A warning to those who would take advantage of others during the hurricane: Alabama's price gouging law is in effect. State Attorney General Steve Marshall says the law is activated whenever the governor declares a state of emergency. It is illegal to sell or rent items at "unconscionable pricing." Marshall's office says that is defined as 25 percent or more above the average price in the same area in the past 30 days, with limited exceptions. Violators face fines of up to $1-thousand dollars per violation. Repeat violators are subject to being barred from doing business in Alabama. Marshall says “Alabamians should be on-guard to possible price gouging and home repair fraud during and after Hurricane Sally’s passage through our state.” Suspected cases of fraud should be reported to the attorney general's office, Marshall said.