drive-off

n. the act of departing a gas station without paying for automobile fuel; a person who does so. Subjects: English, Automobiles & Transportation, Crime & Prisons, Petroleum, Jargon

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Citations: 1978 Bill Grady Chicago Tribune (Nov. 26) “‘Drive-off’ thieves plague self-service gas stations” p. B6: Motorists who drive away from a gas station without paying are called “drive offs” or “run-outs,” in industry jargon. Police report the crime as a theft of service or theft of labor. 1984 David Burnham @ Washington, D.C. New York Times (Nov. 19) “Changes Weighed In Data On Crimes”: According to the top administrator of that department, gasoline drive-offs are so great a problem that to include them with larcenies would significantly distort his jurisdiction’s crime rate. 1988 Pam Belluck Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Ga.) (Jan. 5) “Gas stations can’t cure ‘drive-offs’” p. C2: “Sometimes we won’t have a drive-off for two weeks, and then we’ll have four or five of them in a week’s time.” Most drive-offs cost a station between $10 and $20 in gas, and some stations lose as much as $300 to $500 each month, 2005 Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Ga.) (Aug. 24) “Police still searching for suspect in fatal gas station drive off” (in Fort Payne, Ala.): Fort Payne authorities were still searching Wednesday for the driver who fatally struck a gas station owner to avoid paying for gas. Husain “Tony” Caddi was killed Friday in the drive off at his Texaco station.

Posted 29 Sep 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend