Orlando Gas Station Sues City over Signage Law
Station seeks an injunction to block enforcement of the city's new regulation requiring signage identifying gas prices.
ORLANDO, FL - After Orlando's City Council gave gas stations near Orlando International Airport until October 1 to erect signs identifying their prices, the owner of one station has filed suit, seeking an injunction to block enforcement of the city's new regulation.
Orlando city officials became concerned after receiving numerous complaints against the stations' $5 per gallon prices, which were not identified on outside signage. As the stations are situated near the airport, they are popular fill-up destinations for tourists returning rental cars.
Despite the high prices, the station owners maintain that they are doing nothing wrong.
"[The owners] are in full compliance with all state and federal rules, regulations and laws regarding the advertising, display and disclosure of the prices charged for gasoline at their stations, and are lawfully doing business," according to the lawsuit filed recently in Orange Circuit Court.
The owner of one station recently began discounting its prices by 40 percent for locals, but city officials say the discount does not sway them from pressing their ordinance in court.
Mayor Dyer said the city's tourism agency regularly receives complaints from tourists saying they were gouged while topping off a rental car before flying home.
Florida state law requires only that prices be displayed on the pump, for which both stations are in compliance.
The two stations, across the street from one another, typically charge the highest prices in Orlando. Last Friday, the Shell station was selling a gallon of regular unleaded for $4.69, while Suncoast Energy was selling a gallon for $4.99. One mile away, stations charged less than $2.65 per gallon.
In response, the station owners say their prices are lower than those charged by rental car companies and that the City Council is therefore setting a regulation that its competitors don't have to follow.
Orlando Assistant City Attorney Kyle Shephard said the city ordinance is about signage, not prices.
"Our council said that loud and clear: We don't care what you charge -- you can charge $10 a gallon if you want. It's about putting customers on notice so they're aware of what they'll be paying," Shephard said.
A hearing on the case has not yet been scheduled. For more information on the controversy, see this previous Daily story.