Why can’t I pump my own gas in Oregon?
On a summer vacation road trip to the Northwest this week, I was reminded of one of the oddities of life in the United States. As you travel across borders, you encounter various levels of the nanny state, as administered by state politicians.
For example, only two states in the union will not give gas stations the freedom to let customers pump their own gas, Oregon and New Jersey. Pull up to any station in those states and someone will jump to your window before you have the chance to hop out. He or she will ask what type of gas you want and how much.
They don’t check your oil or tire pressure. They just pump gas, take your credit card and smile. Nice people, but is this really necessary, and how much more does it cost me?
Whenever I write about this, I typically get a lot of Oregonians defending their state’s unique law by waxing eloquent about how nice it is to get old-fashioned personal service. That isn’t the point.
I think it would be great if states would require radio stations to play those old Jack Benny shows or that newspapers have to be delivered by kids on bicycles, or that restaurants don’t let people serve themselves at salad bars. The problem is, in a free country it shouldn’t be OK for the government to tell businesses how to do business, unless health and safety are concerned.
This blog says the practice dates to 1951. Just about every state has a law or two on the books that exists only to preserve some sort of job. These are the ones that require a special license to braid hair, for example. They are ridiculous intrusions into the market.
Oregonians also will argue the law creates jobs for young people. That’s debatable. If government is forcing people to pay for jobs in markets that don’t really exist, you can be sure it’s also keeping jobs from being created in markets that do exist.
And while the cost of gas in Oregon isn’t out of line with that of neighboring states, it would be just plain silly to argue there isn’t a cost involved in this law. Someone is paying for this service.
If gas stations want to charge a bit more to give that personal touch, and if they think there is a market for that, more power to them. My guess is people don’t really want to pay for that. Why do Oregon and New Jersey force a market that doesn’t exist?
The Oregon law apparently classifies gasoline as a “class 1 flammable liquid.” You can’t have just anyone dealing with that stuff, except in their lawn mowers and boats, of course. But then, Oregon is a place where it’s legal to commit suicide, so long as you get a doctor to help you. That’s another one of those oddities.
Mr. Evensen writes a trite, condescending blip. The self-serving credentials included are more than this mere mortal can stomach. What is really at issue here when it comes to Oregon?? Someone pumping your gas, or a thinly veiled attempt to slam assisted suicide? If you decide to leave the Desert News, I’m sure Fox News has an opening for one as talented as yourself.
I have lived in Oregon for 12 years and have not been shocked by the stupidity of the Oregonian socialists. What really was surprising is that they were given a chance to change this ridiculous custom by offering the option of pumping your own gas on the 1982 ballot. Unfortunately, it was voted down by the retarded constituency. In 2003, a bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature to allow self service gas pumps but never got enough legislative votes. When I lived in Massachusetts, I thought that was the far left until I moved to Oregon. Yes, I’m moving out of this state . . too much insanity in this state!
Getting gas up there is a nightmare. During busy times, the “gas pumpers” do not have time to get to everyone, so you just wait, and wait, and wait, and they don’t even wash your windshield or anything. It is just ridiculous and stupid.
As you mentioned, welcome to the Nanny State. You can only drive 65 on the freeways, you can’t pump your own gas, and the inmates are in charge of the asylum when it comes to state and most local government. It truly is Massachusetts On The Pacific.
I suppose Oregonians would change the law if they opposed it. (btw the Oregon state legislature is currently evenly split between Republicans and Democrats–Democrats have a two vote majority in the Senate but the Assembly consists of 30 from each party). One interesting question, applicable to every state that has self-service gas, what do the disabled do?
On the other hand, Utah’s liquor laws appear peculiar–and complex.
To each his own peculiarities?
Interesting, that in these 2 states it is ILLEGAL for you to pump your own gas for your car because it’s dangerous. A car that will take a couple of minutes and 12-18 gal, and upwards of 22-30 for SUV’s and pick-ups (not trucks for you city people).
But us truck drivers HAVE to fill our own trucks, semi’s that is, anywhere from 100-300 galons at a time, everyday to every other day (500 miles a day, 5 mpg = 100 gals a day)
So ‘how’ is that safer? Personally, I wouldn’t let someone else gas my car, letting the gas cap drop along the fender scratching the paint, or slobbering gas from the nozzle down my fender, no thanks. If you don’t know how to check your tire’s air pressure, or check oil, to petty to wash your own windows, then you arent smart and mature enough to drive.
…And when I do run through Jersey and Oregon, I DO NOT put in fuel from those states…Just the way it is
Vermont is a state that lets people pump their own gas, it also has numerous “full service” stations. So that kind of puts a crimp in the contention that repealing this law would cause an end to “good old fashioned service”. In fact they actually check your oil, tire pressure, and wash the windshields and the extra cost is in the way of tips not a few cents snuck onto the gallon. I couldn’t agree more with your article.