TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The state has received almost 200 storm-related calls on price gouging after Tropical Storm Isaac drenched Florida.
John Lucas is the spokesman for the Florida Attorney General's Office. He says out of the 160 complaints made to a state hotline by Monday afternoon, only 44 were deemed for further review.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports one caller complained of a Lauderhill gas station raising prices 60 cents a gallon to $4.39 on Saturday.
Florida law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities such as food, water, gasoline and other items needed as a result of an officially declared emergency. Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Saturday.
Violators face a $1,000 penalty per violation and can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.
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