TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s smiling face won’t soon disappear from gas pumps, even as Republicans seek to prohibit such displays.
As Department of Ag inspectors conduct sweeps for illegal “skimmer” devices intended to steal credit card information, gas pumps are getting the new bright yellow, green and blue stickers. They will be up well beyond the July 1 start to the fiscal year, when a bill prohibiting someone’s face from being on the stickers goes into effect.
The only statewide elected Democrat, Fried drew Republican ire when she started to replace obsolete stickers from former Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam.
“When our inspectors went out to sweep all the skimmers across the state, our stickers have been placed up there so the consumers understand when they see fraud happening at the pump, they know exactly who to call, both in English and in Spanish," said Fried.
The concern among some is the stickers with Fried’s picture are being used to gain free political exposure. Going forward, Fried says she will follow the new requirement, and not purchase any new stickers.
