If some New Jersey Senate Democrats get their way, the fine for fuel price gouging in the state would be as much as 100 times more than it is now.

Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Ewing, introduced a bill late last month that would increase the penalty for price gouging and authorize the state to use revenue earned from fines to assist low-income senior and disabled citizens pay heating bills.

Turner’s bill – S2810 – calls for fines on fuel stations to be boosted to $2,000 for first time offenders. Subsequent offenses would result in a $5,000 fine.

Existing New Jersey law allows the state to fine gougers $50 to $200 per occurrence. The current law also prohibits the price of fuel from being increased more than once in a 24-hour period.

“Something has to be done to create a deterrent for the unscrupulous few who would rather pay a small fine and break the law so they can get rich quick,” Turner said in a written statement.

A similar effort – S2769 – offered by Sens. Joseph Coniglio of Paramus and Nicholas Sacco of North Bergen would increase the fine fuel stations to $1,500 for a first offense and up to $3,000 for each subsequent offense.

In addition, Sens. Sacco and Joseph Vitale, D-Woodbridge, offered a bill – S2768 – that would fine fuel wholesalers up to $5,000 for a first offense – that’s 100 times more than the low-end fine of $50 now on the books. Subsequent offenses could result in a $10,000 fine.

New Jersey is far from being alone in its pursuit of stations that fleece truckers and other drivers at the fuel pump.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reports 27 states have some type of price gouging ban with many others pursuing their own rules. The laws in many of those states are triggered by emergency declarations.

Among the states considering new rules include:

• The Pennsylvania Senate has approved a bill to prohibit “unconscionably excessive” pricing of such products as gasoline and diesel fuel during a declared state of emergency. Anyone found in violation would face up to a $10,000 fine, per occurrence. Existing law limits fines to $1,000. The bill has been sent to the House for further consideration.
• An Ohio Senate panel is reviewing a bill that would prohibit prices for basic needs such as food, motor fuels and housing from being raised “substantially” during a national or state emergency.
• An effort in Wisconsin would prohibit wholesalers and retailers from charging excessive prices for consumer goods and services, including gasoline and diesel fuel. The measure targets prices that grossly exceed the amount charged for similar goods and services, or that greatly exceed the average price charged within the past year. Anyone found in violation would face fines up to $1,000 per occurrence.
• Florida and Tennessee have filed lawsuits alleging price gouging since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and are seeing lower pump prices as a result, The Associated Press reported.