The owner of five New Jersey gas stations with a history of motor fuels law violations has been assessed $5,000 in civil penalties for operating without Motor Fuels Retail Dealer Licenses. Upon payment of the fine, conditional license renewals that can be revoked will be issued and the gas stations closed if further violations occurred, a release from Attorney General Paula Dow’s office read.

The actions against Irfan Hassan are a coordinated enforcement effort involving the State Division of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Weights and Measures and the Division of Taxation within the New Jersey Department of Treasury. OWM officers check gas stations for compliance with state laws and regulations while the Division of Taxation issues the Motor Fuels Retailer Dealer License that each station owner is required to obtain.

Gas stations owned by Hassan have been cited and prosecuted by OWM officers for violations including comingling regular with premium grade fuel which results in lower octane ratings; selling regular grade gasoline from a premium grade fuel dispenser at the premium grade price; and pump prices not matching the prices displayed on signs.

In 2009, Hassan was cited by OWM officers for comingling regular grade gasoline with premium grade at his Delta Gas Station in South Orange. He paid a $6,000 civil penalty and was barred from selling fuel for 10 days, under a ruling by a municipal court judge. Last year, Hassan again was found guilty of selling regular grade gasoline as premium grade at this same station. He paid a $9,800 penalty and was barred from selling fuel for 15 days.

According to the release, the Division of Taxation assessed $1,000 penalties, and upon payment, plans to issue a one-year conditional license renewal to the following companies owned by Hassan: Fidelity Builders, Inc. 1064 Avenue C, Bayonne; Fidelity Builders, Inc. 248 Avenue C, Bayonne; Friends Gas, Inc. 221 Central Ave., East Orange; Signature Fuels, Inc. 339 Northfield Ave., West Orange; and Signature Fuels, Inc. 451 Irvington Ave., South Orange.

All of the facilities at these locations are Delta gas stations.