LANSING – With gas prices continuing to hover near the $4 mark, State Representative Kate Ebli (D-Monroe) today voted to pass a plan that will protect working families from being taken advantage of at the pump by cracking down on gas gouging by unscrupulous gas station owners. The move comes in the wake of some gas stations hiking gas prices to more than $5 last weekend as Hurrican Ike made landfall in Texas.
"Residents across the state are being taken advantage of and it's time we hold gas station owners who break the law accountable," Ebli said. "Michigan consumers are already pumping enough of their money into their gas tanks – there is no reason they should be emptying their wallets so others can make a quick buck. By taking action now, we can protect our residents from gas gougers and help them save their hard-earned money."
The current average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.15, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report. That's a 28-cent increase from a month ago, and an increase of $1.17 from a year ago. Last week, as Hurricane Ike ravaged the Gulf Coast, some parts of the state recorded gas prices spiking to over $5 per gallon.
With more than two months left in the hurricane season, which officially ends Nov. 30, Michigan lawmakers today took action to protect consumers from more incidents of gas gouging. The plan passed by the House would give the Attorney General's Office additional tools to speed up investigations of alleged gas gouging and expand the state's ability to recover damages for consumers victimized by gas gouging. The plan also clearly defines gas gouging in Michigan's Consumer Protection Act to make it easier for the Attorney General's Office to prosecute violators.
"The inflated prices we saw last week were the definition of gas gouging," Ebli said. "While most of our gas station owners did the right thing and reacted responsibly to a natural disaster, others tried to squeeze more money from consumers. This plan will protect our residents and ensure they are not taken advantage of by a few bad apples."