Do most CA petrol stations charge for air/water? (Los Angeles: buy, law)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

In Los Angeles, almost every petrol station charges a dollar for a minute or so of air or water. Is this the new normal throughout CA?

[SoCal25]

I don't remember a time where this wasn't the case. If you buy anything its free and most stations I'm told will probably turn it on if you just ask.

[V8 Vega]

It's illegal for them to charge if you buy gas.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by SoCal25

I don't remember a time where this wasn't the case. If you buy anything its free and most stations I'm told will probably turn it on if you just ask.

In L.A. they're coin operated machines. We didn't have these things at every station 20 years ago.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by V8 Vega

It's illegal for them to charge if you buy gas.

I did not know that.

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

I did not know that.

It's been law since 1999. It's a safety issue, "essential for the safe operation of motor vehicles." Moreover they should have a sign stating such. Not many stations do this and maintain coin operated air and water machines, but if you ask they have to turn the machine on for you. They can be cited.

AB 531 Assembly Bill - CHAPTERED

[PhoenixSomeday]

When we were about 10 - 12, it was quite a shock one day in the very early 90s when my friends and I went to the gas station at the end of our street to put air in our bike tires and discovered that the air was no longer free, and that it now took quarters! The only gas stations I've seen with free air since then (unless you do the annoying "go ask them" thing, because it never turns on) are QT stations here in AZ. The downside being that they don't have gauges, so you have to guess, or bring your own (I always have one in the car).

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by Bunjee

It's been law since 1999. It's a safety issue, "essential for the safe operation of motor vehicles." Moreover they should have a sign stating such. Not many stations do this and maintain coin operated air and water machines, but if you ask they have to turn the machine on for you. They can be cited.

AB 531 Assembly Bill - CHAPTERED

Yup. I didn’t know this to be the law until a former girlfriend told me dozen years ago or so when getting air. Ever since then I’ve always have had it turned it on for free. I’ll usually just use quarters if I’m not getting gas out of convenience, but when I don’t have any they turn it on as well. I guess they don’t know/care if I got gas. I think I’ve seen the sign less than I can count on one hand since learning the law.

Seeing this thread title reminded me of one time after getting gas the cashier said he’d turn it on but didn’t. We went through me waking back in 2-3x before finally using quarters. I was so pissed on the principal of the matter I called him out and said the owner isn’t going to appreciate this when I report him. When the cashier told me he was the owner I said this is gonna make it that much sweeter if you really are. He promptly gave me my dollar back and called me what I assumed to be unpleasant names in a language I didn’t understand.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by SoCal25

I don't remember a time where this wasn't the case. If you buy anything its free and most stations I'm told will probably turn it on if you just ask.

I do, but then I'm probably much older than you. Until self-serve gas stations came in, all of them in CA would not only give free air and water but the attendants did the work, along with cleaning the windshield and checking the oil. It was 1981 before the majority of gas stations were self-serve. As they were renovated with the new pumps, the air and water hoses were moved off of the islands, and eventually the coin-op boxes were added.

[Jude24]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

I do, but then I'm probably much older than you. Until self-serve gas stations came in, all of them in CA would not only give free air and water but the attendants did the work, along with cleaning the windshield and checking the oil. It was 1981 before the majority of gas stations were self-serve. As they were renovated with the new pumps, the air and water hoses were moved off of the islands, and eventually the coin-op boxes were added.

I must be in your age group. I remember when the station attendant pumped your gas, cleaned your windshield, and would check air pressure and oil level at no charge. That was standard practice at just about all gas stations.