DA's Office provides resource for complaints of price gouging

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office has issued a warning to individuals and businesses about the severe consequences of price gouging during the coronavirus pandemic

In a press release, DA Mike Hestrin’s office established a hotline, 951-955-0764, for residents to call with complaints of alleged price gouging. There also is an online form here that can be filed with the Special Prosecutions Department.

Menifee residents who believe they have witnessed incidents of price gouging at local businesses should use the DA’s Office hotline or online form to report complaints rather than contact the City of Menifee, a city official told Menifee 24/7. The DA’s Office is solely responsible for investigating and enforcing the law regarding price gouging. The hotline and online form link are also available on the City of Menifee website here.

“Price gouging is illegal and happens when an unscrupulous person or business tries to take advantage of consumers by raising prices more than 10 percent for essential goods or services during a declared state of emergency,” according to the DA’s Office news release. “Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency statewide on March 4, 2020.

“Essential goods and services include, but are not limited to, such things as food, water, food and water for pets, flashlights, medicine, sanitary products, toiletries, diapers, medical or emergency supplies, and lodging.”

The news release also states that those found to be price gouging are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a sentence of up to a year in county jail and/or fines of up to $10,000.