Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced in a news release Friday that her office’s Price Gouging Hotline is operational and ready to respond to any complaints of price gouging following the state of emergency declared this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“It is disheartening to witness much of our beloved Miami-Dade County community grappling with the aftermath of the recent rainstorms,” the state attorney said in a statement. “Intense flooding has prompted a state of emergency to be issued in South Florida. Financially exploiting a crisis, such as this, is not only unethical – but illegal. The State Attorney’s Office, along with our entire law enforcement community, stands firm against such greed and will work to investigate and prosecute individuals who seek to profit at the expense of our community’s well-being. Exploitation of our hardworking community members will not be tolerated, now or ever.”
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According to Florida law, when a state of emergency is issued, business owners may be prosecuted if they use a disaster to hike prices.
“Price gouging is charging ‘unconscionable prices’ for essential items in short supply prior to a disaster and during the early recovery period,” the news release stated. “An ‘unconscionable price’ is determined by comparing the price asked during an emergency with the price charged for the same commodity during the preceding 30-day period.”
Price gouging may affect items such as food, gasoline and generators, among other items.
To report any suspicion of price gouging, residents may call the State Attorney’s Hotline at 305-547-3300.
The State Attorney’s Office asks that complaints include the business name, physical address, item or items believed to be price-gouged with photos and receipt(s), and contact information to communicate with the complainant.