Nearly 50 service stations
in Missouri have been ordered to pay $60,000 in fines for violating the state's
rules and regulations on price gouging that occurred directly following the
terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon's office
says most of the fines are for unfair increases in the price of gas. An undetermined
number of fuel servicing stations have also been fined for gouging truckdrivers
for diesel.
"Those who used
the tragic events of Sept. 11 as an excuse to dramatically increase prices
for necessities have discovered that any short-term gain has been quickly
negated both by the legal trouble they found themselves in and by the condemnation
of public opinion," Nixon said.
