I was going to move to Oregon... (to live in, gardens)

[BillyBobJoeBobWilly]

Well, you learn something everyday. I've lived in these United States since birth 50 years ago and I have never heard of such a thing as a law that says you cannot pump your own gas. If someone told me on the street I would have called them a big fat liar.

Now, about NJ... I lived in New Jersey and pumped my gas all the time (some time in the 80s) when I lived there.. When did they ever adopt such a law in that state?

[richpix]

I don't know where in Jersey you were, but it's been the law there since 1949.

[BillyBobJoeBobWilly]

I lived down close to Atlantic City (Absecon, Pleasentville). Worked there for nearly a year in AC while living in Absecon. I always pumped my gas and never thought anything about it.

No one told me different, especially the gas attendants

[Bideshi]

I'm fine as long as I can Christian home school my kids, hang clothes on a clothes line and keep a gun in my house.

[bigtexan99]

If you really want to pump you own fuel, just get a diesel. You can pump your own in Oregon.

[grahammcp]

Your making a big deal over a little law. In California, you can't fill you're own propane tank...OMG, how could they?!

...who cares!

Its actually really nice! I don't have to get out of my cool AC in the summer or my heated cab in the winter. I LOVE IT!

[hamellr]

Wow. OK people, you need to look at the reason the law was put into effect. During the 60's and early 70's when Oregon's economy was 90% dependent on the Timber industry, we had a minor bit of a unemployment problem due to the massive crash in Timber values. With something like 80% of Oregon's population living below the National Poverty level at the time, "things had to be done."

The Oregon State Legislature of the day, did what they could to relieve unemployment quickly and cheaply, while having the added benefit of adding cash to the State coffers in the form of taxes. The same arguments were used then, it would increase the cost of gas and the cost of doing business too much, the added convenience of not getting out of the car in bad weather, predictions of even worse doom and gloom to the State's economy, etc, etc.

Didn't happen. Gas stations found a way to soak up the added costs, and gas prices remained the same. It was estimated in the day that it created about 8,000 jobs across the State, which was a huge deal back then. It could be argued that this one law was a major factor towards saving Oregon's economy.

It's usefulness in this day and age can still be debated, but as has been pointed out, Oregonian's have voted to keep the law.

Ironically, the Oregon State Youth Mock Legislature, which is made up of High School students from around the state, actually came up with and passed this law in their own session. Another notable law they passed was the bottle bill, where soda bottles had to have a $.05 deposit on each. Oh and the State's balanced budget law which does not allow the Legislature to spend more money then what comes in. These "mock" laws inspired the real State Legislature to pass the same laws with only very minor changes.


BTW to the person who complained about getting off at Midnight and having to wait several minutes for gas, they were going through shift change. About 99% of all gas stations nation wide use an extremely outdated system called Trendar that takes between 5-30 minutes to do shift change (actually a daily cash out of the whole system.) During this time the pumps are physically unable pump gas at all. The time variance depends on several factors such as the pump control system, the amount of transactions and gas pumped that day, the number of pumps at a station, and if it has to report to a central location or not. There are competitors to this system, but the system is well known and well proven so gas station owners are extremely reluctant to move to anything else that could shut down their main business.

[Hawk J]

Originally Posted by johnstoirvin

Anyone remember the good ol' days, 25+ years ago, when we had "service" stations in Oregon? There still are the rare few where you can get your windshield washed while filling up, but that's mostly a benefit from days long past. Nowadays, the attendant sticks the nozzle, punches the computer and moves on or stands around until the pump says stop, takes your money and that's it. Not quite the personal service it used to be. My first job, 40 years ago in another state, was pumping gas in the busiest station in town. Eight hours of almost nonstop pumping. Only two of us on duty at a time, three rows of pumps, six lanes and no computers. We never neglected to wash the front windshield and rear window and always asked to check the oil. Some said yes, some no. And all of this for a whopping $1.50/Hr. and no customer waited any longer than we do today. That's why I've always been confused and more than a little upset about why most station owners in Oregon allow employees to stand idly by while waiting for the pump to finish. They are paid for that time, why not put it to good use and do the windows? Are they union and allowed to only pump gas? I know they're not, but you'd think so. It's either that or they just don't care about customers. Maybe we're just a necessary evil.

In Grants Pass a few of the stations wash your windshield...

or you can wash your own with the long handle bug sponge & squeegee they provide.

[Jimrob1]

Its better if your not from Oregon and some of its laws irritate you, to do as my mother would say. Shut your mouth until you can get the hell out of the situation.

Oregon's "No Pumping Your Own Gas Law" has been around for years or so Im told. Its not likely to change as is the No Sales Tax Law. This is how it is done here and thats how it is.

This is a very view based area of America. I have never seen or heard of any place so controlled by its views. Whether its the gas thing, Taxes, Urban Growth Boundaries or whatever. There is a way of doing things here, that can be very different than just not pumping your own gas. Things are just done in a way many people are just not use to.

I think if Not pumping your own gas is irritating to someone that moves here. Then it is also quite likely that other conflicting aspects of view points in Oregon may begin to surface.

[iamhadley]

just remember that its not you that has to breath the lethal, noxious fumes! Be thankful that someone else can inhale the poison for you!