During a state of emergency, Florida’s price-gouging law prohibits excessive price increases on supplies like food, water, and generators.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Monday activated the state’s price-gouging hotline, giving residents a place to report extreme price increases on essential supplies needed to prepare for and recover from Hurricane Idalia.
Activation of the hotline followed a state of emergency declaration in 49 Florida counties.
Idalia is on target to hit Florida’s Big Bend area near Dixie and Taylor counties early Wednesday, according to National Hurricane Center forecasters. On Tuesday, Idalia was churning in the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 storm, but it was projected to come ashore as a Category 3 system with sustained winds of up to 120 mph.
During a state of emergency, Florida’s price-gouging law prohibits excessive price increases on commodities such as generators, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, ice, lumber and water within the emergency areas. It also applies to services like tree removal and roof repair.
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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 in a single 24-hour period, according to Moody’s office. Violators can also face criminal charges.
Anyone who suspects price gouging can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by using the No Scam app, visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling 866-9NO-SCAM. The Attorney General’s No Scam app can be downloaded for free on the Apple and Android app stores by searching No Scam.
Anyone reporting price gouging should get as much information as possible before submitting a report. Examples of information would be:
- Estimates.
- Invoices.
- Receipts.
- Bills.
- Advertisements.
- Price tags.
- Photos.
- The product name.
- Size or quantity.
- Manufacturer.
- Item number.
- Listed or quoted price.
- Usual price, if known.
- Business location and information.
- Whether the seller is a third party, such as a third-party hotel booking site.
More information on price gouging is available on the Florida Attorney General’s website. Information in Spanish is available here.