AN attorney has explained the consequences customers could face if they accidentally or intentionally fail to pay for an item at a self-checkout register.

George LaMarche III is a personal injury and criminal lawyer based in New York.

“Can I get arrested for using a self checkout?” he asked in one of the recent videos uploaded to his TikTok account @lawyergeorge.

“So you’re at the grocery store and you have a cart full of groceries and you decide to go to the self checkout,” he said.

“Maybe you’re having trouble scanning some items and maybe you just forget.

“Or maybe you intentionally decide not to scan some items.”

LaMarche said anybody who engages in behavior like that could face a severe legal consequence.

“That’s a crime,” he said.

“It’s a petit larceny. It’s punishable by up to a year and jail or three years probation.”

That’s why LaMarche said self-checkout customers should be extra careful.

“If you go through self-checkout, make sure you pay for everything and do not leave the store without having paid,” the attorney said.

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Some commenters below the video were on the same page.

“It’s illegal to steal,” one said.

At least one appeared to need a little extra guidance.

“But they didn’t train me how to use the register,” a different commenter said.

“That’s not usually an effective excuse,” LaMarche replied.

“Gotta ask for help.”

Another commenter pointed out that the consequences aren’t always the same.

“Depends on (money) missed/stolen and state you are in,” they said.

“That’s true,” LaMarche replied.

“Also more than $1,000 in NY is a grand larceny – a felony.”

Earlier this month, H&M rival Primark announced that it would be rolling out self checkout registers at its location outside of Chicago.

The chain already has the payment option available at seven other locations.