New Jersey Gas Stations In Violation

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Unfortunate but not surprisingly, with gas prices on an almost meteoric rise, some gas station owners still feel compelled to further gouge the consumer! State authorities on Thursday announced 350 gas stations were fined out of 1,023 stations that were inspected during a recent three-day operation in all 21 counties.
Most commonly was the occurrance of inaccurately calibrated pumps which dispensed fewer gallons into a driver's tank than the amount the customer paid for.

Weights and measures inspectors also discovered pricing discrepancies and inaccurate octane ratings.

Customers are encouraged to get out of their cars when they get gas to make sure they get the octane they requested and to verify if prices are properly posted.

Did you know that gasoline prices at a station should NOT be changed more than once per day? I didn't! So, if you do notice this particular infarction going on, call the state at 732-815-4840.


Here's a complete list of the New Jersey gas stations found in violation, GROUPED BY COUNTY.
Source: N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs To report a violation call: [phone]

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Freehold Shell
103 East Main St. Freehold Borough, NJ 07728 Monmouth

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For balance....

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/NEWS0301/80626046

UNION -- New Jersey gasoline retailers fired back Thursday at state Attorney General Anne Milgram, who had accused hundreds of stations of assorted wrongdoings, including overcharging.

"The report and subsequent press release issued were misleading and, I believe,
factually incorrect," said Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience Store and Automotive Association.

Speaking at a gas station and backed by eight gasoline retailers, Risalvato demanded that Milgram reveal what data she had used to amass her list of alleged wrongdoers.

Risalvato said some of the owners who landed on the list had done nothing wrong or committed minor infractions, such as selling gasoline for less than the posted price.

"The attorney general tried to paint a picture that gas stations operators are crooks. That simply is not true," Risalvato said.

Milgram had unveiled the list of 350 violations last week, saying the Department of Law and Public Safety, and its Division of Weights and Measures displayed vigilance in guarding against gouging at a time gas prices are at record highs.

The Department of Law and Public Safety corrected its original release today by announcing that one station -- Academy Exxon in Livingston -- was mistakenly listed as being in violation.

Risalvato said of the 40 alleged violations his organization examined, 20 were either unfounded of what he called "minor in nature."

He said he did not want to take the issue to court. "I'd like to see how the AG responds," he said.

One owner, Bob Simpson, whose Shell station is in Randolph, said he landed on the list for a minor discrepancy in paperwork but said to this day he had not seen an official complaint from the state.

"When the inspector left, he said, 'No big deal.' I called Weights and Measures on Friday, and they didn't know about it (the alleged infraction)," Simpson said.

Simpson said he has operated the station since 1996. "I have never had a problem before," he said.

Risalvato said his group supports enforcement against crooked retailers. "We're all for that," he said.

Another owner, Jack Tabibian, operating a Sunoco station in Fairfield, told of landing on Milgram's list even though state inspectors saw his cashed check for an operator's permit that he said the state never mailed out.

He said the inspectors were apologetic. "Weights and Measures didn't have a problem," he said.

Kashmir Gill, the owner of BP stations in the West Long Branch area, said he doesn't know why he's on the list and never received a citation. "The damage to my business is already done," he said.

Tom Baldwin: [e-mail]