High price of gas and your license plates

[chernmax]

Rapidly escalating prices have sharply increased the amount of cash people need to have at the ready when refueling their vehicles. This new economic reality has resulted in a rise in "pump and run" gasoline thefts, a form of heist in which perpetrators fill up their vehicles and drive away without paying.

Example of true event:

A woman said her son found his license plate missing so he called the police to file a report. They told him people were stealing the plates to get free gas. Given the rise in gas prices, people have taken to stealing license plates, putting them on their car, then getting gas and running. The gas station will have "your" license plate # and you could be in trouble for "pump and run." Check your car periodically to be sure you still have a plate. If you should find it missing, file a report immediately!!!

Also, Keep an eye on your license plate! Make sure you always know it's there! Mine was stolen this weekend and I have no idea when! The lady at the revenue office said that they have replaced several license plates since gas prices have been so high. People are stealing them, putting them on their vehicles to go buy gas and driving off without paying! When the license plate is reported as the "drive off vehicle", it's YOU they contact! Be aware!!!!

 

[blacklabman]

Gas stations should NEVER provide gas until it is paid for in advance by either cash, credit, or charge.

 

[mkd20012001]

I agree!

Gas stations should NEVER provide gas until it is paid for in advance by either cash, credit, or charge.

I thought thats how it was at all the area gas stations. Everywhere I've been if you are using cash you have to pay first.

 

[desertrat]

I've been thinking that lately I've been seeing a lot of temporary tags in peoples windows. Now I know why.

 

[slaphappynmd]

I thought thats how it was at all the area gas stations. Everywhere I've been if you are using cash you have to pay first.

it asks to please pre-pay inside, doesnt say mandatory, i guess some stations still go on honor system

 

[hvp05]

it asks to please pre-pay inside, doesnt say mandatory, i guess some stations still go on honor system

Some must because people have been able to pump and run.

Even still, I would think this situation would be quickly resolved. All police would have to do is see your registration as your vindication.

Plus, any video showing the vehicle will also show the person pumping the gas. And if it's not you, you shouldn't fear a thing.

 

[Sharon]

It's true

Plate Shift

However, while gas theft is on the rise and there have been instances of pump and runs by vehicles bearing stolen plates, the situation warned against in the e-mail is not epidemic — there doesn't appear to have been a sudden sharp upswing in the number of gasoline drive-offs where stolen tags were involved. Even among pump and run write-ups, news stories about such crimes being facilitated by stolen plates are few and far between. Therefore, while the warning being spread in e-mail is valid, it is not one that needs be spread to one's nearest and dearest at the speed of light.

The ill-intentioned do make off with license plates, but it is much more likely purloined tags will be used to disguise stolen vehicles being moved from one location to another or armed robbery getaway cars than they will to obscure the identities of those filching gas. If not to protect yourself from accusations of gas theft, if you discover one of your tags has gone missing, you should certainly notify police, because by so doing you might be helping to foil a far more serious crime in progress.

 

[Kerad]

Doesn't a license plate check pull up the make/model of a vehicle? If the police run my license plate number from a picture of a 1981 Chevette, and it comes up as being registered to my 2006 Batmobile...wouldn't that clear me?

 

[Somdmommy]

Doesn't a license plate check pull up the make/model of a vehicle? If the police run my license plate number from a picture of a 1981 Chevette, and it comes up as being registered to my 2006 Batmobile...wouldn't that clear me?

Yeah but this is still a pain in the a$$

 

[BS Gal]

Some must because people have been able to pump and run.

Even still, I would think this situation would be quickly resolved. All police would have to do is see your registration as your vindication.

Plus, any video showing the vehicle will also show the person pumping the gas. And if it's not you, you shouldn't fear a thing.

It's on the scanner every day. I'm so lucky I have one at work. I get to hear all the good stuff. If you don't have a scanner, invest in one. It's quite entertaining.

 

[hvp05]

If you don't have a scanner, invest in one. It's quite entertaining.

I had one many years ago; at the time I was interested in becoming a paramedic, so it was indeed educational.

 

[chernmax]

It's on the scanner every day. I'm so lucky I have one at work. I get to hear all the good stuff. If you don't have a scanner, invest in one. It's quite entertaining.

Agree, have one in my car and home...

 

[StarCat]

A story about gas prices

http://www.wusatv9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=51306

 

[Vince]

Anybody notice that gas prices went up again yesterday? I could have swore when I drove into work that 89 octane was 3.05 and now it's like 3.09 or 3.11. Like the energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going and going......

 

[desertrat]

Anybody notice that gas prices went up again yesterday? I could have swore when I drove into work that 89 octane was 3.05 and now it's like 3.09 or 3.11. Like the energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going and going......

I was surprised to see that they had gone down at Wawa on 235 this morning.

 

[Ken King]

Anybody notice that gas prices went up again yesterday? I could have swore when I drove into work that 89 octane was 3.05 and now it's like 3.09 or 3.11. Like the energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going and going......

At Great Mills Road and Rt 5 the sign showed $2.939 this morning at a little before 6:00 AM, even the Exxon in Leonardtown was only at $2.959.

 

[desertrat]

Wawa was $2.919 this am at 6:30 and yesterday it was $2.939.

 

[Railroad]

When I prepare to buy gasoline, I make sure my credit card is paid up. It's dangerous to carry that much in cash.

 

[Lilypad]

$2.89 Citgo, and $.50 for a homemade blueberry muffin!

 

[Vince]

At Great Mills Road and Rt 5 the sign showed $2.939 this morning at a little before 6:00 AM, even the Exxon in Leonardtown was only at $2.959.

Go across the bridge in Lusby. Fastop was 3.02, 3.11 and 3.22 this morning. Needless to say, I don't gas up in Lusby.