Bronson Asks Residents To Report Price Gouging In Flooded Panhandle Counties
For Information, Contact:
Terence McElroy
(850) 488-3022
April 2, 2009
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today urged residents in 18 North Florida counties to report any instances of price gouging to his department in the aftermath of the flooding rains in the Panhandle during the past week.
Under Florida law, it is unlawful to charge exorbitant or excessive prices for essential items, including shelter, gasoline, food, water, ice, generators or lumber, following the declaration of an emergency, unless the increases in the amount charged are attributable to additional costs incurred by retailers.
Governor Charlie Crist last evening declared a state of emergency in the following 18 counties as a result of the flooding rains:
Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Escambia, Holmes, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington.
Individuals or businesses found to have engaged in price gouging face fines of up to $1,000 per violation, or up to a maximum fine of $25,000 a day.
“We’re asking consumers to come forward and let us know if any retailers have exploited our citizens or are profiteering from the flooding conditions” Bronson said. “This activity is not only reprehensible, it’s illegal.”
Bronson is asking residents who have any evidence that price gouging has occurred or is occurring to report it at once to his department’s toll-free hotline - 1 800 HELP FLA (435-7352).
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