You can’t make this up. AP reports:

A service station that offered discounted gas to senior citizens and people supporting youth sports has been ordered by the state to raise its prices. Center City BP owner Raj Bhandari has been offering senior citizens a 2 cent per gallon price break and discount cards that let sports boosters pay 3 cents less per gallon.

But the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says those deals are too good: They violate Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act, which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale price.

The Unfair Sales Act sounds like it truly is unfair. There are natural mechanisms in place to prevent the owner from selling too low — he doesn’t make money! Someone might make the case that the intent is to prevent a bidding war and forcing business out. Bidding wars are good. Prices are lower, and if a small business is being bullied by a big business, they can provide services the big companies can’t afford with their overhead.