State Of Emergency Declared To Deal With Price Gouging
Governor Sonny Perdue has signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Georgia to deal with the issue of price gouging of fuel.
From the Governor’s office:
The Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor of the State of Georgia, declared a state of emergency for the State of Georgia.
Under Georgia law, price-control statutes are activated upon the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency. During the declared state of emergency, businesses may not sell any goods or services necessary to protect the health, safety or property of citizens at prices higher than the prices at which those same goods or services were offered before the declaration of a state of emergency.
The only exception allowed is if the business can document that the price was increased only in an amount which accurately reflects an increase in the cost of the goods or services to the person selling the goods or services or an increase in the cost of transporting the goods or service into the area. Price increases are not allowed on stock that was on hand before the emergency was declared. Proof of the reason for any price increase must be readily available when the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs requests it.
Absent a declared state of emergency, competition and demand drive prices in our free-market economy.
According to state officials, instances of price gouging can carry a fine of up to $25,000 for each instance.
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