U.S. drivers tapping Tijuana gas stations

• Tweet

TIJUANA, Mexico, June 15 (UPI) -- California motorists are heading across the U.S.-Mexico border into Tijuana to escape record-high gas prices, officials say.

Although diesel was in short supply in Saturday at some Tijuana gas stations, they are keeping up with increased demand for regular unleaded and premium gasoline, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Sunday.

Regular unleaded gasoline sells for $2.54 per gallon in the city, premium for $3.20 per gallon and diesel for $2.20 per gallon, the newspaper reported.

At a filling station on Bellas Artes Boulevard, about two blocks from the Otay Mesa border crossing, the station began selling diesel only to its regular trucking customers Friday afternoon.

Gasoline in Mexico comes from Pemex, the national oil company, and is subsidized by the federal government.

A spokeswoman for the association that represents the 157 gas stations in Tijuana said recently demand had increased 25 percent in the first five months of this year compared with 2007.