Members Section
Your Views are Important
OOIDA Gear
OOIDA Tour Truck
| Legislative Watch | 
|
 |
New Jersey |
 |
3/13/06-The Senate has unanimously approved a bill that would toughen penalties for fuel price gouging in the state.
Sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Sacco, D-North Bergen, S383 would fine fuel station operators $1,500 for increasing the price of fuel more than once in a 24-hour period. Repeat offenders would face a $3,000 fine.
Station operators also could have their fuel license suspended for up to 30 days for a first offense and possible revocation for subsequent offenses.
Existing New Jersey law allows the state to fine gougers $50 to $200 per occurrence. The law also prohibits the price of fuel from being increased more than once in a 24-hour period.
The increased fines also would apply to stations that fail to publicly display the price of fuel or sell fuel at a different price than what is posted. Failure to display the price of fuel at each pump also would be prohibited.
In addition, stations would be forbidden from providing rebates, allowances, concessions or benefits either directly or indirectly to allow a person to obtain motor fuel below the posted price.
The bill now heads to the Assembly for further consideration. If approved, it would go to Gov. Jon Corzine’s desk.
For bill status, call (609) 292-4840. In New Jersey, call 1-800-792-8630.
An identical Assembly bill – A2523 – is in the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee.
Sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Sacco, D-North Bergen, S383 would fine fuel station operators $1,500 for increasing the price of fuel more than once in a 24-hour period. Repeat offenders would face a $3,000 fine.
Station operators also could have their fuel license suspended for up to 30 days for a first offense and possible revocation for subsequent offenses.
Existing New Jersey law allows the state to fine gougers $50 to $200 per occurrence. The law also prohibits the price of fuel from being increased more than once in a 24-hour period.
The increased fines also would apply to stations that fail to publicly display the price of fuel or sell fuel at a different price than what is posted. Failure to display the price of fuel at each pump also would be prohibited.
In addition, stations would be forbidden from providing rebates, allowances, concessions or benefits either directly or indirectly to allow a person to obtain motor fuel below the posted price.
The bill now heads to the Assembly for further consideration. If approved, it would go to Gov. Jon Corzine’s desk.
For bill status, call (609) 292-4840. In New Jersey, call 1-800-792-8630.
An identical Assembly bill – A2523 – is in the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee.