The Fill-'Er-Up Blues

By Carolina A. Miranda

Just what we didn't need to get us in the mood for the summer driving season: gas prices seemingly stuck permanently above $2 a gallon. Sales of hybrid cars are on the rise, and more people are carpooling. But even consumers who won't give up their SUVs are finding new ways of protesting high prices at the pump.

--By Carolina A. Miranda

--BONUS GIFTS Forget tickets to the Madonna show. More radio stations (and hotels too) are offering a hot new prize: free gas.

--HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? Traffic on GasBuddy.com has increased tenfold since January as people log on looking for the lowest prices in their areas.

--WE WON'T PAY! The rising rate of drive-offs--those who leave without paying--has many stations demanding all customers prepay.

--HORSEPOWER An Alabaman protested high gas prices by taking his buggy for a spin. It was a short ride: horses are not allowed on interstate highways.