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MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY’S PRICE GOUGING HOTLINE IN FULL OPERATION

Miami (October 7, 2024) Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has announced that her Price Gouging Hotline is operational, and her team of investigators is fully prepared to respond to any complaints of price gouging now that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared the required State of Emergency.

“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,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

Miami-Dade County and Florida price gouging laws are triggered by a declaration of a state of emergency. At that point, providers of goods can 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 and it is illegal. 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.

Examples of essential items include, but are not limited to food, ice, generators, lanterns, and lumber. Merchants cannot charge excessive prices unless the increases in prices are attributable to the cost increases incurred by them.

To report any suspicion of price gouging, residents may call the State Attorney’s Hotline at 305-547-3300. Complaints should include the business name, physical address, item(s) believed to be price-gouged with photos and receipt(s), and contact information to communicate with the complainant.

 

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For further information, please contact Lissette Valdes-Valle, Public Information Officer, at (305) 547-0535 or LissetteValdes-Valle@MiamiSAO.com

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