Posted on 01/07/2018 7:04:33 AM PST by Kaslin
The Great State of Oregon is not at DEFCON ONE. Nor are Beaver State residents gnashing their teeth — or gnawing down their neighbors’ small backyard trees — over a new law that went into effect last week.
Nonetheless, numerous news outfits have proclaimed:
“People in Oregon are freaking out about the thought of pumping their own gas under a new law.” “A brand new law went into effect . . . for the Beaver State. And it’s sending shock waves across all 98,000-plus square miles and all 4 million residents as we speak.” “Some Oregonians may have to pump their own gas and people are losing their minds”
Don’t believe everything you read. And, for goodness sake, hang onto your mind.
For starters, Oregon’s new law doesn’t actually require anyone to do anything new. It is the old law, which forced all gas stations throughout the state to provide full service in dispensing gasoline into vehicles. Put down that pump, pilgrim—er, customer.
Moreover — and unfortunately — the new law only allows “retailers in counties with a population of less than 40,000 . . . to have self-service gas pumps.” Most Oregonians, living in cities and suburbs, will continue to be “protected” from the freedom to fill up their own tank . . . and pay less.
So, where did this mockumentary story — “Internet mocks Oregon over new self-service gas law” — come from?
Seems it was triggered by a Facebook post on the page of KTVL CBS 10 News in Medford, Oregon. The TV station took the “freedom to pump” concept an absolutely terrifying step further, asking, “Do you think Oregon should allow self-serve gas stations statewide?”
As George Takei likes to say: oh, my.
The social media post went viral, not surprisingly, because of priceless responses such as this: “I’ve lived in this state all my life and I REFUSE to pump my own gas. I had to do it once in California while visiting my brother and almost died doing it. This [is] a service only qualified people should perform. I will literally park at the pump and wait until someone pumps my gas. I can’t even.”
Across America, after reading such comments, we can’t even . . . either.
Oregon is one of only two states — New Jersey, the other — where gas stations are legally banned from permitting customers to put gas in their own cars. Though New Jersey Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon admitted to the New York Times that he violates the law and grabs the pump when in a hurry. “Someone can come to my door and cuff me if they want.”
The assemblyman has introduced legislation to allow self-service and thinks the current prohibition is indefensible: “The only thing you could argue is that New Jerseyans are more flammable than people in the other 49 states.”
It is 48 states, of course; Assemblyman O’Scanlon forgot about Oregon. But his point is well taken, nonetheless. Folks in the other 48 states have managed, as one Facebooker calmly explained, “to pump gas without spilling the whole tank and triggering a Star Wars-style explosion.”
Yet, in Oregon, politically, the full-service-gas-dispensing-by-law policy has found popular support both in the legislature and on the ballot. Indeed, wealthier people may enjoy the mandated service, which has grown rare to nonexistent in other parts of the country where consumers can choose to pay for it or not. No matter how popular, however, by what right does government deny gas station owners and their customers basic economic freedom?
Not to mention that the law functions as a regressive tax on the working poor, who are required to pay more of their scare dollars and cents to get to and from work and to the market and to drop the kids at school.
Still, if Oregonians so revere this regulatory regime, protecting them from the “smell” and the indignity of direct proximity to automotive re-fueling, why did the legislature change the law even partially?
Well, for economic reasons. Which are also safety reasons. As one might expect, gas stations across rural Oregon were closing at night, because of the labor costs of staying open. Many motorists have been more than merely inconvenienced — being stranded at night in rural Oregon is a high price to pay for not having ever to hold a cold fueling nozzle.
Freer markets offer greater protection for real people . . . those not too perplexed by the prospect of pumping their own petrol.
I remember those days, and the rumors that there were tankers steaming in circles offshore waiting for the price to go up!
That "crew" was me! LOL. 1968 to 1972, pumped gas at my Grand Dad's gas station, rain, snow or shine. Gas was around 30 cents a gallon.....
You have brought back to me many memories, especially of the cute girls and leaning over the windshield to get a better look....
Those guys would really freak out in Iowa. There are rural gas stands that are open 24 hours a day, but with no attendant or even building, just pumps. You have to belong to the local coop to use them, but I imagine they make the farmers’ lives easier.
Reading quickley and bleary eyed, I thought the title was ‘Children of the Spermed Nozzle’ and I thought WTF?
We have a local station where all the nozzles are green. Asking for trouble in my opinion.
Back in the day, as you describe, imprinting the credit card. I worked at a truck stop in Eugene, OR, pumping diesel into big rigs. When the drivers said they had a card, I was required to call a number in Portland for approval of their card (never did get a bad one).
Pre-approval before fueling a truck was understandable. Even at 1974 prices, 150 gallons of diesel was pricey.
Had a similar experience going into Oregon from Calif. I had no idea I was not allowed to pump gas. The young attendant came out took a quick glance at my license plate and politely informed me about Oregon law. He took over and finished the job, no problem. He was very nice about it.
LOL!
I remember being flashed more than once when I was washing a windshield... great fun working at Frank’s Sunoco! Learned how to take care of my own vehicles as well as how to deal with people.
Well, if we can pump our own gas and grind our own coffee...
..they should trust us behind the counter to grind our own meat
...and slice our own cold cuts!
My dad was a big wig at a major oil refinery. During the oil ‘crisis’ he would bring me 5 gallons of fresh premium for my car (Sedan deVille). Every day I was cruisin’ and street dragging, leaving the boys behind at the light. No one could catch me.
I was surprised by this when I moved out here to Oregon.
Stopped at a truck stop to fill up, pulled up to a pump, started fueling, and an attendant came up to me and read me the riot act. Told him first stop in Oregon.
I’ve pumped my own gas pretty much since forever. There’s very few “full service” gas stations left in the midwest.
Back in the day full service was a way to sell a quart of oil and check out the miniskirts.
It seems that OR does cut some slack for out of state plates.
Ha! now that’s funny! Eugene to my knowledge is a real hippy college town.
What a great picture!
ROTFLOL!!!
Lol. That nozzle won’t go in the filler neck of a gas vehicle like it is in the pic. That is a diesel Audi Q7 TDI being filled with a diesel nozzle. The real green fuel!
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