Why New Jersey doesn't let people pump their own gas?

[QuarterMillionMan]

Why New Jersey Doesn’t Let People Pump Their Own Gas - YouTube

I noticed it when I rented a car in New Jersey years ago. Gas prices would be cheaper in NJ without the gas attendant. My first real job in Hawaii was a gas attendant making minimum $3.25/hr in 1982. They said parts of Oregon as well. Old habits are hard to break.

[Like2Plan]

I’ve found that the gas prices in NJ were actually less than in neighboring states (when driving through the state between VA and MA). I couldn’t figure that one out. The video that you linked also made that point.

I am in the demographic that would prefer to have full service if I had a choice. Oddly enough, I just haven’t seen a full service station in a state that offers self service so you don’t really have a choice.

I also wonder how reliable (and how quick) the full service option is if you are disabled at self service stations. Some places only seem to have one attendant on duty (for handling cashier type duties).

[kork13]

My family lived in Oregon for a while (extended family is still there), and I've never understood having someone else pump your gas. It's no easier, faster, or better. It just lets you stay sitting in your car. It's so ridiculous that on a visit to Oregon (and I didn't know about this), I got out to start pumping my gas & 3 attendants literally started running over to me to stop me & insist that I want allowed to pump myself. It's ridiculous.

L2P, most gas stations in Oregon that I've gone across have 1-5 attendants dedicated to pumping people's gas, depending on size ... Generally about 1 per 4-6 pumps. Waiting for someone is not often a problem.

[Like2Plan]

L2P, most gas stations in Oregon that I've gone across have 1-5 attendants dedicated to pumping people's gas, depending on size ... Generally about 1 per 4-6 pumps. Waiting for someone is not often a problem.

I was thinking of the other 48 states which only have the self service option, but the person needing gas is disabled and not able to pump the gas.

[kork13]

I was thinking of the other 48 states which only have the self service option, but the person needing gas is disabled and not able to pump the gas.

Ah, I see. Most stations have a button on the pump that they can hit for assistance.... But yeah, you're probably correct that in many cases (especially small stations with only a single cashier on duty), such assistance probably is not reliable or speedy.

[rennigade]

I'd rather not have someone pump my fuel and spill gas down my car. I've only been to Jersey a few times but my favorite part was leaving that state.

[disneysteve]

I've lived in NJ since 1994 (born and raised in Philly). Even after 28 years, the one thing I despise about the state is not being able to pump my own gas. If for no other reason, it takes so much longer waiting for the attendant to do it for me. Most stations only have one attendant and 6 or 8 or 12 pumps. If they're busy, it could be a couple of minutes before they get to you to start the pump and then a couple more when your tank is full before they come over and finish. I could do it myself in a fraction of the time.

The tradeoff has been that until very recently when there was a tax hike, NJ enjoyed among the lowest gas prices in the country. If we cross the bridge into PA, gas was typically 25-30 cents a gallon more. It's still relatively cheap but just not by as big a margin as it used to be. Still, any time we take a road trip, I love waiting until we're in DE or MD or wherever and I can fill up on my own.

[bjl584]

A coworker of mine got yelled at when he was driving through NJ years ago.
He had no idea you weren't allowed to pump your own gas.
When he started to try to do it, the attendant came running outside yelling.

[myrdale]

When I moved to my current location in NW Georgia (2005), there was one station on the edge of town that was full service. At first glance I thought it was sort of a cool idea, and unlike the stories above there was no delay in waiting on the attendant. I quickly figured out why there was no delay, they were $0.50 higher than everyone else in the county. Honestly, other than that first tank of gas I purchased, I don't recall ever seeing any other vehicles there. They closed up shop around 2008.

I first guess at NJ requiring a pump attendant is it is related to some union bs. Is there a gas pump attendants union? Honestly I put it in the same category as bathroom attendants, outdated and kind of creepy.

[disneysteve]

I first guess at NJ requiring a pump attendant is it is related to some union bs. Is there a gas pump attendants union?

From a recent Politico article:
New Jersey’s ban on self-serve gas dates back to the 1949 Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, which cited, among other things, fire hazards and exposure to toxic fumes, “particularly in the case of pregnant women.”

Full-service gas stations were the norm then. But as gas pumps became more modern, and cars got safer, most Americans got accustomed to serving up their own fuel.

[james.hendrickson]

Oregon is the other state where there are no gas station attendants. Pretty much all you need to do is drive up and they'll gas up your car.

The reason is because of a state law passed in 1951. I looked at, and there were a number of reasons for the passage of the law:

1. Reduced insurance liability for gas stations due to untrained people dispensing class 1 flammable liquids

2. Reduced exposure to toxic chemicals for the pregnant and disabled.

3. Improved safety - Oregon has a high degree of rainfall and fog, which presents unique gas station hazards not found in other states.

There have been numerous attempts to change this, but none of theme seem to have stuck.

Here is the original 1951 Oregon statute. I have to confess...at its face the reasoning for the law does not sound all that bad to me.

[disneysteve]

The topic of eliminating full service comes up every few years here in NJ but has never passed the legislature. The current push is actually tied to the ongoing labor shortage as stations are having increasing difficulty hiring people to pump gas. As I mentioned above, most stations only have one attendant regardless of how many pumps they have. That just leads to a lot of upset customers. I've driven away many times without getting gas because I got tired of waiting, knowing I could have done it myself and been on my way very easily. It's truly an awful system. The only people who really seem to like it are those who were born and raised here. Everybody else thinks it's ridiculous.

[myrdale]

Oregon is the other state where there are no gas station attendants. Pretty much all you need to do is drive up and they'll gas up your car.

The reason is because of a state law passed in 1951. I looked at, and there were a number of reasons for the passage of the law......

Here is the original 1951 Oregon statute. I have to confess...at its face the reasoning for the law does not sound all that bad to me.

One of the items listed is "the increased risk of personal injury resulting from slipping on slick surface". Is the customer allowed to exit the vehicle while they wait and enter the store to purchase food and drink? If so that justification is null.

[james.hendrickson]

Well...myrdale, it does rain a lot here in Oregon. In fact, its raining now. : )

Its possible when the law was initially passed in 1951 service stations were just that - automotive service stations. They may been less likely to be convenience stores.

[disneysteve]

One of the items listed is "the increased risk of personal injury resulting from slipping on slick surface". Is the customer allowed to exit the vehicle while they wait and enter the store to purchase food and drink? If so that justification is null.

You have to remember these laws were written in the 1940s. Gas stations didn't have mini-department stores attached. Drivers didn't get out of their cars when they were getting gas. Pumps were different. Cars were different. Gas was different (leaded, for one thing). Stations did oil changes. Walking around probably was more dangerous than it is today.