Jackson, Miss. – In response to numerous and widespread consumer calls concerning price gouging across the state, Attorney General Jim Hood would like to clarify the limits of enforcement efforts based on the Governor’s State of Emergency Declaration.
“The price gouging statute is applicable only in the areas where the state of emergency has been declared,” said Attorney General Jim Hood. “The Governor declared the area south of the I-20 East/West corridor a state of emergency so those are the only areas where we can enforce. That makes efforts very frustrating in areas such as Jackson, Meridian and Vicksburg where we are able to enforce in certain parts of those cities but not in others.”
The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of Attorney General is getting calls from around the state. Calls are being logged but investigators are only able to pursue cases in areas affected by the state of emergency. As a result, yesterday Attorney General Hood has sent a letter to Governor Haley Barbour asking that he expand the emergency impact area to the entire state.
“Our experience from Katrina and other hurricanes has been that citizens often evacuate to the north of this line,” said Attorney General Hood in his letter to the Governor. “Unfortunately, they often encounter price gouging there as well as in the southern half of the state. In fact, we have already received reports of price gouging from as far north as Tupelo.”
If the Governor expands his declaration statewide, the Attorney General’s Office will be able to look into all reports of price gouging from Mississippians. If not, the Attorney General encourages public understanding of the limits placed on price gouging enforcement efforts as Mississippi prepares for the arrival of Gustav.
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