Gas Boycott?

Tuesday, May 15th 2007, 6:08 am

By: News On 6

Gasoline prices in Oklahoma are at an all-time high and an email is making the rounds once again, encouraging drivers to avoid filling up on Tuesday. The email is encouraging a one-day boycott in hopes that it will lead to lower gas prices. According to www.snopes.com, this email has been circulating since 1999. Judging by business at a QuikTrip at 11th and Utica in Tulsa, the plan is more fantasy than reality.

The email claims the "gas out" will cost the oil companies more than $2-billion and send a strong enough message to lower the price at the pump. Experts say the one day boycott is not the answer, especially since most people will not participate and the ones that do will just wait one day to fill up.

The News On 6 spoke to some motorists, like Pam Johnson, who thought it was a good idea, but agreed it will not work. "No I don't think it'll make any difference, I just kind of wonder where all the money's going because I know that the oil companies are making big bucks right now."

Experts say the only way drivers can influence gas prices is to buy less gas and drive fewer miles. A spokesperson from AAA-Oklahoma tells the News On 6, a boycott would work if everyone in the United States avoided buying gas for a month. Most drivers, we talked with this week, told the News On 6, the most they could go without gas is a week.