“They explained the new law and how she will be going to jail, instead of getting a ticket.”

It’s morning in California again. Or at least early afternoon. The streets are still filled with bums and their patrons are running the state, but at least stealing is somewhat illegal again.

Career criminals are discovering that the right side of history is no longer on the side of the thieves.

A new California law that had overwhelming support from voters is now on the books. Prop 36 charges people with a felony after a third arrest.

Law enforcement is already making arrests and putting people in jail.

“After the passage of Prop 36, we now have the ability, with two previous convictions, even if they’re misdemeanor convictions, to be able to charge someone with a felony, regardless of the dollar amount,” said Det. Andy Cater.

Before Prop 36 went into place Wednesday, suspects arrested for stealing merchandise under $950 only faced a misdemeanor.

It didn’t matter how many previous tickets they had; they didn’t spend time in jail and could keep shoplifting.

“Suspects are very open about the fact that they know theft in the state of California under $950 is a misdemeanor,” Cater said. “They have no problem telling us, ‘Why? I didn’t steal a felony amount.’”

“Our officers are feeling more empowered,” Cater said. “We’re not just racking up another citation. Our officers feel like what they’re doing matters and that they want to do the extra legwork to make sure that we get a good conviction.”

Outside a retail store, deputies arrest a woman they say changed clothes inside the store.

She told the deputies she has been arrested before and they explained the new law and how she will be going to jail, instead of getting a ticket.

In one day of Operation Ugly Sweater, deputies arrested 31 people, including three now facing Prop 36 felonies.

This is how the message spreads. Stealing is no longer something you can casually saunter away from. (Although plenty of Soros DAs and pro-crime Democrat judges are still likely to pursue ‘diversion’ programs and other pro-crime measures if they can get away with it.)

Gov. Newsom and the state’s Democrat supermajority did everything possible to lie, bully, and intimidate California voters into keeping stealing legal. Voters defied the pro-crime party and now criminals are actually being arrested.

Article posted with permission from Daniel Greenfield