May 14, 2008
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today warned consumers to beware of unscrupulous businesses that may try to gouge consumers in the wake of that state's recent wildfires.
Those devastating fires -- and the widespread damage they have left in their path -- are threatening 14 counties in Florida, McCollum's office said.
"As difficult as it is to be forced from your home, or worse, lose your home altogether, our citizens should not have to deal with being doubly victimized by price-gougers," McCollum said in a written statement. "We will do whatever is necessary to help protect Floridians from those who might try to take advantage of them in the wake of these devastating fires."
McCollum encouraged residents who suspect price gouging to call his office's Price Gouging Hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). Investigators, he said, will research those complaints.
Florida law prohibits excessive price increases of such commodities as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment in the wake of an officially declared emergency.
Governor Charlie Crist has issued a declaration of emergency in response to the widespread damage and ongoing threat caused by the wildfires in that state.
Under Florida law, the price of goods or services are considered exorbitant if the increase represents a "gross disparity" from the average price of that commodity during the 30 days prior to the declared emergency.
Violators of the price gouging statute face civil penalties of $1,000 per violation -- up to a total of $25,000 -- for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period.
