New Jersey Gas Stations Defrauding Customers Busted by Attorney General
June 23rd, 2008 amy
More than 300 New Jersey gas stations were cited for violations ranging from pricing discrepancies to inaccurate octane ratings and out-of-tolerance equipment, the state Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday.
In a coordinated effort at the end of May, county and state weights and measures inspectors checked 1,023 stations in 21 counties finding 350 violations, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports. Among the citations issued were: 62 violations for meters out of tolerance (more than six cubic inches), 46 violations for per-gallon prices being different on each side of the pump, 37 violations for fuel grade (octane rating label) not posted, 26 violations for inaccurate octane ratings, 19 violations for inaccurate total sale price calculation and 14 violations for multiple price changes in a 24-hour period.
“Consumers deserve to get what they pay for, especially when they are paying record-setting prices for gasoline,” Attorney General Anne Milgram said. “We cannot control the price of gasoline but we can, and we are, upholding our laws and regulations regarding the sale of motor fuels.”
Dealers violating per-gallon price requirements face a civil penalty of up to $1,500 for the first offense and up to $3,000 for any subsequent offense. Violating the Consumer Fraud Act carries an initial violation of up to $10,000 and up to $20,000 for subsequent violations.
