NEWARK
— Attorney General Peter C. Harvey
and Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly
Ricketts announced today that they are
closely watching gasoline prices in New
Jersey to ensure that gas retailers and
suppliers do not engage in price fixing
or increase their prices unjustifiably
to exploit Hurricane Katrina.
“We
will not stand by and let our consumers
be exploited by profiteers looking to
cash in on Hurricane Katrina,” said
Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. “It
is true that market forces have pushed
gasoline prices upward across the nation
because of this natural disaster and its
impact on supply. But we will take action
if we see cases where price fixing or
other illegal practices have pushed prices
off the chart.”
“If
we determine that suppliers or retailers
are conspiring to keep prices artificially
high, we’ll take legal action to
stop it,” said Attorney General
Harvey. “Gasoline is a necessity
for most New Jersey residents. We will
not tolerate businesses that illegally
exploit that need and the volatile price
situation triggered by this tragic storm
in the South.”
Attorney General Harvey and Consumer Affairs
Director Ricketts are urging oil companies,
suppliers and gasoline retailers to hold
the line on gasoline prices as much as
possible. Where it appears that businesses
are exploiting Hurricane Katrina by charging
prices that are unconscionably high and
have no reference to their actual costs,
the State is prepared to investigate and,
where appropriate, take action.
“We
are watching gas prices closely,”
said Consumer Affairs Director Ricketts.
“We urge consumers to contact us
if they find a gas station that is charging
significantly higher prices than other
stations in the area. Meanwhile, we are
offering some tips that can help New Jersey
consumers save money at the pump.”
The complaint line at the State Weights
and Measures office in Avenel will be
staffed throughout the Labor Day weekend
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Consumers can contact
the complaint line at 732-815-4840
or file complaints via the Consumer
Affairs’ web site at www.njconsumeraffairs.org.
Consumer Affairs offered the following
tips to New Jersey motorists:
-
Shop around. By looking for the lowest
price before you fill your tank, you
will save money and promote competition.
-
Car pool and combine trips. Reduce your
driving by car pooling or using public
transportation. When possible, combine
errands or include them in your commute.
-
Slow and steady. Driving slower will
reduce the amount of gas you burn. Making
use of cruise control and overdrive
features on longer trips also helps.
-
Choose an efficient vehicle. When buying
a vehicle, pick one that gets good gas
mileage. If you have more than one vehicle,
drive the most efficient vehicle whenever
possible.
-
Keep your car tuned. You can get the
best gas mileage from your car by keeping
the engine tuned, properly inflating
the tires, and replacing your motor
oil and air filter regularly as recommended.
Use the right grade of oil.
-
Keep your car light and sleek. Remove
heavy objects from your trunk and passenger
compartment and don’t carry bulky
items on the roof unless needed.
-
Buy regular gas. Unless your owner’s
manual indicates that you need to use
higher octane gasoline, save money by
purchasing regular gas.
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