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Message |
    
thegoodsgt
Citizen
Username: Thegoodsgt
Post Number: 731
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 2:33 pm: | 
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Someone on another thread mentioned the fact that here in New Jersey we're not allowed to pump gas into our own car. Can someone who's lived here for a long time explain the rationale or history behind this law? |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 4995
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 2:46 pm: |
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1) Gas stations pay lower insurance premiums (or used to)
2) It's too cold to get out of the car. |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 112
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 2:56 pm: |
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Personally, I don't want to pump gas into my car. Do you?
By the way, self-serve gas costs MORE in New York State than it does here in NJ (about $2.10 in Rochester). |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 3:05 pm: |
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I’m all for having someone else pump my gas!
I know how, but I sure don’t want to. I like staying in my nice climate controlled car. And I hate smelling like gas, which I inevitably do when I pump my own. Plus, I have this fear, however irrational, that I’m going to do something wrong and blow myself up. And, most of the time, the gas station attendants amuse my kids while we’re waiting—a little added bonus.
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Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 151
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 3:11 pm: |
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Maybe if you ask real nice, he'll let you pump the gas, but you're still going to have to pay him so you won't get away without having to deal with a human being! |
Earlster
Supporter
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 872
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 3:26 pm: |
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Joe R. there are those great pumps, where you just swipe your card. No need to talk to nobody.
I thought it was for environmental reasons, not spilling gas when pumping. Funny thing is, that whenever I get gas for my motorcycle, the attendent dumps all the gas in the nozzle on the floor. |
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 317
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 3:31 pm: |
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I remember the first time I had to pump my own gas - I looked like an idiot. The guy had to come out to help me and my friend, two silly girls from Jersey. I think I have the hang of it now, I've done it since and haven't had any major problems.
It's nice when it's cold out and you can stay in your car, but sometimes when I'm in a rush I wish I could just get out and pump it myself - especially when I'm running late for work. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 558
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 3:41 pm: |
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When we first moved here I didn't realize you were not supposed to pump your own gas. I was getting angry at my husband, because I thought he was paying for full service..... |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 628
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 4:27 pm: |
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I don't get this fixation with wanting to pump your own gas. It's a hassle, If you're dressed up on your way to some formal event or work you could end up getting a lovely gasoline smell, plus there are all all different types of pumps, some easier to use than others. |
Waxwings
Citizen
Username: Waxwings
Post Number: 15
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 4:48 pm: |
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I worked in a gas station every summer and week-ends when I was in high School. I pumped enough gas then to last the rest of my life. I'm quite contented to let someone else do it now, thank you!
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Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7249
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 4:48 pm: |
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My understanding is that the independent gas station owners have a strong lobby and they have kept NJ from allowing self service, which is the forte of the oil company owned stations. The arguement is made along safety lines.
According to my son who is in college in PA, in other states learning how to pump gas is part of the drivers ed course.!!
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Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 3804
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 4:49 pm: |
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Silly people, its to keep the employment numbers up so that then Gov. Whitman could look strong on jobs. |
Sgt. Pepper
Citizen
Username: Jjkatz
Post Number: 558
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 4:51 pm: |
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I've had occasions where I've sat so long waiting for an attendant that I just left. The option to do it myself would have been nice. |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1603
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 5:31 pm: |
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Pump my own gas! I think the rest of the country is nuts. When you go to a restaurant do you want to cook your own food? |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5149
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 5:58 pm: |
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This comes up as a bill often and is struck down each time, for some reason. I wonder who is really gaining from this. The only other state in the US which also forbids self-serve is Oregon.
I'm not so sure self-serve would save us money, though I'm sure it would save us time. |
Spare_o
Citizen
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 177
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 6:02 pm: |
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I grew up in a state where we had to pump our own gas. Learning how was a bit of a rite of passage - get your license, get some wheels, gotta put gas in to make it go. When I moved to NJ, the attendants were completely befuddled to see a woman at the pump dressed in a business suit pumping gas and cleaning the windshield. Now when I travel by car in other states, I have to remember to get out and do it myself.
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Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 30
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 8:10 pm: |
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anon: You always seem to manage to hit the nail on the head, and always in such a witty fashion. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1172
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 9:10 pm: |
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The law is crazy. It takes infinitely longer to get your gas here then other self-serve states. The guys that work at the stations aren't exactly concerned about quick service and half the time I can't understand what they are saying.
By the way, prices have nothing to do with full or self service. It's all about the taxes. |
Mark Fuhrman
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1150
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 9:50 pm: |
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When I am waiting too long, I simply get out of my car, run my credit card through the machine, and pump my own gas. No one ever says a word--they don't even seem embarassed that they were moving so slow. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 34
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 17, 2005 - 10:16 pm: |
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I go to the Amoco/BP station on the corner of Springfield and Vauxhall and have never had to wait. |
Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 536
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 7:43 am: |
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I pump it myself unless the guy is hanging on my window. Brings me back to the days I pumped gas @ the old BP on Vauxhall Springfield. Of course without the time I got hit with a bat and robbed. But that's another story. |
bklyntonj
Citizen
Username: Bklyntonj
Post Number: 315
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 8:06 am: |
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Hey, I use that BP too. Never have to wait. Wow Mike, I didn't know that area was that seedy. Gives a new meaning to "Batman and Robbin"... |
Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 537
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 8:29 am: |
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In deed it does. This was about 19 years ago. Being 6'-4" is nice when it comes to warding off such events but not when it's 3 on 1. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 3806
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 9:48 am: |
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Good thing it was only a bat.
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shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 680
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 11:15 am: |
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I grew up in New York, and there was never self-serve gas until much later (maybe early '80s or so). I didn't like the option of self-serve because hated doing it, but I felt guilty staying in the car and paying more. |
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