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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Nicole
Reigelman |
State Rep. Marc Gergely
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Gergely: Rise
in gas prices means time to act on fuel bill is now
Says ‘drive-off’ fuel thefts mean higher prices for law-abiding
drivers
HARRISBURG, May 24 -- With the approach of the summer vacation season and all-time-high gas prices, state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-Allegheny, said punishment must be heightened for “drive-off” gasoline thieves. Those thefts cause prices to increase for law-abiding consumers, he said.
Gergely is seeking to increase the penalties for people caught stealing fuel. His legislation (H.B. 998) would add to the monetary penalties already in place, which are $100 to $250 for a first offense; $250 to $500 for a second offense; and no less than $500 for a third and subsequent offenses.
The legislation would add a 30-day license suspension for a first offense, a 60-day suspension for a second offense, and a third and subsequent offenses would be punishable by a six-month license suspension.
“When it costs upwards of $60 to fill your gas tank, people are willing to take the risk of driving away without paying for their fuel, especially when weighing the likelihood of being caught with the small monetary penalty,” Gergely said. “While the situation for some people is desperate, stealing fuel only causes the price to go up for law-abiding drivers.”
Gergely said suspending driving privileges would strengthen the penalties. The current penalties were established in 2002 when per-gallon prices were lower, but they have become irrelevant due to skyrocketing prices since then, he said.
“If stealing gasoline meant you could lose your way to get to work, run errands, or even go on vacation, people would think twice before pulling away without paying,” Gergely said. “People are under the misconception that gas station owners are making huge profits when that simply isn’t the case.
“Unlike the oil companies, the retailers have a slim profit margin. The retailers make only a few cents on each gallon of gas, so one $60 theft can cost them a day’s worth of earnings. They are in turn forced to make up for their losses by passing the costs on to other customers.”
Gergely said his bill was introduced with bipartisan support in April, and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
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