TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Starting Saturday, penalties will increase for people who use fake credit cards or get caught skimming credit card information at gas pumps.
The new law, which goes into effect Saturday, increase penalties for the possession of counterfeit credit-card information. The law also includes new requirements for gas station owners and managers to use tougher security measures on self-service fuel pumps.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services hoped that the new law will stop thieves.
"This new law will reclassify the offenses and bump it up to a higher felony classification. This will take it from a slap on the wrist, to some actual punishment," said Aaron Keller with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Under the former statue, skimming was a third degree felony. The new law will make the crime a second degree felony with a possibility of 15-years in prison.
