Md. Drivers Flustered Over Rising Gas Prices & Proposed Gas Tax Hike
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The national average for a gallon of gas continues to climb to the $4 mark. This comes as state lawmakers are considering a boost to Maryland's gas tax, and the combination has some drivers seeing red.
Gigi Barnett has more.
College student Chris Rowe has a car and a scooter. He's switched to using the scooter most of the time. That's slashed his gas bill down to a few dollars.
"If it weren't for the scooter, every other day I'd have to go get gas, spend a lot," Rowe said.
This week, the national average for a gallon of regular gas is $3.77.
Add in the state's proposed gas tax hike, and some drivers are fuming.
"I'm just trying to deal with it the best I can," said Tommy Joe, driver.
"Find another place where we can raise taxes somewhere else on something else," said Jenni Kohan-Gaffar, driver.
AAA spokeswoman Ragina Averella says several factors are to blame, and prices are only going to increase at a steady pace.
Drivers could see $4 or more at the pump by the spring and summer months.
"That is really when we see motorists cut back, combine their errands and it may even play a part in what they decide will be their summer travel plans," Averella said.
Last month the national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.48. Last week, it was $3.70. And this same time last year, the average was $3.50.
States with the highest gas prices include California, Alaska and Hawaii. Wyoming has the lowest.
