Iwas reading an article about how the Texas Department of Agriculture has been cracking down on gas pumps that aren't calibrated properly. Basically, because the fine for uncalibrated pumps is only $100, owners can make much more money than that and stay out of compliance, even after paying the fine.

Gas station operators who rig their pumps to overcharge consumers face state fines that are so meager that it can pay to cheat.

The operators take a chance that a state inspector or an alert consumer will catch them.

If they do get caught, the penalty for each cheating device is $100. Repeat violators face a maximum fine of $500. They can make much more money than that with improperly calibrated pumps, according to a recent report from the state Sunset Advisory Commission.

But there’s good news for consumers. The commission has a simple solution: Raise the maximum penalty to $5,000 per violation a day for each bad gas nozzle.

I noticed in the article that there's a link to the Texas AG website's list of bad pumps. Nothing in Somervell or Hood County, but there are two in Johnson County-Alvarado Travel Plaza  and Sunmart #135 in Joshua.

Incidentally, there aren't really enough inspectors for them to go out and check every gas station, so the Texas Ag Dept relies on consumers who think they aren't getting enough gas for what they're pumping and call up and complain.