Passing a health inspection is necessary for a restaurant to remain operational in California. Health code violations can lead to fines, temporary shutdowns and other complications for restaurant owners.
Additionally, the publication of health code violations in local newspapers may result in a drop in sales. Those who run or own restaurants sometimes respond to health inspection concerns in a manner that puts them at risk of not just civil penalties but possibly also criminal prosecution.
Bribing health inspectors is a crime
Health inspectors have a duty to the state and the public to provide accurate information about the compliance of individual establishments with critical health and safety standards. What they find during an inspection becomes part of a formal report highlighting restaurant conditions that don’t comply with the health code.
People may sometimes offer cash, credit to eat at the establishment or other valuable benefits to health inspectors who agree to ignore issues or delay the reporting of certain concerns. Health inspectors receive training about bribes and should not accept offers from restaurant owners.
People still try to bribe health inspectors, as evidenced by a recent case in Fresno, where the presence of cockroaches led to a failed inspection and a bribery attempt. The restaurant had to close, and the owner was warned about the bribery attempt.
Such interactions can easily lead to criminal charges. If information about bribes of state employees comes to light, restaurant owners who make offers out of desperation could find themselves facing criminal prosecution.
Anyone accused of bribery may need help responding to those allegations. Discussing what led to bribery charges with an experienced white-collar defense lawyer can help those accused of trying to undermine the validity of restaurant health inspections.
