Oregon ends ban on self-service gas pumps after 72 years ...

M

Myrtle

Senior Member
Location
U.S.A.
Motorists in Oregon are expressing excitement and confusion after a 72-year ban on self-serve gasoline pumps was lifted on Friday.

Across the Beaver State, drivers took to social media to boast of pumping their own gas, while local new outlets published step-by-step instructions to help bewildered first-timers.

The change came after Governor Tina Kotek signed a bill allowing people across the state to choose between having an attendant pump gas or doing it themselves. The law took immediate effect.

That leaves New Jersey as the only US state that prohibits motorists from pumping their own gas. A few countries also ban it, including South Africa, where attendants offer to check fluid levels and clean the windshield, and expect to be tipped.

'Today was day one where we were allowed to pump our own gas, I was super excited to go and do this myself,' said TikTok user @pnw.bethany in a video on Friday.

However, she was disappointed to discover that she had accidentally pulled into a 'full service' lane at the gas station, where attendants still do the pumping, and vowed to return to the 'self-service' lane for the next fill-up.

Oregon residents were divided on the change, with some expressing support, and others skepticism.

'It's about time. It's long overdue,' said Karen Cooper, who lives in Salem, said shortly before the bill was signed.

'I've spent a lot of time in California,' Cooper said. 'I know how to pump my own. Everybody should know how to pump their own gas.'

Kacy Willson, 32, who has lived in Oregon her whole life, said she doesn't have much interest in pumping her own gas. She's only tried it a few times in her life.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12376259/Oregon-self-service-gas-gasoline-pumps.html

What say you?
 

When my sons were in their twenties they went on a road trip with some friends to Washington State to see an X games competition (or something similar). Spent a couple of days in Oregon.

Pulled into a gas station and, being Californians, they started pumping their own gas. A total jerk local cop gave the driver a ticket for it, even though he saw his CA drivers license and knew everyone in CA pumps their own gas.

The experience left such a sour taste in their mouths that those kids have never returned to Oregon. Other road travels yes, but it's been 15 years and they still have no interest in going back to Oregon.
 
It’s about time. I believe it was based on a major gas station fire many years ago. My husband hates when someone else pumps the gas. Too many times the attendant would be lazy and let a little gas dribble when they’d try to overfill.
 
StarSong said:
When my sons were in their twenties they went on a road trip with some friends to Washington State to see an X games competition (or something similar). Spent a couple of days in Oregon.

Pulled into a gas station and, being Californians, they started pumping their own gas. A total jerk local cop gave the driver a ticket for it, even though he saw his CA drivers license and knew everyone in CA pumps their own gas.

The experience left such a sour taste in their mouths that those kids have never returned to Oregon. Other road travels yes, but it's been 15 years and they still have no interest in going back to Oregon.
Click to expand...
Will add to this story that two of the boys (brothers) had a father who was an LAPD sergeant, so all of the kids knew to be polite and respectful to police officers. They didn't lip off or behave rudely. In fact, they were totally taken by surprise to learn of Oregon's law, and even more surprised at the guy actually writing out a ticket.
 
Gaer said:
Why is this being done? Sorry, but this makes no sense to me.
Click to expand...
Gear, here's some quotes and a link to another story with more info.

When Oregon prohibited self-service in 1951, lawmakers cited safety concerns, including motorists slipping on the slick surfaces at filling stations subject to Oregon’s notoriously rainy weather. In recent years legislators relaxed the rule and allowed rural counties to have self-serve gas available at night. Then they extended it to all hours in eastern Oregon’s sparsely populated areas, where motorists low on gas could be stranded when there’s no attendant on duty.

The COVID-19 pandemic labor shortage helped drive a renewed push to allow self-serve across the state.

“We live in a small town in a large county and can’t find employees to pump fuel,” Steve Rodgers, whose community is at the base of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains, complained to lawmakers. “We are paying top dollar and also offering insurance, paid time off and retirement benefits, and still cannot fully staff.”

More at the link: https://apnews.com/article/oregon-g...ey-selfserve-10d7a467ab0fd9c6d15f2cb2769b00ce
 
Myrtle said:
Motorists in Oregon are expressing excitement and confusion after a 72-year ban on self-serve gasoline pumps was lifted on Friday.

