LaValle: Credit, Cash Gas Prices Should be Equal

Those who stop off at the ATM for some cash before filling up at the gas station may have one less stop ahead.

State Sen. Ken LaValle, R-Port Jefferson, will be introducing a bill to prevent gas stations from charging more at the pump for credit card transactions than cash purchases.

“The law as written forbids charging consumers a surcharge for the use of their credit card,” LaValle said. “Because the statute is unclear, retailers have been charging higher prices for credit card use but maintaining that the cash price represents a discount ... In effect, profiteers are taking food off the table of cash strapped Long Islanders during a time of rising gas prices and sputtering economy.”

Patch sites  have reported recently about some stations charging — per gallon — to purchase gas with a credit card. Calls to the gas stations were not answered, though a spokeswoman with the Long Island Gas Retailers Association said gas station owners have the right to set a different price for customers paying with debit/credit, instead of cash.

According to LongIslandGasPrices.com, since Jan. 1, the average gas price for regular gas has risen from just under $3.55 per gallon to nearly $4.00 per gallon.

Should LaValle's legislation pass the state Senate and Assembly, the bill would take effect 30 days after being signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.