Massachusetts Targets Possible Price Gouging

Governor directs state inspectors to look for possible price gouging and violations of signage advertising rules.

March 06, 2012

BOSTON ?- In the wake of rising gasoline prices, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has directed state inspectors to intensify efforts to uncover incidents of price gouging, the Boston Globe reports.

"We want to get ahead of the curve here," said Barbara Anthony, the state??s undersecretary of consumer affairs and business regulation. "We want to make sure that no one??s even thinking about price-gouging."

Anthony said her department has asked for additional inspectors (the state currently has nine) to perform audits of gas stations.

In addition to price gouging, inspectors will look for violations of advertising rules, which includes posting prices on street signage that is lower than the rates charged at the pump (each violation incurs a fine of up to $375).

"Before a driver pulls up to the pump, he or she should have a clear indication of the cost for a certain level of gas and whether there are any conditions on that price," said Charles Carroll, director of the state Division of Standards.

Anthony said a majority of stations comply with state laws and that inspectors cited just a handful of stations last year in the Boston area for false or inaccurate advertising.

Left unmentioned in the Globe piece is a clear definition of price gouging.

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