31 NORTH CAROLINA GAS STATIONS ARE NOW UNDER SCRUTINY — AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER YOUR 41 CENTS REACHED YOUR TANK.

31 NORTH CAROLINA GAS STATIONS ARE NOW UNDER SCRUTINY — AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER YOUR 41 CENTS REACHED YOUR TANK.

North Carolina suspended its 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax on Oct. 10, and it runs through Nov. 30. The idea was simple: real relief at the pump for families. But after more than 400 complaints — later more than 600 — from drivers saying some stations weren’t passing the savings along, Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced Oct. 30 that his office has opened a first round of inquiries into 31 gas stations across the state.

What that means, plainly: each of those stations got an escalation letter asking for a prompt explanation of its pricing. It does NOT mean any of them have been found to have broken the law — these are inquiries, not findings. More stations are expected to face inquiries as complaints keep coming in.

Here’s the part worth knowing before you point fingers at your usual station: the law does not require a station to cut its price on fuel it bought before the suspension, when the tax was already paid. Prices are supposed to fall as stations get fresh, untaxed deliveries. Jackson’s office says a station that pockets the savings anyway could face unfair and deceptive trade practice penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

One local note, because I checked: the Attorney General’s office has NOT publicly released the names of the 31 stations, so no Brunswick County station is confirmed among them. The complaint leaders named in coverage so far are in Union, Mecklenburg, and Avery counties.

Think a station near you isn’t passing the savings along? Report it with the station’s name and address, the price, and a photo of the price sign and receipt at ncdoj.gov/ncfuelcheck, or call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.

(Sources: WRAL; NC Department of Justice; Session Law 2026-62.)