By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – NOCO Energy is implementing a pre-pay policy on gas purchases at all of its outlets in the area. The new policy requiring customers to pay before they fill-up took effect Wednesday morning.
Company spokesman Earl Wells says rising gasoline prices had led to an increase in "drive-offs" by people who filled their tanks and didn't pay.
"we've noticed an increase in drive-offs at various stations throughout the region," Wells said. "We were concerned for customer safety because these are people who are breaking the law and acting recklessly."
US Senator Charles Schumer, meantime, is calling for an immediate investigation into the nation's oil pipeline network. This, after oil company BP shut down its Alaskan pipeline because of corrosion.
Schumer says the federal government needs to be more aggressive in making sure flaws in the nation's energy infrastructure are found before a crippling disruption.