Bureau of Public Safety issued an announcement to all business owners and customers reminding everyone that price gouging is a crime and carries penalties of up to $10,000 dollars.
Price gouging means increasing prices of good or services within 30 days of abnormal disruption of the market.
Since the declaration of COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic as well as the declaration of Public Health Emergency, there has been panic buying as well as large purchases of basic goods by businesses in anticipation of possible disruption of supplies as result of the worldwide pandemic.
Bureau of Public Safety is informing vendors and customers alike that increasing prices of goods or services without reasonable justification in order to take advantage of this situation is a crime.
Customers can contact Bureau of Public Safety to report such price gouging.