With gas prices increasing, so does the number of people filling up and fleeing.
Sponsored by Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent) and Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), a new law will help small businesses streamline the process of collecting money from motor fuel drive-offs.
The law will allow a trade association acting on behalf of member organizations and retailers to serve notice and collect payments within current collection statutes. It will also help local law enforcement by allowing the association to do an inference as to whether the person driving off meant to steal the fuel.
The Minnesota Petroleum Marketers Association, which represents many of the mom-and-pop or smaller convenience stores across the state, brought forth the proposal.
When a customer now drives off without paying, a station employee either contacts local police right away or they contact the trade association to determine the address, name, phone number of the individual that stole it based on the vehicle’s license plate.
Under the law, the trade association, for a fee, will be permitted to contact the individual in certain circumstances and give them 30 days to reply and hopefully collect payment and give the money to the retailer.
Signed April 18 by Gov. Mark Dayton, it takes effect Aug. 1, 2012.
HF2333*/
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