BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- As of January 1, 2006, pay before you pump will be mandatory at all Bowling Green, Ky., gas stations, reported WBKO-TV.
The city commission voted 3 to 2 on Tuesday in favor of the ordinance that will force motorists to pay before they pump gasoline.
David Browning owns 14 Shell stations in the area, and said that he is happy about the ordinance. I'm not sure exactly how much we've lost in the last year because of driveoffs, but it's dramatically increased since the price of gasoline has gotten upwards of three dollars, he told the news outlet.
He added, [image-nocss] I know it's going to be inconvenient for some people. But I think the good outweighs the bad. I think that roughly half of the people who buy gasoline, from us at least, use a credit card now.
Opponents of the ordinance feared the mandatory prepay requirement would drive business away from local stations, the report said.
City Commissioner Dr. Brian Strow told WBKO, I am definitely 100% against making prepay gas mandatory. If a gas station wants to make their customers prepay fine, but I don't think the government should tell a business you have to make your customers pay in a certain way.
The Bowling Green Police Department said the ordinance will effectively end gasoline driveoffs, according to the report.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.