Greg Wikoff: Unintended consequence of bag fee will be an increase in theft

Re “Freebies go into history as shoppers in Modesto adjust to plastic bag ban” (Front page, Nov. 13): Proposition 67 has sent people into frenzy. It is understandable to get rid of plastic bags, but why all of a sudden is it necessary to charge for a paper bag? To make matters worse, all the money accumulated from the 10-cent charge goes directly to that particular business. I believe it’s absurd to charge someone for a bag to carry their purchase outside, but now that money is going straight to the retailer rather than to special conservation funds, which I believe to be a lose-lose situation.

With the 10-cent charge, it could very easily have an inverse effect on stealing. Since people with one or two items will most likely refuse a bag due to the excess charge, so who can tell the difference between someone walking out the door with a purchased bottle of wine versus a stolen bottle of wine?

This story was originally published November 22, 2016 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Greg Wikoff: Unintended consequence of bag fee will be an increase in theft."