Michigan passes new law to protect motorists from misleading gas prices
NILES, Mich. --- We've all seen them, gas prices that are a little too good to be true!
Well, that has changed for Michigan drivers.
ABC 57 drove up SR 933, all the way to Niles, looking for 'gas gimmicks'. One of the first gas station passed had regular, unleaded gas 20 cents cheaper with the purchase of a car wash. The Phillips 66 is in Indiana, not Michigan, so its sign can stay. That is not the case with Michigan gas stations. They will have to make some changes to their signs, if they have not already.
"It does catch your eye, you think the cost of the gas is a little less than it really is," said Jeff Mateer.
"I've always seen signs like that and if I see a low price, I assume there is some catch to it," said Stuart Schisgall.
Drivers say they are used to the gas station 'gimmicks'. ABC 57 hit the road to find some unbeatable deals.
Within in minutes, a Phillips 66 gas station in South Bend advertised regular, unleaded gas at 3.63 per gallon.
"If I was driving right now, what is it 30 miles an hour right here, I would not be able to see that sign or even read it clearly," said Schisgall. "
Michigan drivers will not have to worry about that much longer. A bill passed last month now makes it illegal for gas stations to display misleading signs.
State Rep. Shannon Tyler from Berrien County helped draft the new legislation.