Price Gouging During A Hurricane: What It Is And How To Report It

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – SEPTEMBER 05: Motorists line up to get fuel at a Wawa gas station as residents in the area prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 05, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

(Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

During Hurricane Irma there were a reported 14,000 price gouging complaints filed with Attorney General Ashley Moody and local law enforcement.

On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in all 67 counties as Hurricane Dorian approaches the east coast.

According to ABC Action News:

Florida Statute 501.160 and 501.205 state that during a state of emergency it is illegal to charge unconscionable prices for goods or services following a declared state of emergency. Individuals or businesses found guilty of price gouging could face fines up to $1000 per violation, or up to a maximum of $25000 per day.

Examples of necessary commodities are food, ice, gas, and lumber.

To know if a price is being gouged, compare the price to the average price over the last 30 days. If there is a large difference between the prior price and the current charge, it is considered price gouging.

Here is how to report price gauging:

1-866-966-7226
Report Online
NO SCAM app

You may also report violations by mailing documents to the following address:

Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol, PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

FOR THE LATEST ON DORIAN CLICK HERE.

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Kevin is a member of Tampa Bay‘s Hometown Morning Krewe on 995 QYK. He has been with the station for 25 years, is a Tampa native, and went to Jesuit High School and USF. Go Bulls!. He is passionate about all things Tampa Bay. Kevin writes articles on the ongoing road projects around the Tampa Bay area, awards that Tampa Bay cities and businesses have won and country music happenings around the Bay area. He is always doing many things with his wife and kids. He loves to read books and play video games in his spare time.

Price Gouging During A Hurricane: What It Is And How To Report It

During Hurricane Irma there were a reported 14,000 price gouging complaints filed with Attorney General Ashley Moody and local law enforcement. On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state…

Tampa Bay's Morning Krewe

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