Why is it illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey?

Answer 1

New Jersey and Oregon are the two states where it's illegal to pump your own gas. Only gas station owners or employees can pump gas in those states. New Jersey passed the law making it illegal to pump your own gas in 1949; at the time, legislators felt it was too dangerous to have untrained people dispensing such a flammable liquid.

That may have been sensible at the time, but pumping gas is much safer today, and some motorists feel the ban is outdated and needs to go. Opponents of the law argue that removing it would lower the cost of gas and make refueling much quicker and more convenient. Proponents of the ban argue that it creates jobs and customers like full service. And, some proponents of the ban argue that having someone pump your gas makes filling up quicker and you're stuck behind someone who is either slow or can't figure out how to operate the pump, the credit card machine, or simply gets back into their car and waits while it pumps automatically.

Here's a link to a recent story on New Jersey's "pump" law.

Gas pumps in New Jersey

Note that New Jersey did try "self pump" and discontinued it.
And, if the argument is that you're going to save a lot, even the New Jersey Governor's office, which wants to change the law so you can pump your own gas, says you'll only save 3 to 5 cents a gallon. Not a heckuva a lot of savings. Besides, at that rate, say half a dollar a tank of gas, in a year's time you'll save about 25 to 40 dollars at most, and that's assuming that you're going to do something with that savings of 3 to 5 cents every gallon you buy. And if you're that thrifty, I assume you never buy a bottle of water or soda, have any extra accessories on your most basic automobile, don't waste money on a newspaper or eat anything other than the most inexpensive and basic food, don't waste your money on unnecessary clothes. Right?

Seems to me, for what the savings the Governor can offer, 3 to 5 cents a gallon for the 10 or 15 gallons I might buy when I fill-up, the convenience is something nice. After all, aren't a lot of you buying Starbucks coffee for $3 a cup? And then getting a pastry with it? Why complain about service. And besides, I've never found that I've ended up wasting time while someone else pumped gas for me; but I have wasted time while the person in front of me pumped his or her own gas.

But then these are just my opinions, as someone who's driven through New Jersey a number of times and likes the service.

Answer 2

New Jersey Gas Pumping

Answer 3

Can't answer for New Jersey; as to Oregon, I was born and raised there, and saw several votes to overturn that law lose. Oregonians are proud of their quirkiness; they think it makes them different. Same with no sales tax; no matter what Oregon's fiscal problems, the voters will always turn down a sales tax. (Hence, property and income taxes are high.) Also, it was originally a fire safety law to keep amateurs from spilling gas and making a fire hazard. Because I'm an anarchist at heart, I've pumped my own gas many times in Oregon; occasionally, the attendant will make a fuss, but I always tell them to call the cops. So far, no one has. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever been arrested there for pumping their own gas. Truly, a law with no teeth. Oregon has plenty to make it unique; an incredible coastline, the Columbia River gorge, the volcanic Cascade range, the Central Oregon High desert; I could go on and on. Those who think they need a stupid gas-pumping law to make Oregon special are just nuts.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why is it illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey?

Answer 5

I live in Delaware were pumping your own gas is legal and we have a few full service pumps but Here in Delaware we can pump our own gas or have an attendant pump it for us we have a choice I like the fact were we get out and pump our own gas there are gas station attendants but they are inside the store ringing up customers

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Answer 8

You cannot pump your own gas in Oregon either. Its a jobs thing - more jobs for gas station attendants.

Answer 9

I've pumped my own gas in Jersey. THe attendant was busy with other customers. THe kob is his job he is not on welfare he has a job.....

Answer 10

Because New Jersey thinks it is it's own country.