FLOWER MOUND, Texas -- The Flower Mound Town, Texas, Council passed an ordinance on September 5 requiring payment for fuel purchases prior to activation of a fuel pump by merchants. The purpose of this ordinance is to reduce or eliminate fuel driveoff thefts commonly associated with allowing customers to pump fuel prior to payment.
Enforcement began at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, October 15.
The Flower Mound Police Department has distributed stickers to fuel merchants to place in conspicuous areas of their business location, explaining [image-nocss] the ordinance to customers so they may better understand the intent and rationale of the ordinance.
Violations observed by police officers after the enforcement date could result in the issuance of a Class C misdemeanor citation to the offending attendant that may result in a fine not to exceed $500.
Police said they were responding to about 14 calls a month at the town's 19 gas stations, according to a report by CBS 11-TV. A similar law is already on the books in Burleson and El Paso, said the report.
Meanwhile, the Topeka, Kansas, city council tonight is taking up the issue of mandating that all drivers pre-pay at gas stations, reported WIBW-TV. Already in 2006, there have been 465 driveoffs. While that number is down relative to last year, said the report, it still accounts for 6.5% of gasoline pumped this year. Topeka Police have backed such a plan in order to deter the crime. Station owners have had mixed responses to the idea, the report said, claiming that forcing customers to pre-pay would curtail impulse buying, a major source of their revenue.
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