In Centex we were out of gas for three days but the prices never went up. Anti-gouging laws work on prices... but not supply.
When you have ant-gouging laws it makes no sense for dealers to incur added expenses to bring in supplies off schedule.
Gas stations don’t make their money on gas - they make in on candy and those overpriced drinks.
In an emergency the dealer would have to hire extra drivers, rent tankers or pay their regular drives overtime. If they can’t recover their expenses they’re not going to do it.
We all know the laws were aimed at the guy who bought Walmart out of water last week and is now selling it out the back of his truck for two arms and a leg - but without profit there will be shortages.
Thats because - ECONOMIC laws. Called: price ceiling & shortage.