Friday, November 16, 2012

AG goes after gasoline price gougers

From The Politicker:

As several gas station owners are about to learn, it’s against New York State law to jack up the price of goods like fuel after a hurricane. To wit, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced he is bringing his “first series of enforcement actions” against price gougers in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

“Today’s action is the first in a series of steps my office will take as we continue to actively investigate the hundreds of complaints we’ve received from consumers of businesses preying on victims of Hurricane Sandy,” the attorney general said in a statement. “We will do everything we can to stop unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of New Yorkers trying to rebuild their lives.”

Although the law doesn’t specifically cite an illegal price for gasoline, it does prohibit an “unconscionably excessive price” during an “abnormal disruption of the market,” according to Mr. Schneiderman’s office. In addition to “war” and “military action,” the law names “weather events” as a triggering event that would restrict such sharp price increases. A fatal storm that left much of the city without gas would certainly seem to qualify.

12 comments:

Roger said...

This is off-topic, but I wanted to tell you that this blog taught me something. I saw a sign on a light post advertising home loans or something. I didn't know they were illegal before I read this blog. Because of this blog, I took action, and it has since been removed.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, the prices in the picture may be high, but they are not "unconscionably excessive".

Anonymous said...

It should be up to the station owners to do as they please. Want to enforce prices on gas stations? Then put up a saftey net when things are bad and the station has to close. It can't be a one-sided compromise.

Supply snd demand just like overpriced rathole NYC apartments and houses. Where are the defenders of people trying to find an affordable place to live? Grocery prices? Everyone is trying to "rebuild" their lives daily.

The price of gasoline is peanuts compared to everything else. I guess gas stations don't have enough connections and political clout to pull the same BS as the 1%ers.

Joe said...

Almost all the prices in Nassau county are those prices. The AG needs to go after the big fish --National Grid and FEMA and cut off some friggan heads.

Anonymous said...

NY State gouges motorists with the highest State gasoline tax in the nation. Compare: New Jersey, 14.5 cents/gallon; New York: 49 cents/gallon (this, in addition to the Federal 18.4 cents/gallon.)

Ms. Tsouris said...

I saw gas at I think it was a Hess station for$4.59 a gallon. It was on Bayview Ave. in Great Neck and it was last week before the rationing.

Anonymous said...

Free Markets = Liberty

Anonymous said...

On Queens Blvd in Sunnyside 39th Street reg unleaded 3.99 the Hess station a few blocks west was 4.89 for regular????? Lines at the higher priced station - I got the lower price with no lines @ Hess????

Anonymous said...

Gas station on Steinway Street and Northern Boulevard was charging $6.00 a gallon.

Anonymous said...

Schneiderman will spin his wheels and get press out of this but ultimately, nothing of any consequence will happen to the offending stations...

georgetheatheist said...

Forget the price of gas. What gets me pissed is 75 cents for using the air pumps on the tires. You can top off 4 tires and a spare in 3 minutes?

Anonymous said...

Yes, take the caps off and check the pressure first.