Stop-sale order

Definition

The order that seals a pump or a tank so the product behind it cannot be sold at all.

Why It Matters

In Florida the state inspects every measuring device used to sell fuel. Fuel that fails a standard goes under a stop-sale order, its tanks and dispensers are sealed, and they stay sealed until a release order issues. A meter reading outside tolerance gets written time to repair or a seal, at the department's choice, and a sealed meter may not run again without its written consent. A store whose fuel is stopped still pays rent and still runs a shift, so a stop-sale is a revenue interruption with no notice period in front of it. Ask for the inspection history on every dispenser, because a site with a record of condemned meters is telling you what the equipment is worth.