Is it difficult not being able to pump your own gas? (credit, how much)

[ImAnEnigma]

Hello,

I was wondering is it difficult and/or annoying not to be able to pump your own gas? I drove through Oregon and was told it was illegal. The first time I stopped to get gas they ran up to my car to pump my gas and I thought..."Oh well that's a nice service this station provides...I hope they weren't expecting a tip".

The second time it was done at a different station I just told the guy that I've got it...He looked at me a little strange. This last time at yet another gas station I told the guy same thing and he replied, "No you can't, it's illegal". I thought he was pulling my leg to get a tip...He was like, "If a cop catches you, you can be fined up to $1,000.00". Being born and raised in California I was literally shocked, I had never heard of such a law and was told NJ is the same way...Anyways, how do you guys like it? Does it take some getting use to and are the attendants usually pretty quick about it? Especially if you'r e in a hurry? Thanks!

[earthwirehead]

I'm from Texas originally, and I love it.

[Steve Pickering]

I like it too.

Yes it is illegal, and the station is also subject to a fine for letting you pump your own.

[Ms_Christina]

Yup, OR and NJ. It's nice and easy to get used to because most stations are staffed to handle volume. Once in awhile I'll be in a hurry and I'll gripe about how much faster it was when I did it myself in PA. Then the next day it is howling wind and rain and I don't mind not having to get out of my car.

What I find weird is people from OR or NJ that don't know how to pump gas. Don't this people ever travel out of their bubble?

[bler144]

Originally Posted by ImAnEnigma

Hello,

"No you can't, it's illegal". I thought he was pulling my leg to get a tip...He was like, "If a cop catches you, you can be fined up to $1,000.00".

He was correct (it's even posted at some stations), though my motorcycling friends tell me there's an exemption for bikes, due to the possibility of gas spatter damaging the paint job.

It's a mixed blessing. On the plus side in theory it keeps our unemployment rate from being worse, and when the weather's terrible, it's nice to let someone else do it. I can recall winters in Chicago wishing someone would come do the pumping so I didn't have to freeze my damn hands off.

On the downside, occasionally you hit a place that's busy, or where the staff is just slow. I sat at one station as the only customer for 5 minutes once while the boss held a conference with the one staff member working. Likewise, I'm not sure how small stations handle overnight staffing. I don't drive all night much these days, but I've been in lots of other small towns in states where a closed station would still let you pay by credit and pump your own. Here I'd have to presume in some places they just close down entirely like back in the 50s.

[wanderbygrace]

I would've much rather they did this in Ohio than here in Oregon. Pumping your own gas when it's -5 with howling winds (wind chills at -20 or worse) really stunk.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by bler144

He was correct (it's even posted at some stations), though my motorcycling friends tell me there's an exemption for bikes, due to the possibility of gas spatter damaging the paint job.

Motorcycles and Diesel fuel are both allowed self pump. Most workers don't know this though, so I've had issues in the past.

[urbanlife78]

Heck no, I love it, though how they do it in NJ is a little annoying. But in Oregon, I always loved having my gas pumped for me. I would tip the guy if he washed my windshield too, I would go to the Shell on Hawthorne all the time for that reason.

[Annie53]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Motorcycles and Diesel fuel are both allowed self pump. Most workers don't know this though, so I've had issues in the past.

Doesn't that nullify the reason for the law in the first place.....safety?

If it is safe for someone to pump their own gas into their motorcycle, why wouldn't it be safe for someone to pump gas into their car?

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Annie53

Doesn't that nullify the reason for the law in the first place.....safety?

I do not know why the motorcycle and diesel exceptions are in the law. I do know that the law was not initially for safety, it was a job bill. The safety issue got added later to silence out of state gas station owners who were fighting it. Keep in mind that this was also in the 60's.