Florida Attorney General Activates Loan Forwarding Hotline Ahead of Gulf Storm Invest 97L

Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Thursday that Florida’s “Price Gouging Hotline” is live after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 54 of 67 counties — or 80 percent of the state.

The moves come as a tropical wave, now designated Invest 97L, could develop and move toward the Sunshine State in the coming week. If it develops, it could become Tropical Storm Debby, the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

A press release from Moody’s office said that “usury laws are now in effect for the counties under the emergency declaration: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.”

Florida’s rent control law applies to items and services that are essential to preparing for or recovering from a storm in areas where a state of emergency has been declared, the news release explained. That can include generators, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, ice, wood and water.

“Violators of the Loan sharking law face a fine of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations within a 24-hour period,” the press release said.

“Invest 97L is expected to bring heavy rain and high winds to much of the state,” Moody said in a statement. “To help Floridians prepare for this event, we are activating the Excessive Price Hotline to accept reports of extreme price increases on essential goods. As the system approaches, I encourage Floridians to complete their storm preparations, monitor weather reports, and follow the guidance of local authorities.”

For more information

∎ If you suspect predatory pricing, you can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.

∎ For more information about price gouging, you can read a PDF copy of the handout “Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging” online here or in Spanish here.

∎ Moody recently released a Hurricane Preparedness Guide 2024. The guide includes information about tropical systems, preparedness checklists, and tips for avoiding storm-related scams before, during, and after a weather event.

Brandon Girod of the Pensacola News Journal contributed. News Director Jim Rosica can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida rent-seeking hotline activated as Gulf Storm 97L approaches