Drivers fight over cheap gas in Edmonton, police called to scene

Police were called to an Edmonton gas station on Friday as drivers argued while they waited to fill up on cheap gas.

Police were called to an Edmonton gas station on Friday after drivers got into a shouting match while waiting to fill up.

It happened at the Domo station on Princess Elizabeth Avenue, where gas is being sold below average prices, resulting in long lineups.

“It was reported to police that one driver cut in front of another driver waiting in line at the gas station and a verbal dispute resulted,” Edmonton Police Service spokesperson Carolin Maran wrote in an email to CTV News Edmonton.

“Police arrived and broke up the dispute. No injuries were reported and no charges are expected.”

The owner of the business next door says drivers are clogging up his parking lot and driving away paying customers.

“I’m just waiting for one day for a nice shooting. They’re going to start shooting each other. Today was very close, very close. Three police crews came, they spent three hours here,” Jack Ten told CTV News Edmonton on Friday.

Ten has owned the Polish Food Center for 40 years.

He said the problems at the gas station only started in recent years, adding he’s called police and the city but says he’s been told drivers can’t be ticketed because they are still in their cars, not parked.

The gas station is on private property, so city enforcement also has limited options.

A sign has been placed in the parking lot asking drivers to leave a lane free for strip mall customers, but not all drivers are obeying it.

“I just wonder about the safety of the street. If this street is going to be solid parking, if the ambulance is coming or the fire department, they have to use the other road,” Ten said.

The gas station declined to comment.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson