A law in San Francisco that legalizes shoplifting up to $950 has caused the closure of stores all across downtown

[Eff Pandas]

I read something about this a while back and did a little bit of digging, apparently they do it a few places too like Dallas ($750 limit) and they had a kinda guideline here in the UK up to £200 which was abandoned after an outcry from shop owners. I think the general idea is that it costs more to prosecute that kinda shet plus they're unlikely to get a conviction and even if they did the cost of either pursuing non payment of fines or a custodial sentence is unsustainable.... more a question of economics, daft as it sounds States, or more particularly municipal governments simply ain't got the resources. Given some of the stuff they do find money for however I ain't surprised some folk are upset...

I understand that there can be circumstances where leniency should reasonably be applied or at least some mitigation considered, such as in cases of existential need (stealing a loaf of bread to feed your kids for instance), but surely these should be discretionary and down to the judgement of individual enforcement officers or the mercy of the victim?


EDIT: Although actually the article in the OP is innacurate in a number of ways... Proposition 47 does not legalise theft it merely recategorises certain types of theft and drug offenses as misdemeanors, carrying fines and and up to 6 months in county jail (12 months for some possession offenses)

[URL="http://www.courts.ca.gov/prop47.htm"]http://www.courts.ca.gov/prop47.htm



Also it does not prevent officers from arresting or stopping people who commit such crimes.

So whats reallllllly going on here then? Is OP bsing or is this law creating problems for businesses that result in some going out of business?

[siablo14]

How you gonna keep a whole store like Walgreens behind a counter lol.. You gonna lock every single item up in a case like the razors or cough medicines are?

They come to the window and ask for it then clerk goes and get it.

[Jsmooth9876]

They come to the window and ask for it then clerk goes and get it.

give me them XL sheepskins miss, thank you

[TheMyspaceDayz]

As someone who lives here... You do not go downtown if given a choice.

Have you told your parents yet or are you waiting for the right time?

[Straight Up]

So basically this is a law specifically for blacks?

[PACnPBFsuck]

Keep the stuff behind the counter and let them ask for it?

Naw bruh, it's raysis to keep stuff that repeatedly gets stolen behind some protective barrier.

[Left Hook Tua]

They won't. They are behind a protective counter like you see in high crime neighbourhoods.

Not in Philadelphia

I think they banned security glass because it's racist

[Fists_of_Fury]

******** give criminals incentives to break the law instead of justice for breaking the law.

[Citizen Koba]

So whats reallllllly going on here then? Is OP bsing or is this law creating problems for businesses that result in some going out of business?

Don't think it's entirely bullish in the sense that business owners are pissed off and I gather there have been closures (though a few stories I've read give reason to doubt it's all down to prop 47) and there has been a uptick certain types of theft, but the situation is kinda a vicious circle, more folk in economic difficulties was already leading to a drop in spending and more low level thefts which were what caused the cities to look for ways to save money in the first place.

I mean it has to be seen as an expedience of necessity although the logic is sound economically, it's cheaper and has more impact on crime for instance to treat a drug user than to incarcerate em or to spend the money on food handouts than wait for folk to steal their groceries, so if the money ain't in the coffers they have to prioritise.. or raise taxes I guess.

Bigger problem that might arise is legitimacy of governance though, whilst it might make economic sense, politically it's a dicey decision. Government of any level kinda depends on most people being governed believing it's being done in their interests and this one's quite a hard sell... Most effective solution or not people want to see wrongdoers made to pay, I think there's something visceral about that which will be difficult to overcome.

EDIT:

That said proposition 47 was brought in by public ballot in 2014 and got close to 60% and apparently still enjoys broad public support even 7 years later now the consequences are more apparent so who knows?

In November 2020 proposition 20 which proposed to roll back some of the rules in prop 47 was defeated at the ballot.

)

Guess that's what the folk of California voted for, so it's up to them I guess. Apparently it's made a significant dent in the prison population and saves $100 - 150 mil per annum.

[Zaroku]

As someone who lives here... You do not go downtown if given a choice.

too many pimp playas trying to steal tourists bags....

I miss having young knee grows trying to get me in a 3 card Monty game...

I miss the mission district no Koons or tools trying to come up...

dropping off un cut nose candy....