Some gas stations near Orlando International Airport are charging nearly $5 a gallon for gasoline, said a report by Central Florida News 13-TV.
The pricing is not illegal, however, added a report by WESH-TV. Florida has a law against price gouging during an emergency. [image-nocss] Since the two gas stations sell high-priced gasoline all the time, it is not considered price gouging, according to the law.
Over the last two years, Dyer's office, along with the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, has received hundreds of complaints from drivers who describe a scenario in which they pulled into a gas station that lacks visible price signage from the road and discovered the price at the pump to be dramatically higher than the going rate for gasoline in the area.
In many of those cases, the drivers were visitors returning rental cars to Orlando International Airport.
"While it might not technically be a crime, I think just about any reasonable person would agree that what's going on here is just not right," said Dyer. "As mayor, when residents or visitors to our city are getting scammed and hurt, I believe it's my job to step in and stop it from happening."
The proposed ordinance is a first of its kind in Florida. It would require all gas stations within a perimeter surrounding Orlando International Airport to display the price of the gasoline they are selling using roadside signage that falls within a general industry standard.
Gas stations that fail to do this would be subject to fines of $500 per day under the city's code enforcement powers.
"This is about protecting consumers and protecting the image of our city," added Dyer. "I am proud that we are taking creative, aggressive steps to keep residents and visitors from getting scammed. I am proud that we are taking steps to protect our global image as one of the best places on earth to visit."
The ordinance will go before the Orlando City Council for its first reading on May 24.
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