I was told that in NJ there are no self service gas station. Not legal. Is that a fact? Something to do with the possibility of static electricity starting fires?

If true, are there any other states with similar laws?

 

i never saw any. someone told me it was a rule from the war and rationing. people would fill up even if they didn't have the ration tickets. not that the service was great either. never had anyone offer to check the oil or wash the windshield though there were some that would hang around like they were expecting a tip.

 

NJ and Oregon are the only states with full serve and no self serve. The reason in NJ is to shield the disabled and elderly the inconveniece of pumping their own gas.

 

So do they charge the same as self-serve or do they hike up the price?

 

Gas prices in Jersey are cheaper than NY, by at least .20. Mostly because NY taxes are so high. $2.43 at the Mobil Mart by my home in NY today. $2.22 by my moms house in North Jersey last week when I was there visiting.

 

I can't even remember how long it's been that I have filled up at a full service station.
My wife on the other hand, would love in in NJ. She's rather run out of gas before filling up herself.

 

Really? That doesn't make sense. Bet it's not illegal for people to carry their groceries to their car, is it??

Or were you kidding?

 

I recall someone saying Oregon's law was in response to someone BBQing the car and those in it.

Locally, San Marino CA banned self serve as it doesn't fit the image they want in their snooty high-dollar city. (no asphalt shingle roofs either...) Oddly, the prices at their two stations are lower than the surrounding self serves in Pasadena.

I was a pump jockey from '71 to '75 and I remember my (idiot) grandfather asking "Why would I pay .05 more per gallon"... for full serve after he noticed the lower price at a then-new self serve place. I asked him what it was worth to have someone pump your gas when you are dressed in a suit on your way to a meeting/party/other nice get together and it's raining cats and dogs or 15 degrees and snowing like it will never stop. He went on about that .05/gallon again...

So out of the margin squeezes, consolidations, additional regulations and conversion of many stations from mechanical repair to convenience store or tire store etc, self serve became the standard.

And of course, some regulators and hand wringers couldn't stand the thought of a station owner making more money and their "good intentions" and the occasional fire resulted in laws like OR and NJ. Or so I think.

 

I can't see how some people are up in arms about not having the god-given right to pump their own gas! The stations are well staffed and there is generally no wait involved. You hand over your card, and don't even need to get out of the car. And- no GASOLINE HAND! What's not to love about it? The only problem comes when you leave the state, and have to re-learn pumping your own gas.

 

Out here it's mostly self-serve with some stations with full serve for a higher price.

I'll pump my own.

Used to be full service only with the attendant checking your oil, water and tire pressure. Then you got your S&H Green stamps along with other thankyou prizes.

Opps! Sorry for reminiscing.

I know Oregon still has f/s only. I tried to fill up my truck one time and an old guy comes running out, "hey buddy, you can't do that....".

 

I haven't seen a full service gas station around here in probably 15-20 years,and even then,there was only one

 

Actually it is full serve here for insurance reasons. The people pumping are "trained professionals" (ha!). Gas in NYC is almost a dollar more expensive. They have tried to change the law a few times, but it is never gotten far. If they change it, the insurance at the gas stations would go up, meaning gas would get more expensive.

 

all are self-serve around here.

 

Yep- they've tried to change that in Oregon a few times, but generally the public is smart enough to know 1) there's jobs at stake 2) prices aren't guaranteed to be cheaper with self-serve and 3) once you lose the mandate, there's no turning back.

 

Nope....was'nt kidding, Lawmakers have tried to repeal the statute, but current ADA laws make it difficult to change. There is also the problem of 20,000 jobs to be lost if they went self serve.