NEWARK - State, county and municipal Weights and Measures personnel are monitoring and inspecting gas stations, and will continue to do so after Hurricane Rita makes landfall, to ensure New Jersey’s consumer protection statutes are being followed, officials announced.

“I want motorists to know that we already are monitoring gas stations and we will continue to do so. We expect State statutes regarding the operation of gas stations to be followed at all times,”Acting Governor Richard J. Codey said.

Codey noted that the State is allowing stations to sell gasoline below cost until further notice. The statute that limits price adjustments to once per 24 hour period remains in effect and will be strictly enforced.

“Weights and measures inspectors at the state, county and local level are coordinating resources to protect consumers as effectively as possible,” State Attorney General Peter C. Harvey said. “We will not tolerate violations of the State’s Motor Fuels and Consumer Fraud acts.”

Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly Ricketts noted that motorists can take the following actions to protect themselves when purchasing gasoline:

• Check that the per-gallon price displayed on the roadside sign matches the per-gallon price setting on the pump;
• Look for the blue Weights and Measures sticker on the gas pump, which verifies that the pump has been inspected annually as required and found to be in proper working order.
• Make sure that the price display on the gas pump is set to zero before the attendant starts the pump; and

• Verify the price that the attendant tells you to pay by checking the display on the pump.

Any suspected violations can be reported to either the State or local Office of Weights and Measures. The State Weights and Measures office in Avenel can be contacted at 732-815-4840. Complaints also can be filed online on the Consumer Affairs’ web site at http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov

The list of municipal and county Weights and Measures offices is below, along with contact telephone numbers: