Gas Station Owner Fined For Deceptive Pricing In Ocean County

The owner of three gas stations in Ocean County agreed to pay a $17,500 fine after an investigation found the pumps at his stations were charging different prices for gasoline than what their digital signs said, the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs announced.

Rajinder Chandi, the owner of the three stations, also agreed to take several actions to ensure the prices on the pumps match what is charged in the future, county officials said.

The three gas stations involved are Delta, 245 Route 37, Toms River; Delta/G&R, 200 Route 37, Lakehurst, and Sunoco, 644 Route 37 West, Toms River, authorities said.

The investigation started after the State Office of Weights & Measures flagged complaints for two stations on Route 37 in Toms River, according to Ronald Heinzman, Ocean County's director of consumer affairs.

Lakehurst police brought the third complaint, he said.

The investigation by the county's Division of Weights and Measures and its Office of Consumer Protection found "numerous violations of state Weights & Measures laws alongside a pattern of deceptive business practices," Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace said. He is the liaison to the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs.

Chandi and his attorneys agreed to the settlement with the county to resolve pending municipal court complaints in Toms River and Lakehurst, officials said.

In addition to the fine Chandi must pay to Ocean County, the binding consent agreement requires he do the following:

• Ensure all digital gas pump screens strictly match the actual price-per-gallon rates charged to consumers.
• Hire only certified vendors licensed by the New Jersey State Office of Weights & Measures for all future pump repairs.
• Submit all repair documentation to the OCDCA Weights & Measures Office within 10 days of completion.
• Attend a future verification meeting to prove that all outstanding violations have been fully corrected.
• Comply with all Consumer Affairs and Weights & Measures laws.