Faulty gas pumps shorting on gas?

PHOENIX -- As if you weren't already paying through the nose at the pumps, many consumers might be paying more than they should be.

About 9 percent of the gas pumps looked at by the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures since last July failed their inspections.

That means pump operators were shorting customers on gas or overcharging them either by starting the price meter before the gas started to flow or letting the meter continue to run after the flow had stopped.

Stations that fail inspections are fined, but that's not much incentive to fix problem pumps as they are only inspected once every three years.