Ordinance closing Hammond gas stations in early morning hours takes effect Wednesday

HAMMOND, Ind. (WLS) -- Gas stations in Hammond, Indiana will have to close from midnight to 5 a.m. as of Wednesday.

The Hammond Common Council approved an ordinance regulating hours at the city's 37 gas stations earlier this year.

They're hoping this will reduce the number of crimes committed late into the night.

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The ordinance was first proposed after a 33-year-old Chicago man was shot at a Luke gas station around 2 a.m. on June 25. He later died at the hospital.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott said the pushback on his proposal was intense.

"I just thought this was a move that made sense for the safety of Hammond residents," McDermott said.

The Sixers gas station on Indianapolis Boulevard was bustling Wednesday afternoon, but it will close shop overnight.

"A lot of customers aren't happy," Sixers manager Trish Wilson said. "The owner's not happy."

Some customers said it's too soon to tell whether the new hours will be a change for the better.

"It will be an inconvenience for people who work nights, but other than that, we have to see," customer Victor Parra said.

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"I feel like you know the gas station's gonna be closed, so why would you even go there?" customer Chanel Galloway said. "I think it's a good idea."

The ordinance allows gas stations to petition the Board of Public Works and Safety for an exception to the rule.

Some gas stations have already successfully petitioned to remain open 24 hours, such as Save-A-Stop, which is located near an expressway.

"A lot of the customers are happy, like Uber drivers who have to gas up and get to where they have to go," said Terri Gibson with Save-A-Stop.

McDermott said three warning tickets were issued early Wednesday morning to gas station owners who were unaware the law had taken effect. He said his office is still going over exemption requests for several stations to remain open, and they will make decisions on those soon.