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

The state inspects every measuring device used to sell fuel, and when a product fails standard or a meter reads outside tolerance the remedy is immediate: the tanks and dispensers are sealed and stay sealed until a release order is issued. A store whose fuel is stopped still pays rent and still runs a shift, so this 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.