By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is cracking down on overcharges for liquefied petroleum gas what consumers are familiar with as the 5-gallon bottles used for barbecue grills.
The head of the Agricultural Department's standards and consumer services division, Joe Gomez, says inspectors found some vendors in New Mexico selling the gas by a flat rate instead of the required weight or liquid measure.
For example, someone wants to top off a partially full bottle before going camping. The vendor charges the flat rate, even though the 5-gallon bottle wasn't empty.
State officials say selling by weight or liquid measure means the customer pays for the actual amount purchased.
The standards and consumer services division is contacting sellers before the Memorial Day holiday about correctly charging customers.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.