Drivers report more than 600 fuel check complaints amid gas tax suspension

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It’s been 10 days since North Carolina suspended its gas tax and some drivers say they’re feeling less pain at the pump.

“It’s a lot cheaper to fill my truck up, so that’s a good thing,” Lane Killian, Mt. Holly driver said. “I’m on the road quite often, so it’s a lot better. I feel it for sure.”

As of October 18th, the North Carolina legislature suspended the 41 cent a gallon gas tax to offer some financial relief until the end of November.

“It’s less, but it needs to come down more. A lot more,” Bobby Somerville, Mt. Holly driver said. “They need to go after these oil companies and make ’em bring the price of gas down.”

But not all gas stations are complying. Attorney General Jeff Jackson says his office has received more than 600 reports of gas stations whose prices don’t seem right.

“ The first thing you might notice is if the price hasn’t changed from when the gas tax went into suspension to now,” Attorney General Jeff Jackson said. “The second way, and it’s becoming more common, is if there’s one station that’s charging four bucks and all the others in town chat in town are charging $3.60, that’s a big red flag.”

There is one loophole since gas stations buy their fuel in advance, they are allowed to charge customers full price for the gas they bought before the gas tax was suspended. Most neighborhood gas stations refill their tanks one to three times per week, rural stations could fill less frequently.

AG Jackson says he needs drivers to be his eyes and ears to make sure gas stations are following the law.

“Consumers should save several hundred million dollars because that’s how much the state estimated that it was gonna cost us as a state in a lost revenue by putting this on pause,” Ag Jackson said. “What we need to do is make sure that $300 million ends up in the pockets of families and not windfall profits for gas stations.”

Some drivers hope the state will decide to suspend the gas tax for a longer time.

“Maybe when it gets close to mid-November, they can take a look at what the costs are and how things are going on and which, which gas stations are suffering and which ones aren’t. And then they can make their decision better,” Vince Brinkman, Mt. Holly driver said.

AG Jackson’s office has been sending letters to the gas stations that haven’t been following the rules. If they refuse to change the price they could face big fines. You can submit a fuel check complaint at this link.