Price Gouging

Price Gouging

    On August 26, 2012, Governor Jindal declared a state of emergency in Louisiana.  The state of emergency will be in place from August 26, 2012 through September 25, 2012.  Prices should have been frozen after that declaration was made unless there were fluctuations in the national or regional market.  If you have paid an unreasonably high price after the state of emergency was declared, you may have been a victim of price gouging.

      The price gouging statute applies to many items including hotels, motels, gasoline and diesel fuel sold within the emergency area.  If you were charged an amount greater than the price that other consumers in your area paid for the same goods or services, price gouging may have been committed.

    Price gouging is a violation of the state of emergency statute.  The penalties for a violation of the state of emergency statute set forth that a violator shall be fined up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) or that the offender can be imprisoned for up to six months, or both. 

    If you think you have been a victim of price gouging, please contact the St. John Sheriff's Office or Greg Maurin with the St. John District Attorney's Office so the appropriate action may be taken.  Greg Maurin can be reached at (985) 652-9757.