Motorists fill up with $2.87 gas at the Dodges Store in Clearwater Wednesday afternoon. ( Douglas R. Clifford, Times )

UPDATE: Demands for the gas got so intense that cars began blocking traffic.

Clearwater police went to the gas station and gave the management three options: come up with a traffic plan, hire off-duty officers to direct traffic, or let the police impose a traffic calming strategy.

The station’s management called its corporate office and were told to raise the price to $3.25, according to police spokesperson Joelle Castelli.

Dodge’s Stores vice president Nat Leathers said that is not true. He said the prices went up considering the station ran out of fuel and got a new shipment at a higher price.

CLEARWATER — The Dodge’s Store gas station at the corner of Drew Street and NE Cleveland Street in Clearwater is selling gas for $2.87 per gallon.

During the lunch hour, more than 30 cars crowded the corner waiting to fill up.

The manager of the

store referred a reporter to the corporate office. He said the store gave the same reduction Tuesday. One other Dodge’s station in Dunedin is reportedly offering the same price.

Customers were giddy as they pumped their gas.

“My boyfriend told me about that place,” Diana Petersen, 45, said. “He said they have it for $2.87 and get my butt down here.”

Petersen was putting 14 gallons into her gray Mercury Mountaineer sports utility vehicle.

Rod Cox, 33, was bringing the first of his family’s three cars to the station. He said he’d save $100 considering of the price.

“If they put it back from $2.45 to $2.90, we’ll be all right,” Cox said.

The final date Florida’s average gasoline price was that low was Oct. 29, 2007, according to details from the Energy info Administration.

The clamor of cars pushing to get a spot at the pump forced the police to reply to keep everything moving smoothly.

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

Original post by tampabaycom