Cars Blog

• Tweet
• 
• Email

• Tweet
• 
• Email

While it has been nearly two weeks since Superstorm Sandy caused its devastation, residents of New York and New Jersey are still reeling from its after-effects, including a limited gas and diesel fuel supply for their cars. To ease the lines, officials have announced a gas rationing system for all of New York City as well as the Nassau and Suffolk counties of Long Island.

The system, which went into effect yesterday morning, allows drivers of cars with license plates ending in an odd number, a letter or other character, to purchase gasoline and diesel fuel only on odd-numbered days, while those with license plates ending in even numbers can fill up only on even-numbered days.  The system will ease the wait times to buy gas and also will reduce demand by forcing drivers to wait longer between fill-ups. All commercial vehicles as well as taxis and those with medical doctor, or MD, plates are exempt for the restriction.

The same odd-even gas restriction was put in place in 12 New Jersey counties, beginning Nov. 3. All of the restrictions are considered temporary but will remain in effect until more gas stations open, and more gas and diesel fuel gets into the area.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a media briefing that just 25 percent of the city's gas stations were open as of Nov. 8, and that the shortage could last for a couple of weeks, according to an Associated Press report.

Tara Baukus Mello writes the cars blog as well as the weekly Driving for Dollars column, providing both practical financial advice for consumers as well as insight into the latest developments in the automotive world. Follow her on Facebook here or on Twitter @SheDrives.