The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday April 26, 1979 SEVEN
Senate bill will put teeth
in shoplifting laws
By State Senator Ken Jernstedt
At the request of the Oregon
Retail Council I have intro
duced a bill which will soon be
debated on the Senate floor. II
should be of interest to all
consumers, since it is an effort
to control something which
adds to the price of items we
all buy in stores and super
markets.
It is SB 893 and has to do
with shoplifting.
Shoplifting losses amount to
an estimated $7 billion annual
ly, based on apprehensions.
And it is calculated that only 1
out of 35 shoplifters are
apprehended. Oregon ac
counts for about 1.1 per cent of
the national market so a
very conserva'ive loss figure
for Oregon is a $70 million
annual loss.
Retailers increase prices to
absorb the losses they exper-'
ience through shoplifting, so
all of us pay for things that
people steal.
SB 893 is a civil statute and
does not change criminal
provisions already existing in
Oregon law. It is uncomplicat
ed and written in simple
language. While it will not
bring an end to shoplifting,
hopefully it will provide an
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effective way of slowing its
rapid growth and of discour
aging both initial and repeated
stealing, particularly as it
relates to young people.
Studies have shown that the
average age of juvenile shop
lifters is 13. Until recently
girls shoplifted more than
boys, taking small things like
cosmetics, jewelry, perfumes.
But more and more boys are
now becoming involved.
Another group that is invol
ved is young couples who are
unable to afford things they
want and so they shoplift
them.
At present, since the onl'
recourse is a criminal proced
ure, many merchants take no
action because they feel that it
is not appropriate to take
juveniles to criminal court,
because it is time consuming
and costly and there are
delays in getting cases into,
court, and because an attorn
ey is needed to prosecute.
Current law lacks the cert
ainty of penalty, which is the
only effective deterrent to
shoplifting.
SB 893 does the following
things :
Establishes a civil liability
for taking merchandise or for
altering prices on merchan
dise. Makes parents or legal
guardians civilly liable for the
penalties imposed on minors.
Awards to the merchant
actual damages; a penalty in
the amount of the retail value
of the merchandise, not to
exceed $500 for an adult or
$250 for a minor; and costs of
preparing and presenting the
action of not less than $100 nor
more than $250.
One of the most effective
parts of the proposed law is
that first time offenders would
be punished. A survey con
ducted by Distributive Educa
tion Clubs revealed a preva
lent attitude expressed as:
"Hey, don't try to kid us, we
won't get caught-and if we do,
nothing will happen!"
Under SB 893 something will
happen!
Area students
are BMCC's new
officers
Kent Madison, from Echo,
has been named student body
president for the 1979-80 school
year at Blue Mountain Com
munity College following rec
ent student elections.
Madison will be assisted in
associated student body activ
ities by: Mike Lincoln, La
Grande, vice-president;
Krynn Robinson, Heppner,
corresponding secretary ;
Penny Baxter, Umatilla, rec
ording secretary; Lori Rine
hart, Pendleton, treasurer;
and Larry DeWalt, Lake
Tahoe, publicity director.
Morrow Co.
schools seek
handicapped
for education
Child Find is trying to locate
Oregon children, birth to 21
years of age, with physical,
mental or emotional problems
or chronic illness. Sometimes
these handicapped children
are not receiving the free,
appropriate public education
to which they are entitled.
This state-wide campaign,
which is sponsored by the
State Department of Educa
tion, is appealing to people
throughout the state to help in
this child identification and
public awareness program.
Parents or guardians who
believe fHUH may have
physical, mental, or t. ji.
or learning problems are
encouraged to call the school
in their local community. Also
they may call the Child Find
projects toll-free number in
Portland for additional infor
mation. The number is 1-800-249-7727.
Those contacting the project
will receive more detailed
information on the services
Child Find can provide. Sub
sequently, they may request,
through the project, that their
child undergo appropriate
testing in their local district.