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Opinion
S.
C. should strengthen law on gas price gouging
April
14, 2006
South
Carolina’s Attorney General Henry McMaster recently announced
that several upstate gasoline retailers donated $500 each to
the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief. It was
part of a settlement resulting from an investigation into
gasoline price gouging in the wake of that Gulf Coast
hurricane last year. None, however, admitted any
wrongdoing.
That’s gratifying for many in the Palmetto
State, including some motorists in the Greenwood area and the
Lakelands.
While the price of gasoline spiraled upward and
the availability of the fuel grew worse day by day, many
motorists complained.
THEY VOICED
SUSPICIONS, too, that they believed price gouging was
indeed a factor.
That, as might be expected, was one of the
milder complaints that were heard during that time. Whether
their suspicions are justified doesn’t matter. They are in the
unique position of saying “I told you so!”
The majority of
retail and wholesale dealers kept the faith with their
customers, and they should be commended for their efforts.
There should be a law, though, to cover such situations. More
hurricanes and other natural calamities are sure to come in
the future and the same kind of problems are liable to occur
again.
State lawmakers, then, ought to take action to help
discourage price gouging.
MCMASTER PROPOSED A
law last year and once again is urging the
Legislature to approve it. It would give law enforcement
agencies the authority to investigate and prosecute criminal
price gouging. Current law allows only law enforcement
agencies to act during a state of emergency declared by the
governor.
Did many complain about prices after the
hurricanes? McMaster’s office received more than 1,500
complaints. There likely were more who did not bother to
register their displeasure ..... but simply griped out
loud.
Be all that as it may, McMaster’s proposal to change
the law on price gouging should be heeded by lawmakers. Too
many South Carolinians are hit too hard by natural price
increases. They don’t need gouging to add to their worries.
Editorial expression in this feature represents
our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.
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