ORLANDO, FL - A state judge last week ruled that two gas stations near Orlando International Airport must begin posting fuel prices within 90 days, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The owners of Sun Gas and Suncoast Energys, who were charging $5.79 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline last week, have been in the news for more than two years as Orlando sued them to display their prices. The city claims their failure to post prices while charging exceptionally high prices for fuel has led to many complaints from tourists who, enroute to returning rental cars at the airport, filled their gas tanks only to discover the high prices.

After Orlando€™s City Council passed an ordinance to force them to display their prices, the station owners sued the city. In his ruling last week, Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez sided with the city.

City officials have a "legitimate interest in preventing deception or confusion of consumers," he said, noting that City Hall and the city€™s tourism bureau have long received complaints about the two stations.

"We simply want to make sure we've got an informed consumer," code enforcement chief Mike Rhodes said. "In terms of people coming in and out of the airport, it's a population that makes a big impact on our economy, and it's important they have a good experience."

Attorneys for the stations argued that the city was trying to regulate prices, something it does not have the authority to do.

But Rodriguez disagreed, ruling the city has the power to "promote the public health, safety, and welfare."

"The location subject to the ordinance provides a greatly increased opportunity for businesses to prey on tourists, thus having a substantial negative impact as to how the city of Orlando is perceived by tourists and the public at large," Rodriguez wrote.

Earlier this year in May, the city began fining each station $250 a day, and the two had accrued a combined $43,000 in fines through Friday.

Last week€™s ruling voided those fines and gave the owners 90 days to erect signs, after which the city can begin levying fines. The judge said if the owners fail to erect signs, the city could impose a lien and eventually foreclose.

Attorneys for the station owners have not said whether they plan to appeal.