PUMP PATROL: Gas prices break new records; jump to almost $5 a gallon

New data from AAA shows gas prices continue to climb, as the average for a gallon of regular gas on Long Island now stands just shy of $5 at $4.91.
"It's the highest it's ever been and it's definitely impacting the wallet," said Michael Quigley, of Smithtown.
Gas prices are hitting wallets hard as the average price for a gallon of regular jumped another 8 cents overnight.
It's the fourth day in a row we've broken records across the nation and on Long Island.
"I can't even fill it up because the credit card stops at $125," Quigley said. "So, what will happen is I have to put the card back in and sometimes they'll deny it because it looks like fraud."
"Who can afford to just throw away money," said Sandy Greenstein, of Stony Brook. "So, I look for the best deal while I'm driving around."
Long Islanders News 12 spoke to say they've been trying to cut down on the cost by consolidating trips when they have to run errands. And for many, Memorial Day travel is now out of the question.
"I do some camping and I pull a camper with (my truck) and you get like 6 miles per gallon when you're pulling a camper so it's definitely expensive," Quigley said.
"You just have to live within your means and try to make the best of it," said Robin Eschenberg, of Hauppague. "But you have to live your life. You really do. But there's gotta be something that can be done about this."
There is some relief in sight.
A gas tax holiday goes into effect June 1 and runs through the end of the year. It means drivers will only have to pay sales tax on the first $3 of every gallon they put in their tank. That's roughly about 20 cents a gallon.
But many Long Islanders say more needs to be done.
"It's not enough," Quigley said. "They've got to do away with the tax for a while, like the entire tax. That will help people."
Many transit advocates against the tax suspension say the state depends on that money to fund road and bridge repairs.
They say getting rid of the tax defeats the purpose because it was initially put in place to discourage driving and provide money to more environmentally friendly modes of transportation.