Pumping gas? (restaurants, law, safety)

[fizbin]

OK, obviously all of the non-OR folks who have posted here are too young to know what is going on.

Oregon is great! I love to visit it because it is against the law to pump your own gas. This is the way it was and always should be!

It used to be that you could not pump your own gas almost anywheres in the US. Then the gas crunch of 1973-74 hit. All of a sudden gas stations cut costs by firing all of the gas jockeys and making Mr. & Mrs. Kettle pump their own. Now all of you kids think this is the way of life.

Let someone else do the pumping honors and enjoy sitting in your car . . .

[Chinolala]

Wow, I never knew that there were states that didn't allow customers to pump their own gas. Sounds heavenly! I wish we had that here, especially in the winter

[FoxyKnox]

Interestingly enough, if you do pump your own gas in Oregon and you get caught, you'll be fined I think $500 (can't remember the exact figure, but it's a lot), as will the attendent who was supposed to be pumping your gas for you. And the attendent will most likely be fired. Though sometimes it's faster to do it yourself, I'd rather sit for 10 minutes than have to pay a big fine and get someone fired!

[Imperial1904]

Originally Posted by FoxyKnox

Interestingly enough, if you do pump your own gas in Oregon and you get caught, you'll be fined I think $500 (can't remember the exact figure, but it's a lot), as will the attendent who was supposed to be pumping your gas for you. And the attendent will most likely be fired. Though sometimes it's faster to do it yourself, I'd rather sit for 10 minutes than have to pay a big fine and get someone fired!

I didn't know you could be fined. I've never seen a cop just sitting near the station waiting for people to break a "gas pumping law".

Personally, I'd rather do it myself. I hate the way they pump. Most of the time, they'll shove that nozzle in hard or twist the fuel cap several clicks too many and slam the door.

[ChadPettingill]

Having someone pump your own gas can have its ups and downs.

Pros:
- not having to get out of your car
- helps you relax for a small part of the day (well for me anyways)
- gives jobs to those who need them (I think)
- for some reason it keeps gas prices somewhat lower here (compared to WA and CA)

Cons:
- sometimes you have to wait so long for someone
- stations in PDX often charge you $.10 more if you use a credit card
- attendants often don't speak English, so asking to fill to nearest dollar sometimes confuses them
- sometimes you just want to do things yourself

It's been interesting since I've moved here.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by ChadPettingill

Having someone pump your own gas can have its ups and downs.

Pros:
- not having to get out of your car
- helps you relax for a small part of the day (well for me anyways)
- gives jobs to those who need them (I think)
- for some reason it keeps gas prices somewhat lower here (compared to WA and CA)

Cons:
- sometimes you have to wait so long for someone
- stations in PDX often charge you $.10 more if you use a credit card
- attendants often don't speak English, so asking to fill to nearest dollar sometimes confuses them
- sometimes you just want to do things yourself

It's been interesting since I've moved here.

Another Con:

The attendant doesn't secured the gas cap tight enough causing the Emission Control Lamp to illuminate resulting in a trip to the dealer... Happened to a friends Grandmother that lives in Cottage Grove.

or

You've got a classic 1920's antique car and the attendant badly scratches the paint. Seems even "Trained Professionals" have problems correctly pumping gas.

I always prefer to do my own... I'm the only one to blame if something happens.

An article several years ago in the Antique Automobile Club of America magazine warned drivers of the hazard of fueling in Oregon...

The recommended procedure was to stand outside your vehicle and wait for the attendant to hand over the pump nozzle, fill your own tank and then give the nozzle back to the attendant...

I try to never buy fuel in Oregon...

[bobmulk]

I hate having someone pump my own gas. I get sick of waiting while one poor soul is running back and forth between eight cars. I actually topped of my tank MYSELF once at an Arco. The attendant was pissed and took down my name and license plate, telling me that he had to report me so I could be fined. The manager in the AM-PM gave me an exasperated look and threw the paper away.

Isn't it funny that the state would FREAK if you pumped your own gas, but so many other things in our society are ignored. Perhaps a sense of proportion needs to be used by our government officials.

[Silverfall]

The law has been on the ballot several times to be repealed but believe it or not, Oregonians choose to not pump their own gas. I have lived here for 15 years and it still drives me crazy that I have to wait for someone to do it for me.

One of those quirkly things about Oregon.

[georgiared]

Being from Oregon and now living in the south, I can honest say that I was spoiled having someone pump my gas. Never really thought about it until I moved. Now that is about the first thing that comes to mind when I get out of my vehicle, the wind is blowing and its about 30 degrees.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by Lee151

I learned to drive in a self pump state but love the luxury of not having to get out and pump in the rain and wind here.

I too learned to drive in a self pump state. But moved to Oregon when I was in college and stayed for a couple of decades. I LOVED not having to pump the gas in the rain!!! Plus I use the time I'm waiting to clean out my purse.

This summer I moved from Oregon back to NC. My 7 year old son and I drove across country. Our first night on the trip we spent the night in Ontario, Oregon because the next morning I wanted someone else to pump my gas and Ontario was as far east as I could get in Oregon.

Finally by the time we made it to Kentucky I would remember to pull the lever inside the car to release the gas door before I got out of the car. My 7 year old still has a good belly laugh about Mom pumping gas. But I'm better now. Not a pro... but better.