24-04-2025
Local leaders propose fuel testing bill following ‘bad gas' claims
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — One Ohio senator is stepping in after drivers say they got a bad batch of gas from stations here in the Miami Valley.
Senator Willis Blackshear announced on Wednesday that he will be rolling out a new bill that would start fuel quality testing in Ohio. The bill, properly known as Senate Bill 80, isn't a bill yet, but it's been brought up in past legislative session without making it across the finish line.
This time, Senator Blackshear and Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith are confident it will pass.
'I don't think it's the only gas station in America doing this,' said >>>
Residents are becoming vocal after learning that some drivers who filled up at gas stations in West Carrollton and Farmersville last week experienced costly car issues.
'We sent out of our inspectors out to check to see what the situation was, and he did determine at least in one of the underground storage tanks, there was more than 10 inches of water in that tank,' said Karl Keith, Montgomery County auditor. 'How it got there, we don't know. We know that we've had a lot of rain.'
Water-tainted gasoline can cause cars to break down. Blackshear says fuel consumers need more protection.
'Ohio is one of three states with no program in place to test fuel quality for contaminants,' said Blackshear. 'Without regular testing, there is no way of knowing if fuel Ohioans buy will be tainted by water, sediments, or other contaminants that can cause damage to their car.'
The proposed bill would give county auditors the option to start testing for fuel contamination. Currently, they're only allow to test the quantity of fuel, not the quality.
Blackshear says the cost to implement the program would be minimal.
'County auditors will be able to use their existing weights and measures, inspectors that already test for fuel quantity will perform the quality inspections,' said Blackshear.
Though gas station owners have rejected the proposal in the past, the county auditor says it will benefit them, too.
'But it's also to protect the station owners. When our inspector got to these stations, the station managers had already taken their pumps out of service after they got complaints from people,' said Keith.
The Montgomery County Auditor's Office is keeping track of local gas contamination incidents. If you think you've been sold bad gasoline, you can report it to their office by clicking here.
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