Price gouging hotline activated for Florida counties impacted Potential Tropical Cyclone 9
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated the price gouging hotline for the 41 counties expected to be impacted by Potential Tropical Cyclone 9.
The purpose of the price gouging hotline is to allow for reports of extreme price increases on essential commodities such as equipment, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, ice, lumber and water needed as a direct result of the storm.
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The counties the state price gouging laws are in effect for includeAlachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.
Moody says the price gouging law only applies to items that are essential to preparing for and recovering from the storm.
“Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected to strengthen as it works its way through the Gulf of Mexico and could impact large parts of Florida near the end of this week,” Moody said.
Anyone who suspects price gouging can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office atMyFloridaLegal.comor by calling 1-866-9NO-SCAM. For more information on price gouging, Floridians can visit Moody’s Scam at a Glance: Price Gouging.