Freeway Con Artists Find Free Way To Fuel

Highway Patrol, AAA Running Into More Schemers Trying To Save At The Pump

(CBS)  Jeffrey Washington drives the freeways of Los Angeles giving away free gas. There's a catch: You have to run out of gas on the freeway.

It happened today to one woman, who said: "Then this guy came and helped me - and it's amazing."

She really did run out. But Washington finds more and more drivers who just claim their tank is empty, CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports.

"It happens way more than it used to," said Washington, who works for the freeway service patrol.

When he asks them to start the car, they're busted.

"Sometimes, they smile and laugh and drive off," Washington said. "And the majority of the time they get upset that you don't provide them free gas."

Across the country, services that provide a gallon or so of free gas to get people safely off the highway are getting more calls than ever.

In Dallas, the courtesy patrol says calls from drivers out of gas have doubled from four to eight a day - with some drivers calling twice.

"They will stop on one stop, and then if they think we'll help em again, they'll go probably about a mile or two and they ask for another gallon, because a lot of them don't have any money," Janette Womak said.

"We're heading to a triple a call that is possibly out of gas," said Robert Innisfree, who drives a AAA tow truck in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Members out of gas can get up to four free gallons. His calls are up 16 percent over last year.


"We just had a guy the other day guy going to San Jose ran out of gas on the way down," Innisfree said. "Sure enough in the afternoon, we caught him … coming back."

Innisfree says most drivers aren't cheating - its just that filling up is so painful these days people wait until there's nothing in the tank but fumes.

It used to be that running out of gas was humiliating; now it's a chance to save some real money.

[jkhagemann]

leefnneadle... did you forget to take your medicine again.

[ralan40]

so you get a gallon of gas for free...big deal, what''s the savings amount to??? a few bucks?
If you tune your car up, Keep the Tire pressure optimum, and remove the spare Tire when driving locally, you can increase your gas milage 6-10 miles per gallon. That''s like getting 2 free gallons per fillup....unless you have a so-called American SUV.

[ov442]

ok, this is just dumb, i cannot believe they dont just charge the people for the gallon of gas.
If they cant pay it, they get a ticket for the price of the gas and if they dont pay it in 10 days, they get fined for fraud.
Because... What the heck are you doing on a highway clogging traffic if you dont have enough gas to get where you were going, and you have no money?
If you have no money, you must be able to get it from somewhere to pay for the gallon of gas delivered to you within 10 days. If not, then you deserve the fine for being stupid for being on the highway like that in the first place.
CA is going bankrupt and they are handing out free gas on the highways.... ok.... yet instead they want to close essential services and raise revenue from rediculous ideas. ok.... Nice management there Ahnold.

[tootall10142]

NAWWWW!you are kidding me people wouldnt do that! yea and customers dont lie either.

[Gary Kempf]

It is a sad fact that we will always have people that will abuse the system. These people that have been caught should be prosecuted for fraud. People can be charged for filing a false report to the police. It should be same here. The highway service patrol is for those really in need of help. Nail these scumbags!
Post their names so everyone knows who they are.....

[fireceos]

People running out of gas on the highways should simply be towed off the highway and handed the bill. I''ve never run out of gas, EVER. Its too unsafe on the highways to put one''s self and others who are in many cases likely volunteers in danger for the benefit of $4.

[timothyone-2009]

No one named McBush is running for President.

No one said they wanted to have a war for 100 years.

No one said they wanted $100 a gallon.

You''''re repeating several of the 935 lower class Democratic lies.

Lower class lies????? What are you, an upper class
bullshi**er? America is sick of you right-wing freaks who seem unable to see the truth. McCain is eqaul to Bush, so McBush is an appropriate name for him. He did say he would mind seeing America remain in Iraq for 100 years. The $100 a gallon claim must have come from what we can all see is the rich man''s intention to push gas prices as high as possible. If you right-wing b*st*rds could get away with it you would. Scum

[Latrocinor]

Have you heard McBush''''s new campaign slogan?

"100 years of war and $100 a gallon"

Posted by jumkey
.. .. ..

No one named McBush is running for President.

No one said they wanted to have a war for 100 years.

No one said they wanted $100 a gallon.

You''re repeating several of the 935 lower class Democratic lies.

[jumkey]

Another sunny day in Republican America!!!

Have you heard McBush''s new campaign slogan?

"100 years of war and $100 a gallon"

Had enough yet?

[alpine42]

Once again, poeple that are abusing the system will ruin it for everyone else. Sooner or later, if this continues, they will stop these services. And as a result maybe one person will not get the gas and get killed or injured as a result (on the way to the hospital for example).