AAA Mid-Atlantic: 'Absolutely No Justification For Spike In Gas Prices'

[deminks]

http://woodbridge-va.patch.com/articles/aaa-mid-atlantic-absolutely-no-justification-for-spike-in-gas-prices

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According to John Townsend, the Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, gasoline distributors are blaming the flooding along the Mississippi River for their decision to hike gas prices. They fear that the flooding will further disrupt fuel supplies, but some experts believe that this is just an excuse.

"For the sake of motorists, we most certainly hope that price gouging is not taking place in our area,” said Townsend. “Although proving it is hard, such practices are illegal, unwarranted, and unconscionable. They must not be tolerated.”

A press release by AAA states that "the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), which provides daily fuel price data to AAA, reports that the eleven flood-threatened refineries along the Mississippi River in the Baton Rouge/New Orleans region account for about 14 percent of the gasoline refined in the United States. However, those refineries are continuing to operate normally, and most of them do not anticipate any production disruption from the flooding."

While the current Virginia law against price gouging only protects consumers when the Governor or President has declared a state of emergency, Townsend advises motorists concerned about the possibility to call the Virginia Attorney General's office at 1-800-451-1525.

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