TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—In response to severe weather conditions and a state of emergency declaration by Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated Florida's Price Gouging Hotline. The hotline will receive reports of extreme price increases on essential commodities in the affected areas.
The state of emergency covers numerous counties, including Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
Attorney General Moody emphasized the importance of reporting any instances of price gouging, stating, "Please report price gouging to my office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM, visiting MyFloridaLegal.com, or downloading our app—NO SCAM."
Florida's price gouging law is applicable only to items and services essential for storm preparation and recovery within the declared state of emergency areas. The law prohibits excessive increases in the price of commodities such as equipment, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, ice, lumber, and water directly related to the weather event.
To ensure swift action against price gouging, individuals who suspect any violations are encouraged to report them to the Florida Attorney General's Office. Reports can be made through the NO SCAM app, by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com, or by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.
Violators of the price gouging statute may face civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations within a 24-hour period.
In light of the potential for scams in the aftermath of a storm, Attorney General Moody has also provided resources to help residents protect themselves. The "Scams at a Glance: After the Storm" resource offers valuable information on avoiding scams that may arise during the recovery process. The resource is available for download in both English and Spanish.
As the recovery process following severe weather can be challenging, it is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant and report any instances of price gouging or scams. By doing so, the community can work together to ensure that those in need receive essential commodities at fair prices.
For more information on price gouging and to access additional resources, please visit Attorney General Moody's Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging resource.
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To find out more, go to this link: https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-moody-activates-price-gouging-hotline-state-emergency-due-severe