Photo: SC Attorney General's Office   COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– SC Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced on Thursday that the state’s price gouging law has gone into effect since the governor declared a state of emergency due to Hurricane Helene. The price gouging law (SC §39-5-145) is a general prohibition of unconscionable prices during times of disaster. The law is in effect until the state of emergency expires or is terminated and price gougers can be charged for excessive pricing which is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail. “With the possibility that Hurricane Helene could affect South Carolina after making landfall in Florida, we all need to be prepared. We can expect normal price increases, and those are not considered price gouging under our law. But we may see businesses and individuals looking to unfairly take advantage of the situation through price gouging of food, gasoline, lodging, and other commodities as defined by the statute. By our law, that’s a criminal violation and an unfair trade practice,” Wilson states. If you feel like you are the victim of price gouging there are certain steps you can take to help the attorney general’s office investigate: Note the time, place, address, and name of the gas station or business. Note the price you paid. Note any prices nearby and get the same information on those stations or businesses. Take pictures that identify the business, along with the price. Provide your name and contact information. Email any examples and documentation to [email protected]. You can also send the information at https://www.scag.gov/price-gouging/ or call 803-737-3953 and leave a message if you have witnessed a likely violation. Categories: Local News, State Tags: South Carolina