Lansing, Mich. – Attorney General Jennifer Granholm recently notified 33 Michigan gas stations of violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. The stations that were notified bring the total number of stations accused of price gouging to 46.
Each station will receive a letter from the Attorney General's office demanding that the stations reimburse all customers for the excessive prices charged from September 11 to September 13. Consumers are entitled to the difference between the prices actually paid and the state average on an equivalent grade of gasoline. Stations unable to provide refunds for all customers will be required to pay a civil penalty equal to three times the amount of money that the station did not reimburse to consumers.
Attorney General Granholm will ask the Michigan Legislature to designate any funds generated through these civil penalties be directed to the relief efforts in New York and Washington, D.C.