Jackson Free Press

In the wake of last year's skyrocketing prices at the pumps, Gov. Haley Barbour has signed a bill stiffening penalties for gasoline price gouging. The bill, SB 2032, increases jail time and fines, and bans those found guilty of gouging from selling or distributing gasoline in Mississippi.

Jail time under the new bill can be up to twelve months, and fines range from $500 to $1,000. The law, which takes effect on July 1, is one of the toughest gasoline price gouging measures in the country, according to ConsumerAffairs.com.

Attorney General Jim Hood, who backed the legislation, settled charges in 2007 against five companies that he alleged raised their prices artificially after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the state, reports Legal Newsline. Those companies were Sumrall Oil, Prince Oil, Spaceway, Southern Oil and Moak Petroleum. Fair Oil and Wilburn Oil chose not to settle, and Hood has active suits against them.

"I applaud our lawmakers for their support and the Governor for signing this bill which will help to protect Mississippians who may become victims of gasoline fraud, as well as deter sellers and distributers from being dishonest," Hood said in a release. "We will continue to work with the Department of Agriculture to strictly enforce the new law."

Previous Commentsshow

An economy is nothing more than a means to set priorities. We trade something we have an excess of (such as money) for something we are in want of (such as gasoline). Or, we trade gasoline, for money. It is a mutually agreed upon contract between two people. Both the byuer and the seller agree on the price (or the contract will never be made). The RIGHT of two individuals to make a mutually agreed upon contract, is paramount if capitalism is going to survive. Of course everyone on this earth would love to be able to buy things cheaper than the seller wants to sell them for, but it's an abuse of Government for it to choose one participant of the contract over the other. It is the role of Government to protect the rights of EVERY citizen, even the ones they disagree with. The state Legislature and Governor violated the rights of individuals with this bill, and they also upset the economic mechanism of supply and demand.

Mister

Apr 15 2009

So you think it's right for businesses to take advantage of people, particularly in a time of crisis?

golden eagle

Apr 15 2009

Like so many PolSci professors will point out, Mister, America isn't a pure capitalistic society. We have rules and regulations to ensure that the communal marketplace is free and fair to all. Sorry to burst your bubble there.

Ironghost

Apr 15 2009

Golden Eagle, a wise man once said that no one can take advantage of you without your permission. Ironghost, I have debated a few poli-sci professors on that, and for the most part, I agree with them. However, since I am a laizze-faire economics type of guy, my argument is that it SHOULD be a true captialist society. It is the only type of society that doesn't allow governments to choose which citizen shall be advantaged, and which ones shall be disadvantaged. Whenever government officials choose which citizens shall be advantaged, and which ones should be disadvantaged,......they are violating the civil rights of the one they are disadvantaging. Best Wishes, Mister

Mister

Apr 15 2009

"Abuse" in this case is in the eye of the beholder, Mister. When a vendor has a customer backed into a corner, as was the case for many after Katrina, raising prices arbitrarily is just pure greed on the part of the vendor, and it's the customer being abused. Marketplace restrictions are a fact of life in the U.S., as Ironghost points out. We restrict utility costs, for example, and control rents in many cities. Vendors can't simply decide how much to charge in a vacuum. Pure capitalism, like every other "pure" economic system--socialism and communism among them--don't work so well outside of the ivory tower laboratories where they were conceived. The survival of an economic theory should never be put ahead of the survival of people and the environment. Please.

Ronni_Mott

Apr 15 2009

I think Ronni's got it summed up here, so I'll add one question: Under your Free system, Mr. What keeps Shell from jacking the price of Gas up $10 overnight?

Ironghost

Apr 16 2009

Exxon Best Wishes, Mister

Mister

Apr 16 2009

And then Exxon will follow suit and raise their prices overnight to compete with Shell. We've all seen it a million times on street corners where there is more than one gas station. Want to get rid of the disadvantaged completely, Mister? Well, your way is a good way to do it. And then you'll be short a few people to debate with... unless you're disadvantaged yourself. Then you'll be gone too.

Lady Havoc

Apr 16 2009