The County Counsel was also authorized to consider initiating or joining existing litigation regarding price gouging and price fixing algorithm software used by housing websites.

The penalty for price gouging after the fires in Los Angeles County just got a lot more expensive. The new max fine: The L.A. County Board Supervisors voted Tuesday to increase the maximum fine from $10,000 to $50,000 for illegally raising prices and rents by more than 10% in the wake of last month’s fires.

Board Chair Kathryn Barger cited a disturbing trend of price gouging, preying on the most vulnerable communities.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a temporary increase to the existing penalty for those found guilty of price gouging, raising the maximum civil fine from $10,000 to $50,000 for each violation.