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NEWARK
– The owners of three gas stations
have been charged with allegedly raising
gasoline prices multiple times within a
24-hour period, in violation of the state’s
Motor Fuels law, immediately following Hurricane
Irene earlier this month.
State
Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) inspectors
issued the summonses after conducting investigations
for potential price gouging at each of the
three stations. While investigators did
not find evidence of price gouging, station
employees did allegedly change gas prices
more than once in a 24-hour period in violation
of state law.
“Attempting
to illegally profit during someone’s
time of need following a natural disaster
is shameful,” Attorney General Paula
T. Dow said. “Law enforcement agencies
at all levels across New Jersey remain vigilant
during the ongoing recovery efforts from
Hurricane Irene and will take action against
those who target storm victims.”
The
gas stations issued summonses are:
•
Delta 2042 South Broad
St. Trenton
• Lukoil 298 Kings
Highway (Rt. 41) Cherry Hill
• Citgo 1402 Route
47 Rio Grande
Under
the Motor Fuels law, the station owners
face a civil penalty of up to $1,500 for
an initial violation. The summonses will
be adjudicated in the municipal court of
the town where the gas station is located.
The
law prohibiting price gouging is triggered
during a declared state of emergency and
prohibits a merchant from charging more
than 10 percent over the price of the good
or service prior to the state of emergency,
unless the price increase is attributable
to the merchant’s additional costs.
“Although
the charged conduct doesn’t constitute
price gouging under state law, it’s
no less reprehensible,” said Thomas
R. Calcagni, Director of the State Division
of Consumer Affairs. “New Jersey residents
suffered enough as a result of Hurricane
Irene, and the actions of these gas stations,
if true, add insult to injury. We continue
to send our investigators into the field,
to alert local officials and storm victims
to the issues we are finding, and to follow
up on each and every storm-related complaint
filed with us.”
Investigations
against the Delta and Lukoil stations were
initiated by the filing of consumer complaints,
while OWM inspectors discovered the price
change violation at the Citgo station following
a routine inspection.
To
date, the Division has received 103 consumer
complaints related to illegal pricing in
the wake of Hurricane Irene, 74 of which
were determined to be unfounded following
investigations. The alleged gas station
violations announced today are the first
substantiated violations related to Hurricane
Irene. Investigations continue with respect
to the remaining 26 complaints.
Director
Calcagni commended Robert J. Campanelli,
State Weights and Measures Acting Superintendent,
for his leadership in overseeing gas station
inspections.
Deputy
Attorney General Neil Magnus is representing
the Division and OWM in the three gas station
cases.
Consumers
who believe they have been cheated or scammed
by a business, or suspect any other form
of consumer abuse, can file a complaint
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs
by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov,
or by calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
Follow
the Division of Consumer Affairs on Facebook,
at www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Division-of-Consumer-Affairs/112957465445651;
and check our online calendar of upcoming
Consumer Outreach events, at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/outreach/
.
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