Florida slaps gas sellers that raised prices with subpoenas

Florida’s attorney general issued subpoenas Sunday to four companies that have reportedly raised gasoline prices dramatically as Hurricane Ike threatened oil supplies in the Gulf of Mexico.

Flying J, Dodge’s Gas Stores, Valero and Pilot Travel Centers will have to provide invoices and other documents to prove that the costs they passed on to Florida consumers were justified, said Attorney General Bill McCollum.


The four companies are all independent retailers dependent on the spot market for gasoline, McCollum noted.

Of the four companies subpoenaed, residents reported price gouging by Central Florida stations, including a Pilot station in Brevard, Dodge’s stations in Orange and a Valero station in Orlando that was reportedly charging $5.05 a gallon Saturday.

Orlando Sentinel