Across the Beaver State, drivers took to social media to boast of pumping their own gas, while local new outlets published step-by-step instructions to help bewildered first-timers.

The change came after Governor Tina Kotek signed a bill allowing people across the state to choose between having an attendant pump gas or doing it themselves. The law took immediate effect.

That leaves New Jersey as the only US state that prohibits motorists from pumping their own gas. A few countries also ban it, including South Africa, where attendants offer to check fluid levels and clean the windshield, and expect to be tipped.

'Today was day one where we were allowed to pump our own gas, I was super excited to go and do this myself,' said TikTok user @pnw.bethany in a video on Friday.

However, she was disappointed to discover that she had accidentally pulled into a 'full service' lane at the gas station, where attendants still do the pumping, and vowed to return to the 'self-service' lane for the next fill-up.

Oregon residents were divided on the change, with some expressing support, and others skepticism.

'It's about time. It's long overdue,' said Karen Cooper, who lives in Salem, said shortly before the bill was signed.

'I've spent a lot of time in California,' Cooper said. 'I know how to pump my own. Everybody should know how to pump their own gas.'

Kacy Willson, 32, who has lived in Oregon her whole life, said she doesn't have much interest in pumping her own gas. She's only tried it a few times in her life.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12376259/Oregon-self-service-gas-gasoline-pumps.html

What say you?
Click to expand...
We've always pumped our own, thought it was strange when we went to Oregon and had to use an attendant. I think I just heard NJ is about to make the change too, or at least vote on it.
 
I remember the first time we pulled up to a gas station in Oregon in our rental car and my late husband jumped out to pump.

A lady in a sari with a baby nursing came hustling out of the gas station and told us we couldn't pump our own gas. WTH? We can't?

She still had the baby at her breast the whole time she was pumping the gas. I thought about how bad it was for the baby, inhaling those gas fumes.

I recall the days of station attendants. Clean your windshield, check your oil, often hand out lollipops to kids in the backseat. And with a fill-up, you might get a glass, a towel, etc.
 
It sure makes sense that gas stations aren’t forced to close at night because they couldn’t get staff.
 
Last edited:
I'd love for someone else to pump my gas. There isn't a single gas station I can think of that still does it. So I pump because I have no other choice. 😒
 
when ever i was in Oregon if you pulled in they had no issue letting us pump our own ......
only once did someone try to stop us then they looked saw Washington state plates and said OK you know how .......... wanted to laugh like most everyone knows how dude this was not rocket science.
 
I do remember the days when there were gas station attendants, but I’m just as happy doing it myself. Plus, it’s hard enough finding employees in other service jobs, I can’t imagine how difficult finding gas station attendants would be.
 
I don't know why people are giddy about pumping their own gas. Pumping my own gas is not on my bucket list. And getting out of a nice warm car to stand there and hold the hose in well below freezing weather is not something I pray for. New Jersey is about 15 miles from me. There, you aren't allowed to pump your own gas, they have "highly educated, well trained petroleum pump technicians". ;)@ about 50 cents more per gallon.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I don't know why people are giddy about pumping their own gas. Pumping my own gas is not on my bucket list. And getting out of a nice warm car to stand there and hold the hose in well below freezing weather is not something I pray for. New Jersey is about 15 miles from me. There, you aren't allowed to pump your own gas, they have "highly educated, well trained petroleum pump technicians". ;)@ about 50 cents more per gallon.
Click to expand...
I think you explained what you didn't know in your last sentence. People are excited about pumping their own gas because they can save 50 cents a gallon. Those savings add up fast.

Beyond that, I prefer not to have gas station attendants around my car. Years ago it wasn't uncommon to stop for gas at some gas/repair garages and come up needing a new tire or perhaps a fan belt, if the hood had been opened, a few miles further down the road. Maybe that wouldn't happen now but the habit of years is deeply ingrained. Don't approach me in a gas station.
 
I don't drive anymore, but if I did, I wouldn't want to have to pump my own gas. And I would be glad I live in Jersey. I wonder, though...how long will it be before N.J. joins the rest of the country.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top