State: Watch for price gouging tied to Alberto

State Attorney General Charlie Crist is urging residents to be on the lookout for price gouging or building repair and cleanup scams as Tropical Storm Alberto heads for Florida.

According to state law, price gouging occurs when a commodity -- such as food, water, gasoline, ice, lumber or equipment needed as a result of an officially declared emergency -- rises steeply in price during the 30 days immediately following an emergency.

Gov. Jeb Bush today officially declared a state of emergency due to Alberto, the first tropical storm of the year.

Price gougers can be charged $1,000 per violation in civil penalties, up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations in a single 24-hour period, says a press release from the attorney general's office.

During the past two hurricane seasons, the attorney general's office has conducted thousands of investigations into price gouging complaints, which led to 83 formal investigations and 17 price gouging lawsuits against hotels, generator businesses, tree removal companies and other business, according to a press release. So far, the attorney general has recovered more than $1.8 million in restitution or reimbursements from settlements for consumers, the release says.

Those who suspect price gouging should call the attorney general's hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226).

A law enacted last year also criminalizes the sale of goods and services to the public without an occupational license. Anyone violating the law can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.