By Daily Press staff
Consumers will get added protection at the grocery store with last week’s signing of a new bill by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The bill, known as AB 1721, will close a loophole in state law which allowed stores like Pavilions on Montana Avenue to charge customers more than the posted price for items on sale.
Under the new law, when more than one price for an item is posted, stores must charge the lowest posted price. In addition, stores can’t avoid the rule by relying on “expiration” or “effective” dates for sale items.
Pavilions was sued in 2001 by Santa Monica City Hall for allegedly charging more at the checkout stand for “value plus” items than was advertised on tags in the aisles. The charges were filed after an undercover investigation by Larry Godwin, an LA County weights and measures official.
Godwin, who purchased 20 items, was overcharged by as much as $2.90 on six of the products — including Taglio Primo Brie cheese, Vons brand spaghetti, A&H Peroxicare toothpaste and Hungry Jack Waffles.
Lawyers for Pavilions admitted tags are sometimes left up after their expiration, but said it is impossible to keep up with the
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 6, 2004. Read the original PDF.