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Jul. 02, 2008
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ROAD WARRIOR Q&A: Gasoline price changes out of control

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Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County, Calif., will be closed today as blasting is done between 8 and 10 a.m., the California Department of Transportation announced. The blasting is part of the ongoing widening of I-15. The interstate will be closed in both directions just north of Bailey Road and south of Nipton Road during the blasting.

Ackerman Avenue, from Durango Drive to El Capitan Way, and Peak Drive, from Jones Boulevard to Maverick Street, are expected to be reopened for traffic on July 15, according to the Las Vegas public works department. Both roads have been closed since March.

The Regional Transportation Commission recently paved new parking spaces at the South Strip Transfer Terminal, 6675 Gilespie Street, on the corner of Sunset Road and Gilespie, bringing the total spaces to 259, up from 117. Parking is free for transit riders and available on a first come, first served basis. The terminal offers transit service to several destinations, including McCarran International Airport and Las Vegas Boulevard.

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Sammy McCombs changes gasoline prices in January on a sign at the Hot Spot on the corner of Charleston and Decatur boulevards.
Photo by John Locher

This week, readers want to know if it is legal for gasoline stations to change their prices more than once a day, if vehicles registered in Nevada must display two license plates (one in the front and one in the rear), and why the pavement on U.S. Highway 95 tilts toward the median near Cheyenne Avenue.

Gene Levin asks: I see gasoline prices changing two times a day. How can that be justified when they only get gasoline delivered once a day? It seems like price gouging.

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    • Nevada has no state law regulating when or how often a gasoline station can change the price of petrol, said Steve Grabski, administrator for the state Division of Measurements, which oversees such things.

    "As far as I know, we don't restrict pricing of gasoline," he said.

    Some states do have such laws, including New Jersey. A recent Associated Press story noted that a gasoline station in Somerset County, N.J., was fined $800 and forced to close for 20 days after investigators discovered the price of petrol was changing more than once in a 24-hour period.

    The $800 fine probably isn't a big deal for a gasoline station, but the closing for 20 days has got to hurt the wallet.

    Harvey Loehr asks: I've noticed that about 30 percent of the cars and trucks in this area have no front license plate. But I always thought that Nevada law stated that vehicles must have two license plates. In fact, when I moved to Nevada from Arizona four years ago, I paid to have a license plate holder installed on the front of my car because of this law.

    Four years ago, you would have been right to do so. But laws change. And this one did, Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Tom Jacobs told me.

    According to Nevada Revised Statute 482.275, section 2 states, "If the motor vehicle was not manufactured to include a bracket, device or other contrivance to display and secure a front license plate, and if the manufacturer of the motor vehicle provided no other means or method by which a front license plate may be displayed upon and secured to the motor vehicle: (a) one license plate must be attached to the motor vehicle in the rear; and (b) the other license plate may, at the option of the owner of the vehicle, be attached to the motor vehicle in the front."

    The state Legislature decided to change the law because more and more car manufacturers were building vehicles without a place for the front license plate, Jacobs said.

    So, if your vehicle doesn't have a place for a front plate, you are absolved of having to put one on your vehicle.

    T. and J. write: My husband and I have been trying to figure out why the road tilts toward the center on northbound and southbound U.S. 95 just north of Cheyenne. If it is for draining, we do not see any drainage in the center of the road. As far as we can tell this is the only place on U.S. 95 that tilts. Why?

    Your instincts were right on. U.S. 95 tilts toward center for drainage purposes and to help control flash floods.

    Flood control is a major issue along U.S. 95 from Lake Mead Boulevard to Craig Road, said Bob McKenzie of the Nevada Department of Transportation. It was part of the planning process when U.S. 95 was widened.

    You may not be able to see them, but there are drainage pipes along the center, McKenzie assured.

    On southbound U.S. 95 in that area, you'll also notice on the side of the road a lot of ditches and gullies. That is also used for flood control, McKenzie said.

    Hit n' Run

    Have a Happy Fourth of July everyone! And remember, as of July 1 in California, you cannot talk on your cell phone while driving a vehicle unless you have a hands-free device.

    If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Francis McCabe at (702) 387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@review journal.com. Please include your phone number.



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    Brad wrote on July 02, 2008 03:22 PM: Just to let you guys know (as a Las Vegan also living in Sacramento), there are some loopholes in the hands free law. For example, you can use your phone while driving if it has a speakerphone. That's kind of a given, especially if you call someone, turn on the speaker, then start driving. You're okay there.

    You can't talk on your phone, but you can DIAL on your phone while driving. You also can send SMS/Text messages while driving. I kid you not.

    On the other side, those living outside California will get cited for using their phone while in California. $20 for the first offense, then $50 for each subsequent. with more offenses, the fine could be tripled, or more.

    Nevada isn't as far behind as everyone thinks; not many states have this kind of law, though it would be useful.


    dobbole wrote on July 02, 2008 02:09 PM: The gas station should be able to change the price as much as he wants and a book store owner should be able to change his prices as much as he wants and as a customer I should be able to not use a station that I don’t like the pricing practices. The government will not tax or regulate prices lower no matter how much hope and change they have…. Just ask Louis


    phone laws? wrote on July 02, 2008 01:14 PM: i think the phone law is a step in the right direction, but it really doesnt do anything.
    if someone has a bluetooth in their ear talking away and concentrating on the call instead of on driving, then its no different than if they have a phone in their hands.
    most people dont drive with two hands anyway, so whats the big deal if that free hand has a phone in it instead of nothing?
    just more moronic policy from our awesome politicians.


    Ivanka wrote on July 02, 2008 12:59 PM: The REAL truth here, Donald, is that your gas station owner is as dumb as a stump.
    It's highly unlikely he would get fined for such an obvious error. And that's even if there was such a law in Nevada. Why would Weights and Measures lie about it?


    Bob wrote on July 02, 2008 12:11 PM: When is the state of Nevada going to get smart as did Calif and pass some laws pertaining to cell phone usage while operating a motor vehicle? I was hit from behind by a young man who was talking or tex messaging on his phone. It was my luck I was not injured very bad. I carry a cell phone but don't use it while driving. This situation has gotten out of hand, cell phones were designed for emergency purposes I believe not for conducting business or just talking and texing to friends whils driving. Something must be done before more lives are lost.


    frank wrote on July 02, 2008 11:23 AM: Why don't we have a law in Nevada, about hands free cell phones? this state is so far behind other states when it comes to this law. If they are looking to make more money to balance the budget, this will bring in some much needed capital. Also it would reduce the amount of auto accidents, that happen here on a daily basic.


    Dick Cheney wrote on July 02, 2008 10:26 AM: If I was the station owner with $0.31, I'd correct the obvious error and wait for the state to come and get me.
    He must be as dumb as George Bush and Forrest Gump put together. Mama always says, "Stupid is as stupid does."


    The Donald wrote on July 02, 2008 08:27 AM: I know a gas station here in Las Vegas that had a pump incorrectly set for $0.31 a gallon instead of $3.10. This was about a year ago. Driver's emptied that tank in about 2 hours. The owner of the station cited some law about only changing price once every 24 hours and they were stuck. So what is the REAL truth here??? I doubt a gas station owner would allow such losses if he didn't have to.