Update: The North Carolina Attorney General's office is now investigating gas prices in Dare County.
This investigation was requested by the Dare County Board of Commissioners last week.
The Attorney General's Deputy Director for Consumer Protection called County officials on Friday morning and said the AG's office takes this issue seriously and has now assigned staff members to investigate. They are looking for evidence of price gouging, collusion or antitrust violations.
They did not offer a time frame.
They say if there is evidence of wrongdoing, appropriate action will be taken.
Officials say they will provide more information about their findings as soon as it's available.
Attorney General Roy Cooper's letter on high gas prices
Dare County, NC - It's a costly fill-up in Duck, North Carolina.
They are not alone.
Gas prices across the Outer Banks are sitting at about $2.59 per gallon.
If you travel across the Wright Memorial Bridge and head a few miles up 158...you'll find gas prices 20-30 cents cheaper.
You would think it would be the tourists, but it's not that; there are no tourists down there right now.
Residents in the Outer Banks that we spoke to say they're getting frustrated with how much this is starting to cost them and say that they'll even go miles out of their way to fill up.
The high gas prices may be because of a higher demand according to the North Carolina Petroleum and Convenience Marketers Association.
It believes the tourists mean more people want gas on the Outer Banks.
But residents say the gas should drop in the off-season when fewer people are in the area.
Some folks feel that their community's seclusion is a big factor too.
"I think its distance from your major hubs. Trucking it in, that's what I think it is."
Another major factor, experts suggest, is the state's gas tax.
North Carolina's tax is one of the highest in that nation at 57 cents per gallon. Virginia's is at 38 cents.
But if that's the case, then why only 10 miles down the road in the same state is gas 20 cents cheaper?
It seems like a lot of theories, but not many clear answers.
