Evening star., 1944-03-05
Illegal Coupons Rob
A-book Holders Of
Half Their Gasoline .
Tickets for 10000 GoIIon.
Turned in by D. c. Dealer.
Found Bogus or Stolen
By MALCOLM LAMRORNE

~ A"AAAA<SOA>AVA A<A3vAnOxNANGs
Examination by a staff of OPA
experts of 10000 gallons worth
OF gasoline ration coupons re-
Gently turned in by service sta
tions here has disclosed that be-
tween 5000 and 1000 gallons
worth were stolen and about
5000 gallons were counterfeit, it
was learned yesterday from the
District OPA.
Thus, about 10 per cent of the
total number given secret tests were
found to be illegal. The check,
which is continuing, may bring
forth further startling evidence Of
black market operations here
trafnc which officials claim is de-
priving A-book holders of about
one-half their normal allotment Of
gasoline.
Some Of the counterfeits were 20
cleverly reproduced that only spe-
cial tests brought out the truth,
while the stolen coupons were taken
from ration boards or service sta
tions, it was learned.
3.629- Gallon Chargeback.
oPA already has served notice on
rs station operators that they must
make good on 3,629 gallons worth of
coupons which have been traced
back to these stations. Of1cials
said this particular GROUP included
counterfeits, forged endorsements
unendorsed coupons and coupons
which have expired. The largest
single chargeback amounted to 500
gallons. Failure to make good the
bad coupons will result in reduced
gasoline quotas and may be followed
by court action, officials warned.
Enforcement officials also dis
closed that peddlers of counterfeit
coupons are asking as much as As
cents a coupon. In one particular
case, the coupons offered were C-2s
worth S gallons apiece. This would
be S-cent-a-gallon premium for
black market dealings. Ten cents
gallon appears to be the usual
premium for most operators, accord
ing to the best information.
Investigation also has uncovered
that one dealer here was selling
straight gasoline without benefit of
coupons for 40 cents a gallon. Of
flcials explained that this operator
and others like him are able to make
up their coupon deficit by purchas-
ing counterfeit coupons and placing
them on the sheets of so coupons
which are regularly turned in to
the suppliers and, in turn, deposited
with banks.
In such an operation, a dealer
will place "phony" license numbers
on the sheets to give them a SEM
blance of authenticity. But when
the sheets are turned over to the
OPA and the experts go to work,
the truth is soon out.
Wrong Numbers.
An enforcement officer recalled
yesterday that one such dealer had
placed three sets of license numbers
on the counterfeits, which happened
to be IT'S, used for commercial We
hicles. A check with the city's list
ing Of tags showed the numbers
belonged to three prominent Wash
ington officials.
As each sheet, known as "bingo
Sheets" must carry the name and
address of the service station, the
Investigators work is simplified.
Most of the city's stations are
operating according to the rules, Of
ficials point out. Only about 80 sta
tions, including some of the 26 out
of 400, are suspected of dealing in
gasoline illegally, and all are cur
rently under investigation.
At present, counterfeit CO cou-
pons are being circulated in this
area, the OPA said. The old II
rations, now out of date, produced
the largest number of counterfeits
and officials have information that
newly printed spurious IT'S are
making appearances in cities north
of Washington. =
Meanwhile, the OPA prepared te
open tomorrow It's new campaign
calling for all motorists to indorst
their coupons at time of issuance
Investigators will be assigned tt
stations in various parts of the city
to check ration books. Any one with.
out indorsed tickets will be giver
q notice to appear at his boart
within five days with coupons in.
dorsed. Failure to appear within tn.
five days will lead to suspension o.
jrati0nS nfYlcia1R aaid