Gas pump audit finds statewide spike in violations
Jul 22, 2013, 3:46 PM | Updated: Aug 23, 2013, 1:27 pm
PHOENIX – A recent audit of nearly 2,000 gas stations around the state revealed that about 17 percent were in violation of compliance laws.
The Annual Gas Pump Report released by Arizona Department of Weights and Measures found that the spike, a 3 percent increase from last year, was mostly due to “meter creep.”
“Meter creep is where there’s no gasoline coming out at all,” said Shawn Marquez of the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures. “The dispenser is slowly ticking away but you’re not getting anything.”
Marquez said other violations included prices not showing or the meter not starting at zero.
The unannounced inspection resulted in over $350,000 worth in penalties.
Marquez recommended reporting any abnormalities at the pump right away.
