TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline following a state of emergency declaration for areas affected by torrential downpours and dangerous flooding. The order follows Governor Ron DeSantis’s state of emergency declaration covering Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Sarasota counties.
The Price Gouging Hotline is now available to receive reports of extreme price increases on essential commodities. Florida’s price gouging law applies only to items and services essential for preparing for or recovering from a storm within the areas of a declared state of emergency.
During a storm-related declared state of emergency, state law prohibits excessive increases in the price of essential commodities such as equipment, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, ice, lumber, and water needed as a direct result of the event.
Anyone who suspects price gouging can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. For more information on price gouging, access Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging resource online.
Recovery can be challenging and scammers may attempt to exploit the situation. To avoid falling victim to scams in the aftermath of a storm, view Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: After the Storm resource online.
Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to $25,000 for multiple violations committed within a single 24-hour period.