Pay-before-you-pump in effect at Shreveport (Louisiana) gas stations

Wednesday 22 October 2008 

Motorists putting gas in their cards and trucks in Shreveport now have to pay for it before they pump it, no matter what time of the day.

 

Police began enforcement on October 15 on the new law that was passed by the City Council on August 24. The pay-before-you-pump ordinance was authored by Police Chief Henry Whitehorn and is intended to make businesses tighten their security and cut back on police man hours used to investigate gas drive-offs.

 

Since January, Shreveport police have recorded more than 200 drive-off calls – a 43 percent increase over last year’s total. Officers have made six arrests in 2008 cases.

Credit or debit cards at the pump or inside still are OK, but cash or cheques must be presented up front. Interestingly, however, attendants and their bosses face a fine or jail time if a fuel theft happens on their watch.