I was reading this on AOL, but haven't seen it on other sites yet, but it probably will be soon. The article I read was about how people are stealing gas now more than ever. Since the price of gas has went up so much, many people simply cannot afford to keep gas in their vehicles. It said that people would pump the gas and then leave the nozzles laying on the ground and leave before the clerk even realized that they drove off. Plus they said that they have a hard time catching these people doing it.

Until something is done about this problem that they are causing, more and more people are going to steal gas. There are many middle and lower class people in this country that can barely make ends meet as it is. People still have to work so that they can make money, and they need transportation to that work. And the only way for some is just to steal the gas. I think it is wrong and anyone caught doing should get punished.

NOW is the time for the Government to step in and take control. Prices on goods or services can only go so high. Raising prices after a certain point is only going to create more problems. At that point, everything is going to go in reverse. Same as with any business. Stores that charge more for the same items as other stores will not be able to survive and compete with other stores.

All I know is that SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!!!!!!

 

Though I hate the idea of paying more for gas I think some people, and the morons stealing it are making a much bigger deal out of it then the reality of how much gas has gone up, or how much more people are paying for gas.

For example, 87 octane a year ago or so was approx. $1.45 a gallon, at least here in NH. Now it is approx. $1.65 so that is $0.20 more per gallon.

What is the average amount people drive in a week? I have no idea, but let’s use 300 miles (15,600 a year) for an example and a vehicle getting 16mpg. (that’s not the greatest mpg either)

If gas is $1.45 a gallon then for 300 miles it will cost you a total of $27.20 (rounded up)

If gas is $1.65 a gallon then for 300 miles it will cost you a total of $30.94 (rounded up)

So a grand total of $3.74 a week more then a year ago


Let’s double it, which is “not” normal and say the average mileage driven is 600 miles a week (31,200 miles a year).

$1.45 a gallon = $54.40

$1.65 a gallon = $61.88

A difference of $7.48 a week more then a year ago


California has a higher gas price but that is because that is what most people living in California want to begin with, they love paying more for gas then anybody else. They must because they keep electing officials that make their gas cost the most in the country so they have nothing to bitch about in California since they asked for it by voting for those who LOVE to hike their gas price, or by sitting around and ignoring it…

Anyway, they don’t pay that much more then anyone else as far as the difference from a year ago like shown above.

Therefore, I find it hard for anyone to justify stealing gas because it now cost them $4 to $8 more a week. I mean hell that’s one or two trips to McDonalds or a few snacks during the week…

 

Oh, something I forgot to mention is I am sure someone will come by and mention those on welfare may be having a real tough time with the increase of gas prices.


Well, that’s no problem for those on welfare. You see since they don’t have a job to begin with they don’t need to be out cursing around burning up OUR (as in working people) gas. And they have it the easiest since they can forgo them prime cuts of meat at the supermarket to make up the difference of $4 to $8 a week…

I am always looking out for those on welfare and coming up with solutions for them…

 

My dad drives about 400-600 miles in a week, but that beacuse he drives all over detroit metro area for his work, but every other weekend we (as a family) go up north (250 one way). add that up 500 miles in a weekend so that adds up. and i dont mind paing for gas at $2.00 because i dont drive alot, just to and from work...

 

As soon as the weather gets better here I will be driving my gas guzzling Lightning just when prices go up.

But hey I will be doing my part for mother earth by helping to shrink the huge toxic waste spill known as oil reserves…

Bet you people didn’t know I was concerned about the environment…

 

01 XLT SPORT You are the man!!!. You hit the nail right on the head. Its like i watch people wait in line at a double serve gas station just to pump it themselfs. But right next to them is a full service for 1 cent more per gallon.??. It makes no sence to me so they wait with there engines running and waste much more gas then if they had just sat in the car and let someone else pump it for you and not waste gas>>> people??

 

Originally posted by paulv107


It said that people would pump the gas and then leave the nozzles laying on the ground and leave before the clerk even realized that they drove off.

I don't know how it works elsewhere, but everything here is self serve and automated. There is no way you can start pumping until you've paid for it first so there's no way to steal it. You either insert your credit card into the pump to activate it, or you give your card (or cash) to the attendent in the booth first, and then he activates the pump (and you pump it). I haven't seen a pump that can be turned on manually without creditcard activation in decades! There's no way to steal gas here.

also...


SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!!!!!!

Whoa! Calm down there cowboy!. If you think the price of gas is high in the States...be glad you don't live in Europe where it's around 5 to 6 bucks a gallon.

By the way, gas prices around here have started to drop. Last week my local Chevron station had supreme unleaded (and that's stretching it since supreme here is 91 octane) for 2.54.9 a gallon. Today wit was 2.37.9. Works for me.

 

Here in NY state you activate the pump and pay after at some stations. You don't have to pay first. Where i live in a small rural town i just fill up and sign my name on a note pad at the local gas station, name, amount and gallons. Pay me on friday. This is really hard to find these days and i would not trade it for the city ever.

 

I guess I posted this because it seems to me that the more people steal, the higher the gas is going to keep getting.

Far at least a month or maybe even permanantly on my job, I am going to have to drive my personal vehicle to do my job. I will be driving anywhere from 600-1000 miles every week, just for work, not including going anywhere else. Figure I can maybe get a max of 400 miles to a tank and I am going to be filling up almost daily. Or at least every other day. $30 dollars or more per fill up is going to put a big dent in my pocket, even with the company paying me gas mileage.

Kobiashi,
Almost every pump that I have ever seen can be turned on before paying, at least in the Florida.

 

It's interesting, I've been to FL maybe a couple dozen times and it dawns on me now that I never needed to buy gas while there so I didn't know how gas was purchased.
I was in NJ last year and I now remember that it struck me as odd that all the stations had full service, so yeah you could start the pumps yourself without paying first...

BUT, what really strikes me as odd is this:
per buckdropper:
"Where i live in a small rural town i just fill up and sign my name on a note pad at the local gas station, name, amount and gallons. Pay me on friday.



I can't believe that still happens these days. I have got to move to a small town!!!

Paulv - Man, 1000 miles a week sucks! I sure hope your company is paying you (and paying you a lot) for wear and tear too, besides gas!!!!!

 

Yes 01, because everyone in California is a whinny pinko who voted for Davis and his cronnies. I love paying near 50 bucks to fill up!

31C

 

I too, like Buckdropper,can just sign at my local small town full service station. He charges the same price as the 2 self serves and does the windows and all. I usually pay him something extra for his time and trouble and the conveniece and service.

Here in Michigan almost all pumps are pay after you fuel, unless in the inner city areas, and have just heard reports of increased gas theft here. Also if you are caught doing so here you can lose you license for a year.

I drive bout 500 to 700 miles a week between work and personal and really dont give prices alot of thought as it is a necessity and you have to have it anyway. Given inflation, gas prices are not out of target for what we pay, $1.78 here now for 87.

What gets me is that no one complains about buying a 20oz bottle of water for 1.29 which just went up here, when most of it just comes from city systems or from the ground same as my well.
Or milk which is now 3.00 a gal here and has gone up a buck in the last 6 months, all of which is cheaper to produce than gas.

Anyway, far as I see it the ones steeling are the ones that would steal a pack of smokes or anything else if given the chance and dont realy give a rats behind bout anything else.

 

Huh? I hadn't posted in this thread until now. LOL!

 

Lets just let the government dictate how many children we can have. How many cars, houses, rental properties. Lets model our democracy after communist China.

High gas prices are a drag, but if we allow the government to take control, I think you would be begging to go back to high gas prices.

 

yeah, but Charlie31 saw you lurking.....