here ya go
http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/7-17-01askeds.html
Today's Question:
The Mr. October of pitchers What states other than New Jersey do not allow customers to pump their own gas at gas stations?
The Answer:
New Jersey and Oregon are the only U.S. states that currently ban self-service gas stations.
The purpose of these laws was to protect consumers and gas station owners from costly, and possibly deadly, accidents.
Better education and improved technology, however, have made pumping gas much safer and easier for consumers over the last 50 years. Since the 1970s, self-service gas stations have grown in popularity and have offered consumers significant savings at the pumps.
The New Jersey law was enacted in 1949 and the Oregon law in 1951. Each statute has stood up to several challenges in those two states.
Disabled motorists are most interested in seeing such laws survive. For those motorists with a disability, pumping gas is not an option and they depend on the employees of full-service stations.
Despite requirements outlined in the American Disabilities Act, many self-service stations do not provide a full-service option for disabled drivers, nor provide those services at self-service rates.
—The Editors
"...the purpose of these laws was to protect consumers...from costly and possibly deadly accidents..."
Oh really? A number of years ago my husband and I stopped over in New Brunswick NJ on our way north to Nova Scotia to fill up--gas is cheaper in NJ than in PA. As we drove away the odor of gasoline was quite strong and got worse as we drove. We finally stopped and looked in the trunk--it was flooded with fuel! In an attempt to round off the price, or whatever, the attendant jiggled the nozzle and managed to separate the lower part of the hose from the connector. Thank God neither of us smoke!
We mopped up the fuel, had help cleaning and airing the trunk overnight and continued on our vacation. We returned home a few weeks later but never pursued any action against the station. However, we never allowed any stranger to fuel that Alfa Romeo again!