What is known is that gas prices in February were abnormally high. According to Sean Comey, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association of Northern California, February is typically a low-demand month for gasoline.

"But March is the beginning of the summer driving season," Comey said. So for prices to be this high this soon into the summer driving season "is unexpected."

So unexpected that Comey said even Congress is wondering whether to conduct an investigation to see if somewhere along the multi-step process between when crude oil is processed and when it arrives at service stations, someone is using the potential war in Iraq as an excuse to jack up prices and gouge consumers.

So far it hasn't come to that. And although higher prices haven't changed the number of customers pulling up to the pump, it has had drivers reconsider the quantity of gas they purchase.

Paul Cheema, who has worked for the past two years at the Quality Tune-Up at the corner of Willow Street and Lincoln Avenue, said, "The customers sometimes complain about the prices" but not very much. But lately, customers are buying only $20 worth of gas rather than filling their tanks, he added.

Melanie Lieker, who lives near Hamilton and Leigh avenues, said she's had to pay closer attention to her gas-pumping habits.

"I usually just swipe my credit card in the reader, insert the nozzle and forget about it until the pump clicks off," said the 38-year-old mother of two.

"But now, because I'm on a budget, I have to keep my eye out for lower prices," Lieker said. "It really messes up my routine when I have to consider driving a few more blocks hoping I'll come across another service station with lower prices" than the Mobil she usually fills up at.

At the nearby Rotten Robbie on Lincoln Avenue, 22-year-old Harry Amelia was getting his employer's truck filled. Despite the high prices, he has permission to fill the tank fully.

"But I've lately been filling it with low-grade gas," Amelia said.

He said that prices are pretty high, but he doesn't think the prices have reached the gouging stage yet.

Jeff Mangas, an independent contract driver for Yellow Cab Inc., said he pays for his own gas.

"Prices are totally out of control," Mangas said.

To help pay for the higher prices, Mangas said that he and other Yellow Cab drivers have had to work more hours.

"I'm working seven days a week now instead of five," he said.

He added that he fills up at the Lincoln Avenue Rotten Robbie daily but that he drives all over the Bay Area.

Lindsey Gardner of Iron Construction was also filling up because his company requires him to be able to drive to job sites as far north as South San Francisco and as far south as Salinas. Gardner says it's a challenge to keep his business from being affected by the price of gas. "In tough times you're trying to keep the prices down for the clients," Gardner said, "because they're in an economic downswing, too." The high gas prices are "eating away in my pockets and theirs."

According to Comey's numbers, the average price for gas the week of March 5 in San Jose was $2.08 a gallon, four cents higher than the state average. Customers in Oakland were paying $2.09, in Santa Cruz, $2.10, and in San Francisco, $2.19.

The national price per gallon last week was only $1.68.