Oregon motorists might soon be able to pump their own gas

[discocrisco01]

Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregonians, get pumped. If you’re so inclined.

After more than seven decades of banning drivers from pumping their own gas, Oregon lawmakers on Wednesday voted to boldly enter the self-service era — where every state but New Jersey has been waiting.

If signed by Gov. Tina Kotek, House Bill 2426 will enable retail gas stations to designate up to half of their pumps as self-serve.

Read more: https://www.opb.org/article/2023/06/21/oregon-legislature-passes-bill-allowing-motorists-to-pump-their-own-gas/

[chowder66]

1. Wow! I had no idea they couldn't pump their own gas in either Oregon or NJ.

[NotHardly]

12. We PAY people to pump our gas... it is employment you silly fools

People have jobs pumping gas, it is not a 'mere' convenience god damn it! And now those people will be out of a god damn job ... stupid and cruel being played up as some benefit.

[ruet]

15. Yup.

I was shocked when I attempted to pump my own gas in Oregon and was nearly assaulted. I joke about the "assaulted" part of course but, having grown up in the 70's, it was kind'a nice. It seemed like an honest and wholesome job.

[moose65]

18. Just seems rather quaint to me

There have been a lot of jobs over the years that have been eliminated, for one reason or another. I can't remember the last time that someone pumped my gas in NC. There used to be one locally owned station about 25 or 30 years ago that had attendants, but that's been a long time!

I really didn't know that there were actual laws that mandated it in Oregon and NJ. Does anyone know when those laws were passed? To me, it would be similar to passing a law that says that retail stores must have cashiers at the registers instead of self-checkout. I don't usually use self-checkout, but it would be odd to have it outlawed.

[Ray Bruns]

19. I lived in NJ for three years. Coming from Virginia, it would drive me nuts that I couldn't

Pump my own gas.

[chowder66]

29. We had attendants in KCMO when I was growing up.

I think they were phased out sometime in the mid to late seventies, maybe even later. There is at least one station in the metro area that my mom uses and (I think) they still do full service. I may be wrong on pumping gas.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

27. I'd heard of this and forgotten it

When I moved to Oregon, I stopped for gas and as I'm grabbing my wallet and getting ready to open the door, some huge guy walks up and starts opening my gas cap and I'm all 'oh, they pump gas for you here'. Gave me a start tho!

[chowder66]

33. I probably would have had the same reaction!

[ripcord]

32. You were allowed to pump your own gas in rural areas

[chowder66]

34. In Oregon and NJ?

[Uncle_Remus]

2. Even more people living on the streets. I can't wait.

[CentralMass]

5. True I thought of that as well

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

28. Well, to be honest, OR min wage isn't high enough to afford rent.

There, you'd need three or four people to afford an apartment.

I saw ads on Craigslist for people in Portland renting out their couches for $400 a month. I saw people living in walk-in closets with their possessions under their bed.

Meanwhile, the waiting list is three years before they get to you.

[cstanleytech]

3. Why is it a good thing to abolish more private sector jobs?

[Snooper9]

24. I don't even know if I would consider this a job...

The only thing easier than this I can think of is being a door greeter at Walmart

[cloudythescribbler]

4. clearly reflects the general shortage of (I know the term is out of favor) unskilled labor

=

businesses are looking for people to fill other kinds of low level positions that pay like pumping gas. (there's a major study called "Regulating the Poor" by Piven & Cloward -- from about 50 years ago that showed how welfare state tightens the screws when unemployment drops, to push people into the labor market, while in periods of recession, they actually get laxer, to minimize the pressure for social upheaval)

[Tree Lady]

6. I love having them put gas in for me

reminds me of when I grew up. I hope they don't start charging for it or I will have to start doing it again. It's especially nice on rainy days.

And the employees are super nice at my costco gas.

[Lemon Lyman]

7. Yup

They will (start charging more for it). There'll be 2 different prices. Higher for having them do it for you. Lower for doing it yourself. That's the way it worked around here (Iowa) with stations who still offered to pump it.

[pnwmom]

8. "be able to"? What is good about pumping your own gas? In my experience, their gas

doesn't cost any more than mine, and someone pumps it for them.

[Ray Bruns]

20. Because it's quicker.

[Zeitghost]

22. It's faster

It's cheaper, I don't have to hand my credit card over to a stranger, I don't have to worry about someone getting gas on my car's paint. There are lot's of reasons.

[pnwmom]

25. It hasn't been quicker in my experience. And you don't have to get out of your car in bad weather.

And I hand my card to strangers at stores all the time. What's wrong with handing it over at a gas station?

[ZZenith]

9. Bummer.

I LOVE having the full service gas stations. It is a small part of what I love about this state and I can guarantee you our gas prices will not go down a penny after they furlough all the attendants.

Dammit.

[nilram]

10. Contact page for the Governor

I’m calling tomorrow and asking her to preserve jobs.

https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/staff.aspx

[ZZenith]

11. Thank you!

[CentralMass]

16. On Koin 6 last night they mentioned having 50% full serve/50% self serve

They mention that some stations have to close up half of their pumps because they can't get attendants and I think they implied hours of coverage issues.. I'm guessing finding an open pump late at night ?
They said gas price would be the same for full or self serve.

Having lived in MA most if my life I'm very used to self-serve. When I first came out I got out and started pumping my own the first time I pulled into a gas station befire an attendent came running out. It took a bit to get used to it.

[Zeitghost]

23. They are only allowed 50% self service pumps

There will be a higher price on the full service pumps.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. As a Washington state resident I find this about the most odd thing about Oregon

Always have to remind myself when down there because I instinctively am used to pumping my own.

[NotHardly]

17. I love the fact that people get jobs and can have lives, this is just stupid

This proposed law is simple bullshite and will get people who are struggling to get by to fall off completely ... one of the most decent things about Oregon is that at least we use to pretend we cared about employment and not some corporate bull shit.

[LisaM]

14. That's unfortunate.

One thing I like about driving in Oregon.

[Jimbo S]

21. About time Oregon joins the 21st century

I've known about NJ and OR for 30 years. Still, in 2000 while in OR that still annoyed me.

[pnwmom]

26. What is annoying about getting to stay in the car on a rainy day and getting someone else

to do the work? Or, on a sunny day, to have someone wipe your windshields?

[Jimbo S]

35. Because I'm an adult

and can do these things myself. Been doing it forty years.

[clementine613]

30. Can New Jersey residents pump their own gas yet?

I keep forgetting...

[maxsolomon]

31. I'm never sure if I'm supposed to tip them.

Another social anxiety eliminated.