LAKEPORT — Traffic-stopping gas prices at the Lakeport Tower Mart had cars, trucks and boats lined up along Lakeport Boulevard Thursday at noon. The line of customers eager to fill up for $1.99 per gallon for regular grade gas extended down Lakeport Boulevard to Main Street and blocked traffic at both Highway 29 off-ramps that empty onto Lakeport Boulevard.
According to Lt. Brad Rasmussen of the Lakeport Police Department (LPD), his officers and Lakeport Public Works Department employees closed the Tower Mart parking lot at approximately 2 p.m. because the sale was causing a traffic jam and other safety concerns. Customers who had been waiting half an hour or more were told the $3.89-and-up gas prices would be restored.
“I was told we were doing it to give back to the community,” Tower Mart manager Debbie Bottorff said.
Tower Mart Area Manager Walt Huth said the company intended to continue the sale through the weekend. Bottorff said word of the special spread with lightning-quick speed. She said customers were already lining up 10 minutes after she called her husband at work to spread the word about the sale.
Patrons were seen smiling as they paid for gas, and were heard yelling at drivers who were perceived to be taking too long at the gas station”s eight pumps.
“It”s a little scary. I thought it might turn into a riot and I might get my car hit, but so far so good,” Lakeport resident Charlene Galloway said.
Galloway was one of many who drove the wrong way into the parking lot, but made due anyway. She pulled the gas nozzle up over the top of her car to reach her gas tank, which was facing away from the gas pump.
Kelseyville resident Mark McComb walked out of the mini mart smiling, a wad of bills in hand. He brought both of his vehicles to fill up for half price, and said he was going to use the money he saved to take his children to McDonalds, then to Six Flags Magic Mountain this weekend.
Rasmussen said the department got a call at about noon reporting backed-up traffic. Officers found several safety concerns, Rasmussen said.
“Vehicles were backing up down the off-ramps, others were passing cars to get off of the off-ramp, people were committing to use the off-ramp and changing their mind at the last minute, people were driving in the turn lane (on Lakeport Boulevard) around backed-up traffic, vehicles were blocking the intersections, which is not legal – because now you have other cars that can”t turn because the intersection is blocked,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said the LPD scheduled a meeting with California Highway Patrol representatives to talk to Huth about planning for the event, but Huth canceled the same day. “We were more than happy to work with them. Our issue was traffic safety concerns, and people getting hurt and having accidents,” Rasmussen said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com or call her direct at 263-5636 ext. 37.
