The insane lines for gas following Hurricane Sandy have led to desperate measures from Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo, who this afternoon announced gas rationing for New York City, along with Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, starting Friday at 6 a.m. The emergency order states that cars with license plates ending in even numbers (and “0”) can purchase gas on even-numbered days, while plates that end in odd numbers and letters can buy on odd days. Commercial vehicles, including taxis, are exempt. Time to learn your license plate number!
“Last week’s storm hit the fuel network hard — and knocked out critical infrastructure needed to distribute gasoline,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Even as the region’s petroleum infrastructure slowly returns to normal, the gasoline supply remains a real problem for thousands of New York drivers. Earlier today, I signed an emergency order to alternate the days that drivers can purchase gas, which is the best way to cut down the lines and help customers buy gas faster.”
Only about a quarter of the city’s stations have gas at the moment anyway, adding to the lines and frustrations at the ones that do, requiring a police presence and resulting in a handful arrests for hoarding and fighting.
