ORLANDO, Fla. — Some gas stations near Orlando's airport are still among the highest in the country, inching closer to $6 per gallon. The owners are supposed to be posting their sky-high prices on signs or risk getting fined, but not much has changed since new rules went into effect months ago.
On the west side of Semoran Boulevard at Sun Gas it was $5.69 per gallon Monday. Over on the east side of the road it was the same price at Suncoast Energys. But you don't know that because you can't see a sign of prices.
Now, the stations have less than a month to fix that or face fines. The city of Orlando passed a law requiring gas stations near the airport to post signs with prices visible from the street. In January, when owners were given 120 days, Larry Nieves told WFTV he thought he was following the law.
"I think we're complying with all issues of the law," he said.
Sun Gas does have a sign; it's just more than 500 feet away from the gas station.
John Palmer of Ohio didn't see it.
"There's no sign. This is not good," he said.
And the city agrees; it's not good enough.
Sun Gas's sign does meet several of the ordinance requirements; it's free from vegetation; the numerals are 14 inches by eight and a half inches located on a road under 40 mph; and it does illuminate at night.
Originally, it wasn't built to code, but that has since been approved. However, a city official says it's still not compliant with the ordinance.
Across Semoran, there's no sign at Suncoast Energys.
Come May 12, fines of $250 per day will be enforced if the stations aren't compliant.
WFTV talked to the owner of Suncoast off camera and he said they'll have a sign that's compliant by deadline, but a city official said the station hasn't applied for any building permits.
Previous Stories: December 16, 2010: Gas Stations Not Complying With Sign Ordinance
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