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.