Pumping Gas in Oregon (Portland, Eugene: coupons, insurance, prices)

[Steve Pickering]

The reason for the law was safety after a student with Legislative ties set herself on fire while fueling in Eugene many years ago.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by VTHokieFan

You wouldn't believe all the violent accidents that occur in states where they're forced to pump their own gas.

Done it since the 70's. Never heard of ONE accident in that time. I think the station owners spread legends to keep control. Some drivers do stupidly latch the hose open so they don't have to pay attention and spill gas on the ground. But violent events? Nada. But, hey, some people actually like full service. Do they wash your windows and check your oil like they did long ago?

[kyled]

Actually a friend of my brother's drove off with the hose still in the tank...twice...regardless I'd rather be able to choose between the two.

[J24]

Hey, I'm certainly not complaining, I just think it's funny that something is against the law here that 48 other states do. But again, not complaining... I like the idea of sitting in my Wat car and letting someone else fuel it up on a cold day.

I think I'll be able to adjust fairly quickly to that. So it looks like I'll just keep my gas key on a separate ring and have that ready for them with my credit card.

[Sizzle-Chest]

I'll complain, I've lived here my whole life and I think the law is ridiculous, the station pays one or two guys minimum wage to run around all day, sucking gas fumes, taking cards, putting nozzles in, taking nozzles out, getting change, getting recites all while drivers just sit and wait and wait and wait . . .

[EnricoV]

Hope it shows up on the ballot again soon, so I can vote against it. Again.

Finding it odd that something is illegal ( or legal) in one state and not in another, is not having a very firm understanding of the way things work. Can you say gay marriage, assisted suicide, legalized marijuana, the death penalty, medical marijuana, civil unions, just to name a few recent hot topics.

[kyled]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Hope it shows up on the ballot again soon, so I can vote against it. Again.

Finding it odd that something is illegal ( or legal) in one state and not in another, is not having a very firm understanding of the way things work. Can you say gay marriage, assisted suicide, legalized marijuana, the death penalty, medical marijuana, civil unions, just to name a few recent hot topics.

States rights, it was built into the constitution. The federal government has a few specific powers that it can exert on all of the states but most things are left to each individual state to vote on. It localizes powers so people from California can't decide how to run Oregon, and vice versa. It was originally meant for smaller eastern states and kind of loses its meaning with the larger western states.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

The reason for the law was safety after a student with Legislative ties set herself on fire while fueling in Eugene many years ago.

As far as I know (my family having owned a gas station at the time,) this law came about in 1951 as a way to get more Oregonians to work during one of our numerous recessions due to the lowered demand in timber sales. It was a quick and easy law to pass, put several thousand people to work right away and was an easy way for everyone in the Legislature to say "See! I'm doing something about the economy! Vote for me!"

The safety stuff was all tacked on to force Gas Station owners to submit to it with a minimal fight. As of 2010, there were about 7600 people in Oregon employed as Gas Station Attendants.

Either way, I spent forty minutes looking through the Oregonian's archives and can't find the truth of the matter, nor even a mention of the law being enacted at all. Perhaps I'm using the wrong key words, but on the surface there looks to be little controversy over it.

I found that the State of Oregon had lost most of it's post-war surplus by 1951 and was down to $3.5million. And, interestingly, I found that the 1953 Legislature passed a law allowing tolling of the Interstate Bridge to build a second bridge next door. Both bridges are now considered the I-5 Bridge.

In 1982 though, there are plenty of "letters to the editor" that talk about safety and jobs being at the forefront with talking about the self-service law.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

The reason for the law was safety after a student with Legislative ties set herself on fire while fueling in Eugene many years ago.

I'd love to see a link to this incident. Care to share it?

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by Kimballette

I'd love to see a link to this incident. Care to share it?

It used to be around. I haven't seen it in years. Not very common as it occured before the internet. Try back issues of the Register Guard or Statesman Journal. Both carried articals. Yes it was around 1951, and it did come back up but I don't think it was the '80's. More like around 1975.