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Gas Price Gougers Can Now Do Time in Mississippi

New penalties include year in prison, $1,000 fine

April 14, 2009

The State of Mississippi has toughed laws against price gouging at the gas pump. Gov. Haley Barbour signed SB 2032, which stiffens the penalties in the Mississippi Code for false representation for sale of petroleum products.

The new law, which takes effect after July 1, 2009, increases the penalty for the crime from no time to serve to a maximum of twelve months to serve and/or a fine. The fine was also increased from a $100 minimum and $500 maximum to a $500 minimum and $1,000 maximum. Additionally, anyone found guilty will be banned from selling or distributing gasoline.

The change makes Mississippi's gasoline price gouging law among the toughest in the nation.

"I applaud our lawmakers for their support and the Governor for signing this bill which will help to protect Mississippians who may become victims of gasoline fraud, as well as deter sellers and distributors from being dishonest," said Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. "We will continue to work with the Department of Agriculture to strictly enforce the new law."

Mississippi consumers became particularly sensitive to price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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