No pressure to charge for air at Nassau gas stations
Freeport's Gary Guilliam wants to know if gas stations in Nassau County can charge for air to fill tires. (Newsday photo by Robert Mecea)
I thought Nassau County had a law that stated gas stations could not charge for air. Is this law still on the books? And, if so, who does one contact?
--Gary Quilliam, Freeport
According to the Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs, we learned that the “fee or free” decision for air compressors at Nassau gas stations is established by individual townships.
In the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, air compressors should be available "on-the-house." In North Hempstead, however, gas stations can charge a small fee for their use.
“The law hasn’t changed,” said Richard Russ, assistant director of the Nassau County Office of Consumer Affair’s Division of Weights and Measures. “It’s been up to the towns for as long as I can remember.”
Under state law, Russ said gas stations with four or more dispensing nozzles are required to provide compressed air to inflate tires. The law, however, does not require the air be free.
“Compressors may be coin operated and the price is up to the station,” said Jessica Chittenden, communication director for the Department of Agriculture & Markets.
Most government and environmental agencies encourage drivers to keep tires inflated, because it can significantly increase gas mileage, Russ said.
Low tire pressure, for example, reduces mileage up to 4% per five pounds of pressure and can waste more than two million gallons of gas daily in the U.S., according to the nonprofit Environmental Defense.
Nassau County residents with concerns about a gas station are asked to contact the Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs at 516-571-2600. Residents can also submit a complaint form.
--MICHAEL R. EBERT
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