Pam Bondi Activates Price Gouging Hotline for Isaac

Attorney General Pam Bondi has activated a price gouging hotline as Florida is under a state of emergency for Tropical Storm Isaac.

I encourage anyone who suspects price gouging during this declared state of emergency to report it to my office by calling 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226), the release from Bondis office stated.

Florida law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment needed as a direct result of an officially declared emergency.

Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period. In addition to the civil penalties for price gouging, state law criminalizes the sale of goods and services to the public without possession of an occupational license. Violators of the law can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.

With thousands of visitors traveling to Tampa Bay for the Republican National Convention, we will protect all residents and visitors from unscrupulous individuals who attempt to prey on consumers by engaging in price gouging.