As gasoline prices climb, automobile clubs and towing services say they are taking more calls from motorists who have run out of gas.
In most instances, the stranded drivers are just trying to squeeze every mile possible from their fuel tanks, but officials say some drivers are pretending to be out of gas just so they can receive a precious, free gallon of fuel.
"I think the vast majority of people are simply pushing it, trying to buy few gallons and trying to make it home on less gas," said David Weinstein of AAA.
The CVS Samaritan Van Program, which provides free roadside assistance in nine Midwest and East Coast cities, has seen a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in stops to help people who have run out of gas just in the past two months, said Mike DeAngelis, a spokesman for CVS Pharmacy, which operates the program.
The Dallas County Courtesy Patrol in Texas, which uses 10 pickups to aid stranded motorists, now writes down the license plate number of each stranded vehicle. That became necessary after one motorist used three cars in the same day to try to arrange for free gas, supervisor David Castillo said.
NEW YORK TIMES
