WAYNESVILLE, MO - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster last week cautioned Missourians to look out for storm-related price gouging, the Waynesville Daily Guide reports.
"Unfortunately, there are always people who see disaster as personal opportunity," Koster said. "They take advantage of consumers when they are devastated by loss and are at their most vulnerable. The Attorney General€™s Office will be vigilant in enforcing Missouri€™s law against this type of activity."
The warning comes without definition or context for price gouging, an issue that NACS has fought to address on the federal and state levels. In fact, the newspaper article merely mentions, "Missouri law prohibits individuals and businesses from substantially raising their prices for the necessities of life during such an emergency" €" without any guidance as to what "substantially" means or what qualifies as an emergency.
Missouri's price gouging law affects food, water, gasoline, hotel rooms, kerosene, gas powered generators, and other basic necessities. Violators face penalties up to $1,000 per violation.