Advocates Warn of Price Gouging During Fire Emergency – NBC 7 San Diego

“I mean, morally it’s wrong,” Julien Brown of San Diego’s Better Business Bureau said. 

Brown is talking about price gouging after a disaster and the Better Business Bureau wants to know if local businesses are jacking up their prices to desperate fire victims. 

Price gouging is when a business increases their prices by more than 10% for a product or service when there has been a declared state of emergency. Brown says businesses have been known to overcharge for water, housing or lodging or food. 

Brown said gouging laws only take effect when there has been a declared state of emergency. At any other time, a business can charge whatever it wants, the California gouging law does not apply. 

On Thursday, California Governor Jerry Brown declared San Diego County in a state of emergency when the Lilac Fire broke out.

If you think you spot an oddly high priced item during an emergency, experts suggest snapping a photo of the price tags and submitting any evidence to the following agencies:

Business owners found guilty of price gouging can face jail time and fines up to $10,000.