BAYTOWN, Texas — A Houston-area gas station was hit with a $50,000 penalty after the Harris County District Attorney's office said it raised prices during Hurricane Beryl earlier this year.
Super Stop, which is on North Main Street in Baytown, raised prices more than 40% during the storm, the DA's office said on Tuesday.
"This judgment sends a clear message to businesses: If you exploit the community during a disaster, the consequences will far outweigh any short-term profits," the attorney's office said in a release.
The store agreed to pay the penalty after it wasn't able to explain why they raised prices so much. The gas station also said it wouldn't hike prices during future declared disasters.
"Harris County won’t tolerate businesses taking advantage of residents in times of crisis," Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said. "We’re holding companies accountable. If you try to exploit a natural disaster to mark up your profits on the backs of Harris County residents, we will find out. And it’s going to cost you."
During Beryl, the Harris County Attorney's Office said it got 250 complaints of price-gouging during the storm. They said that while most complied with cease-and-desist orders, Super Stop didn't and they took legal action.
