Some New York Gas Pumps to Display Half-Gallon Pricing

Some of the older, non-digital gas pumps found in smaller gas stations throughout New York State cannot compute gas prices greater than $3.999. To fix that problem, some stations will be able to set their pumps to calculate in half-gallon increments. According to Syracuse.com, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker announced yesterday that those businesses with non-digital fuel pumps can apply for half-gallon pricing. The older, mechanical pumps use a number wheel rather than digital computation to display gallons dispensed and total sale, and are not able to calculate prices that have reached $4.00 a gallon and over. While these pumps may display half-gallon pricing, the business must still display the full price of gas per gallon on their signs as well. Hooker said, "The price of fuel is rising faster than our dispensers can calculate in some instances. In order to keep some of our smaller and seasonal fuel retailers operating during times of $4 fuel, we are temporarily allowing stations to compute prices by using half the price per gallon". Hooker signed regulation yesterday allowing the half-gallon computation until the businesses can have the pump dispensers upgraded. "We are fortunate to have this provision in our regulations as it gives us the tools to respond very quickly during times of escalating fuel prices and keep these small businesses in business," he said. According to a post on the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets website, there are three points of criteria necessary for a gas station to fall within the exemption;

The establishment must use mechanical price computing equipment that is not capable of computing the total price at the full price per gallon;

The current selling price exceeds the price computation capability of the equipment;

and,

reasonable efforts have been made to purchase the necessary equipment to comply with the regulations.