South Carolina's price gouging statute is now in effect, which prohibits "unconscionable prices" when in a state of emergency. The statute will be in effect for the next 15 days and gougers can be charged a $1000 fine and/or 30 days in jail.
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson said, “As we prepare for Hurricane Matthew to make landfall in South Carolina, it’s imperative that South Carolinians make necessary preparations and follow safety instructions. Our state is still recovering from the catastrophic damage caused by the floods in 2015, and as we have witnessed before, we will see many neighbors helping each other during this delicate time. However, we may also see some looking to unfairly take advantage of the situation through price gouging of food, gasoline, lodging, water and any other commodities as defined by the statute. Pursuant to state law, price gouging constitutes a criminal violation and an unfair trade practice."
If you suspect price gouging, you are urged to report it to the SC Attorney General's office the following ways:
Email: pricegouging@scag.gov
Call: (803) 737-3953
Tweet: @SCPriceGouging
