CHICAGO -- The owners of 114 CITGO-branded gasoline stations in Chicago face fines and cleanup orders following an investigation by the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP).
BACP researched and conducted the investigation at CITGO-branded retail locations after receiving numerous complaints from customers, residents living nearby and aldermanic offices representing Chicago citizens, according to the department.
This month, the BACP reported that it found 114 CITGO-branded retailers were in serious violation of the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago within the past six years. Among the retailers are 16 locations with egregious violations, which included drug paraphernalia, unstamped cigarettes, tobacco sale to minors, outdated medication, outdated milk and food, no public restroom, deceptive practices and overcharging for gas.
“Businesses in the City of Chicago are expected to make a positive contribution to the community, and selling drug paraphernalia and tobacco to minors won’t be tolerated,” said Maria Guerra Lapacek, commissioner of the BACP. “If a business can not comply with the municipal code, then it will not be doing business in the City of Chicago.”
After meetings to discuss the issues, CITGO and its marketers agreed to take several steps to rectify the problems. CITGO and its marketers agreed to conduct a dealer education program to educate Chicago-area CITGO-branded retail dealers of their obligations under municipal law and the importance of following the law. The programs may include one or more BACP attorneys or staff members to lead a discussion regarding compliance.
CITGO also will provide a separate corporate mailbox where BACP can email notices of enforcement against CITGO-branded retail dealers directly to CITGO’s Consumer Complaints Department, which will allow the company to follow up and address the complaint with the retail dealer.
Additionally, CITGO and its marketers agreed to pay a settlement payment of $45,000 to BACP to defray the costs and expenses incurred by BACP in connection with the investigation.
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