Among the violations, locally however, in fact in all of Bergen County, only one station was cited: Friendly gas station on the corner of Rutherford and Stuyvesant Avenues in Lyndhurst. The lone violation at the cash-only station was for having no registration available when task force investigators arrived.

Figures not representative

It seemed last week when the state released its results, which covered inspections by state task force members during the last three days of May, that Bergen County was nearly immune to deceptive practices and station violations.

"They said there was only one violation, we know there was in fact a lot more than one," said Mabel Aragon, a spokesperson for Bergen County. "Our weights and measures superintendent was a little surprised by the findings."

Bergen County Superintendent Michael Alpher said the county had concluded a task force investigation just a week before the state conducted theirs and cited 14 gas stations throughout the county for violations ranging from improper signage to faulty equipment. One was in Rutherford and another in Carlstadt, although he could not say their names as the violations remain pending.

"I’m not really sure how their inspections were conducted or what size team they had here, but our task force found numerous stations with violations during our sweep," said Alpher. "The one cited by the state in Lyndhurst...that’s a new station and probably hadn’t even received its registration from the state yet. Of the other violations found, none were that shocking this year."

Shocking or not, Alpher said it sends a warning, when gas prices are continuing to rise dramatically, stations need to be in the fullest compliance.

"I think the most important thing I would tell people is get out of the car, this way you put the attendant on notice that you’re watching the transaction," said Alpher. "It’s so often I see someone in their car that reads the newspaper at the pump then just hands over the money and goes."

"I’ve never been perceptive until prices started skyrocketing. It used to be pull up, do something while I was waiting and fork over the cash," said Jonathan Rizzo of Lodi, who was gassing up at the 7-Eleven in Lyndhurst last week. "Now, I kind of peek over and make sure the price is matching the price listed above the pump. So far, no problems."

Unseen charges

What Rizzo and other drivers may not be aware of is that many stations are now offering discounts to drivers that pay in cash, usually 10 or 12 cents that is tacked to the regular price per gallon to defray transaction fees when drivers pay with a credit card. Rizzo said it’s a good thing as he is a cash kind of guy.

"I’ve heard about it, it’s outrageous...especially now that gas prices are already driving people to the poor house," he said.

Legislation co-sponsored by South Bergenite area state senate representative, Paul Sarlo, passed the full senate last week that would require all fuel retailers to display the price they charge for credit card purchases if it differs from the price charged for cash purchases on all signs denoting fuel prices.

"Charging separate prices for paying by cash and credit is becoming increasingly common, but if drivers don’t have that information before they pull up to the pump, they feel like the victim of a bait-and-switch scam," said Sarlo. "That information needs to be readily available before a driver pulls into a gas station."

Alpher said although the information should be posted and his division has been citing stations for failure to denote it at the station, he understands the extra cost.

"The little guy that owns these stations is paying for the cost of fuel before it’s even transported and now that’s about $3.90 so if he has a 10,000 gallon tank, he has to come up with $39,000 and wire it before the fuel’s delivered," said Alpher. "The same applies to the credit transaction fees, they get killed on the cost, the little guy takes a beating."

Turning the tables

Others, however, say it’s not the consumers now that need to be worried about getting scammed at the pumps, it’s the gas stations themselves. Carlstadt Detective Sergeant Anthony Bellina said an attendant at 17 Fuel Stop on Route 17 South last week gave chase to a white box truck, which fueled up with approximately $187 in diesel, or 40 gallons, and drove off without paying. The attendant got a partial plate number, but Bellina said the number did not match any on record. He said the department has not received any complaints of deceptive gas stations, but this isn’t the first time the town has been faced with deceptive consumers.

"This has happened in the past and you’ll see it a lot more now because of the price of fuel," said Bellina. "We haven’t gotten crazy with it, but I know other towns are dealing with it too. We just have to inform the attendants, take the credit card first...don’t leave an easy opportunity for theft."