| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release: May 26, 2011 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
(Columbus)--The summer driving season is about to begin and while motorists hit the road; Columbus City Councilmember Michelle M. Mills is working to make sure consumers are getting what they pay for at the pump. Mills, the chair of the Public Safety Committee, has asked city leaders to craft legislation that will enable city workers who are already testing for the quantity of fuel purchased at the pump to also be able to test for the quality of fuel being placed into cars.
“We have already seen $4 a gallon gasoline this spring and we are just beginning the summer driving season,” said Mills. “It is more important than ever to make sure that our residents are getting what they pay for when they fill up their tanks. Every penny counts.”
Ohio is one of four states that does not have a law requiring statewide fuel quality testing. Although the City of Columbus may test for fuel quality, it does not have any regulatory authority to hold stations accountable when lower than posted octane fuel is found. The Division of Public Safety Weights and Measures is responsible for testing more than 6000 gas pumps at 280 Columbus stations for fuel quantity.
“A car is an expensive investment, requiring hundreds of dollars of maintenance a year just to make sure it is in proper running condition,” said Mills. “Consumers should not have to worry about the quality of the gas they buy on top of other car care issues.”
Summit County is the only county in Ohio that has the regulatory authority to test for fuel quality. Media reports from Summit County say rags, leaves, water, cigarette butts, even frogs have been found in underground storage tanks and could make their way into the fuel purchased, lowering the quality of the fuel and increasing the possibly of damaging a car’s engine, leading to expensive repair bills for the owner.
-30-
