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History
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Specifies requirements for motor fuel advertising media
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law and the agriculture and markets law, in relation to specifying requirements for motor fuel advertising media
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that motorists are able to make informed decisions with respect to motor fuel purchases.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would update New York law related to the posting of motor fuel prices by motor fuel dealers. The bill would require dealers offering fuel to the public at different prices based on method of payment, a sign that must prominently display the higher of the prices offered.
The bill would provide that failure to comply shall subject any person or firm to a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars for a first offense, up to one thousand dollars for a second offense, and up to ten thousand dollars for a third or subsequent offense.
Justification
Motorists are feeling significant pain at the pump. To add insult to injury, some motorists have reported being lured to a particular gas station by the promise of reduced price fuel, only to find that the price listed on the roadside sign only applies to cash purchases. Motorists depend on roadside signs to determine which gas station to patronize, using such signs to quickly comparison shop among competing stations. Over the past several months, as an increasing number of stations have begun offering reduced prices to customers that pay cash, motorists have reported instances of unclear and unreadable discount disclosures. In some instances, the words "cash" and "credit" are posted in a font so small the words are nearly impossible to read unless the motorists is directly under or beside the sign.
Similar practices have been documented in the past. In August 2008, the Attorney General revealed the results of an investigation showing that nearly one-third of gas stations operating in Nassau and Suffolk counties engaged in deceptive practices. The Attorney General's investigation identified instances where gas stations engaged in deceptive advertising by listing the lower cash prices on their street-view signage without disclosing that the price was only for cash trans- actions. This practice can result in motorists being lured to the pumps only to find out that if they choose to use a credit card they will be charged a higher price. In order to protect consumers and to provide regulatory guidance to gasoline station operators, this bill would require operators that offer discounts to conspicuously post the higher price or; if only the discounted price is offered, clearly label the conditions of such discounted price.
Prior legislative history
None in Senate. In Assembly: 2013-14- A.1752-A - Referred to Codes 2011-12- A.9927-D - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.