Signs Reading ‘We Have Been Fined for Underfueling’ to be Posted at Gas Stations

Gas stations will not only face fines for underfueling but will also have signs posted for a month stating ‘We Have Been Fined for Underfueling.’ This was announced by MP Tsovinar Vardanyan when presenting a legislative proposal from the ‘Civil Contract’ party in the National Assembly.

“We have discussed the idea with business operators as well. Many operators responded positively to this initiative, as there are numerous cases where gas stations suffer from the practices of dishonest neighboring operators, creating the impression among people that everywhere there is underfueling,” Vardanyan said, adding that under the same law, the sign will be reposted for another month in case it is removed, and the operator will be fined again.

Moreover, the MPs propose installing QR codes at gas stations, allowing customers to check the last time violations were recorded at a specific station.

Alongside these tightening measures, the MPs also suggest revising the fines for underfueling as stipulated in the existing Administrative Offenses Code. Instead of the current fine of 500,000 drams for the first violation, a fine of 200,000 drams plus an amount equivalent to 0.5% of the turnover from the preceding quarter of the inspection is proposed. For the second violation and every subsequent one, instead of the current fine of 1 million drams, a fine of 200,000 drams plus an amount equivalent to 1% of the turnover from the preceding quarter will be set.

According to them, this would be a fairer approach as it would allow for a more equitable distribution of fines against gas stations in the fuel market.