True what they say: Hybrids will catch crooked gas stations every time.

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Oct 1, 2008 | 11:00 PM

#21

rtking

Thread Starter

Enthusiast

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 28

From: Huntington Beach, CA

Re: True what they say: Hybrids will catch crooked gas stations every time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHansen

All you have to do is fill out a form and send it to the county by fax or snail-mail. The county will send an inspector to check the pumps at that station. It is possible, though unlikely, that the station owner does not know that his pumps are not properly calibrated. The form, fax#, and snail-mail address are available online at: http://www.ocagcomm.com/wm_complaints.asp

Thanks Steve. I have printed and filled-out the form and will fax tomorrow.

Oct 2, 2008 | 12:15 AM

#22

SteveHansen

Pragmatist

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 490

From: South Florida

Re: True what they say: Hybrids will catch crooked gas stations every time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtking

Thanks Steve. I have printed and filled-out the form and will fax tomorrow.

You're welcome.

Others who read this exchange need to know: that url is for Orange County, CA, only. Other counties in CA, and other states, have different procedures and different forms. Google for them, if you need them. Most of the states and many counties have put the information online.

The station just a few blocks from where I live was short-pumping last year. A complaint to the station manager had no effect. A few weeks after I filed a complaint to the state, the pumps at that station were closed. A couple of months later, they closed the whole station, removed all of the old pumps, installed all new pumps, remodeled the building, and replaced just about everything else. That whole process happened in only about three months. I think the company (a chain) must have been planning it already, since it happened so quickly.

The complaint and enforcement process works, at least in Florida. I expect it probably works in California, too. Eventually, most fuel retailers will comply just because its cheaper to comply than it is to pay the fines every time they get caught.