WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Attorney general cracking down on price gouging

Attorney general cracking down on price gouging

By Tyana Williams - bio | email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - It's been just two days since Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announced zero tolerance for price gouging at the gas pump before, during, or after Gustav.

His office says in that time, it's logged over 300 complaints. In one case, a station was caught jacking up the price of gas from $3.50 a gallon to $4.10.

Caldwell says when they busted these stations, employees told his investigators they didn't know they are not allowed to raise the prices. On Highway 415, west of Port Allen, gas prices are hovering around $3.65. People are warned that if they haven't gassed up, they should get to the pump soon. Some stations are running out of gas.

Caldwell says with ContraFlow in effect starting early Sunday morning, he's watching every station along I-10, I-20, I-55, I-59, I-49, and Highway 61; all roadways people will be evacuating on. He says gas stations that have not raised their prices should not think about doing so.

"But we're gonna strictly enforce this. And if you got an explanation, better give it to us in a hurry because we have our people in the streets taking pictures of gas pumps," he says.