WHAS11 coverage

(WHAS11) - High gas prices has led to an increase in the number of drive-offs in Jeffersonville. 

And now city council members are trying to find a way to deal with the problem.  They are considering passing an ordinance that would require customers to pay before they pump their gas. 

Many gas stations, already do this.  They say when gas prices started going up, so did the number of drive-offs... so they had to do something to protect themselves.

James Thompson was losing money everyday because of drive-offs at his gas station. 

James Thompson, a gas station shop manager, says, "Increase-wise, last year a total of 68 dollars, this year alone, over 500."

So about four months ago, he decided to change the policy at his gas station... customers now have to pay before they pump their gas.  As a result...

James Thompson says, "We haven't had a drive off in over four months."

Chief Tim Deeringer says the number of drive-offs have increased so much in the city of Jeffersonville that his police department can't even handle the number of calls the get anymore.

Chief Tim Deeringer says, "We've had as many as ten a day.  And that's just too many and it ties up our manpower... we're responding to drive-offs. When you only have a minimum manpower of six on the street at one time, that hurts you.  There's days when we have 8 or 9 guys on the street and it's still hard to get there to respond to these calls."

So now the Jeffersonville city council is stepping in.  This week they started considering an ordinance that would force gas stations to make people pay before they pump. 

Nathan Samuel, a Jeffersonville city council member, says, "When we have police officers that are spending half their time going down and taking police reports on drive offs, that we probably will never catch anyway, that didn't seem like a good use of time.  And certainly the safety factor is huge, that goes without saying."

And while customers like, Jessica Bearden say it's a hassle to go into the store to pay first, she says she understands the need for it.

Jessica Bearden, a gas station customer, says, "It's just safety for them.  I would do it too if I had to run my own store... it's just safety."

James Thompson says, “We just agreed to purposefully save us and save us money in our pockets its the best way for us."

Some council members have expressed concern about forcing businesses to do this.  This idea in Jeffersonville isn't new.  Some other cities across the country have implemented similar ordinances to deal with the increase in drive-offs.