governor Newsom Unveils Fast-Track Rebuilding Plan on Six-Month Anniversary of Palisades Fire

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

State Clears Over 5.5 Billion Pounds of Debris From Fires Ahead of Schedule Marking six months since the devastating Eaton...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...