A Southern California city is considering joining Long Beach and Costa Mesa in restricting or banning self-checkout lanes at retail stores, according to local reports.

The move comes as various municipalities across California examine policies affecting retail operations and customer service models. Long Beach and Costa Mesa have already implemented or are moving forward with measures that would limit retailers' use of automated checkout systems.

Proponents of such restrictions often cite concerns about job displacement and customer service quality, while retailers have generally defended self-checkout technology as a way to manage labor costs and provide shopping convenience.

The developments occur alongside broader national discussions about retail pricing policies and market competition. Some federal policymakers have expressed interest in reviving enforcement of Depression-era antitrust legislation, including the Robinson-Patman Act, which addresses pricing discrimination practices.

Retail industry representatives have expressed concerns that new regulations could affect operational flexibility and pricing structures. The various policy proposals reflect ongoing tensions between different approaches to regulating modern retail practices.

The specific timeline and details of the latest city's consideration of self-checkout restrictions were not immediately available.