DEARBORN—Gas station owners are considering taking legal action against the City of Detroit over licensing and ticketing issues.

During a meeting Monday, Aug. 10 at Byblos Banquet Hall Detroit gas station owners discussed the possibility of filing a class action lawsuit over the issues.

The meeting was held for small business owners regarding new city ordinances, police enforcement, neighborhood policing licensing and fees.

About 30 Detroit business owners attended the meeting and agreed to contribute $500 towards a potential lawsuit.

The meeting comes in the wake of gas station owners complaining about receiving multiple tickets for the same offense, despite meeting with Detroit Police Chief James Craig and others from the Detroit Police Department about the issue.

Many believe the stations are being singled out because an overwhelming majority of them are owned and operated by Arab Americans.

Business owners say they are getting ticketed for not having a business license. Even after they pay the ticket, they get ticketed again, because they are still waiting for city inspectors to show up at their stations and check everything before the process is complete.

“We believe we have been targeted as a community,” said Shaker Aoun, chairman of the Tri-County Business Committee. Aoun said after the meetings with Craig things have become worse for gas station owners.

In October, Craig told The Arab American News that he would place a moratorium on issuing licensing tickets to gas station owners. However, some business owners say the excessive ticketing hasn’t stopped. 

Craig also told the paper that he doesn’t want the police department to deal with licensing issues, adding that the Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department should handle the issues.

“It is time to take it to the next level. The chief is not going to do anything about it and the city is not going to do anything about it. I think we need to come up with a solution,” Aoun said.

Aoun discussed the difficulties of operating a Detroit gas station. “The Detroit Police Chief comes in and attacks these small businesses. He doesn’t know how hard these people work in order to just get by and stay open,” Aoun said. 

Mike Ajami recently had his station shut down after illegally selling drug set up kits. Attorney William W. Swor said shutting down a business without warning is illegal.

“They can’t just come in and close your business. They have to give you a warning,” Swor said.

Civil rights attorney Nabih Ayad pointed out that it is not only Detroit gas stations that are being repeatedly ticketed.

“I want you to know these are not the only businesses that they are doing this to. The same thing is happening to other types of businesses,” Ayad said.

He added that many gas station owners put their lives at risk everyday to make a living.

“They should sit there, protect you, try to listen to you and foster you as opposed to try and shut you down,” he said.

Station owners are exploring the possibility of getting a study conducted by a reputable firm showing the economic impact of gas station owners and other small businesses in the city that are dealing with licensing and ticketing issues.

Organizers of the meeting were expecting more gas station owners to attend. 

“They called for this meeting and not that many people showed up. If they are not interested you can’t fight on their behalf,” said Nasser Beydoun, a member of the Tri-County Business Committee and Detroit gas station owner.

Station owners believe more small businesses will be interested in investing their time and money into a class action lawsuit.

“A class action lawsuit is a must to stop this torture. We have to get organized and unite,” said Detroit gas station owner, Fouad Dabaja.