SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6270

BYSenator Owen and Barr

Providing for posting of motor fuel prices for cash and credit sales.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 28, 1988

Senate Staff:Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

AS OF JANUARY 28, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Currently, Washington Administrative Code 16-657-025 provides the state guidelines for the posting of motor fuel prices.

This WAC rule, as it relates to cash and credit prices, provides that the posted or advertised price of motor fuel at retail outlets must be available to all consumers.  Any condition or qualification required to obtain the posted price must be clearly displayed in letters of contrasting color at least one- half the size of the posted price and immediately adjacent to the price.  A cash price may be posted or advertised if the posting show it is clearly limited to cash purchases.

If a retailer elects to establish separate islands for cash and credit sales, the islands shall be clearly marked as such in letters at least six inches in height and of proportional width.

If a retailer elects to permit cash and credit card sales from the same dispenser, the credit price will be displayed on the meter face, immediately adjacent to or on the pump a chart shall be posted showing the cash discount price in one cent increments.  The lettering on the chart shall be of such size and contrast lettering as to be easily read by the consumer.

SUMMARY:

Current, WAC 16-657-025 which is guideline for the posting of retail motor fuel prices is brought in to statute.  The only change is to provisions which relates to cash and credit sales from the same dispenser.  This bill would allow the posting of the cash price, in lieu of the credit price, on those dispensers with both cash and credit sales. 

If the retailer elects to display the cash price in the meter, a sign will be displayed on the dispenser stating that the cash price is the price on the pump, and the credit card user must pay a surcharge of so many cents a gallon.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested