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Oregon Gas laws (- Yet another attack on freedom)
CAPITALISTCHICKS.COM ^ | FR Post 12-1-2002 | Debbie Brannigan

Posted on 12/01/2002 1:27:53 PM PST by vannrox

Oregon Gas laws

Debbie Brannigan (Email Author)

I spent most of my life in a suburb of Detroit, MI: the Motor City of America. I've been pumping my own gas for 20+ years now. Imagine my surprise when I went to work in Portland, OR and attempted to fill my own gas tank, only to be told by the 'trained fueling operator' that it was against the law for me to fill my own gas tank. I was not "qualified" to handle class1 flammable liquids!! I thought it was a joke but it’s true. There is a fine of up to $500 if I am caught trying to perform the 'fueling operation' on my own.

ORS 480.315-320

Yep, ORS 480.315-320, that's the one. Check it out on the Oregon State government website: www.leg.state.or.us

The following is taken directly from the text of ORS 480.330:

"An owner, operator or employee of a filling station service station, garage, or other dispensary where class 1 flammable liquids are dispensed at retail may not permit any person other than the owner, operator or employee to use or manipulate any pump, hose, pipe or other device for dispensing the liquids into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle or other retail container."

ORS 480.385, Civil penalty for dispensing law violation:
Civil penalty shall become due and payable 10 days after order: up to $500.

There are 17 declarations listed which try to rationalize this completely irrational law. Too many to list in this writing but here are some of my personal favorites:

ORS480.315

1) The dispensing of Class 1 flammable liquids by dispensers properly trained in appropriate safety procedures reduces fire hazards directly associated with the dispensing of Class 1 flammable liquids.

7) Exposure to toxic fumes represents a health hazard to customers dispensing Class 1 flammable liquids.

10a) The significantly higher prices typically charged for full-service fuel dispensing in states where self service is permitted at retail discriminates against customers with lower incomes, who are under greater economic pressure to subject themselves to the inconvenience and hazards of self-service.

11) The increased use of self-service at retail in other states has contributed to diminishing the availability of automotive repair facilities at gasoline stations.

14) Self service dispensing at retail contributes to unemployment, particularly among young people.

And, last but not least.....we can't forget about 'the children':

17) Small children left unattended when customers leave to make payment at self service stations creates a dangerous situation.

No, I'm not kidding: those are all for real. Can Big Brother's elitist agenda be any clearer?

Declaration 7 states that exposure to fumes presents a health risk to customers but what about the 'qualified fuel dispensing operator'? There are no masks, no special procedures and no form of protection from these fumes for the attendant. There is nothing this 'qualified' person does any differently than I would. Exposure to fumes for them is OK, I guess. Why can't I do this myself again?

Declaration 10a is by far the most outrageous: "high prices of full service discriminate against low income customers who are subjected to the inconvenience and hazards of self service."

First off, the keyword here is 'convenience'. Convenience is a luxury, not a right. Oregon lawmakers need to learn the difference apparently.

Secondly, it amazes me that Oregon's legislature would even have the nerve to play the "low income discrimination" card in this argument. The state of Oregon has the highest gas prices in all of the contiguous United States thanks to taxes and restrictions imposed upon it's service stations. Oregon not only demands its gas station proprietors hire full time attendants to pump gas but also imposes a 24 cent per gallon “licensing tax” which is due every month of operation. Of course government employees are exempt from paying this additional tax and may file for a refund on the gas they use. Where is the concern for the low income folks now? The poor of Oregon now pay the highest gas prices in the entire country! Rather than cut taxes and lower prices for everyone, the state of OR has decided it's better to impose the highest taxes and charges for all: including the poor. Typical rhetoric. (ref: ORS 319.020 for licensing tax info)

Declarations 11 & 14 claim that self service stations contribute not only to unemployment but also to diminished availability of service stations. This reminds me of a scene from "Anthem" by Ayn Rand. Prometheus presents his great discovery of electricity to the World Council of Scholars. They tell him it would "wreck the plans of the World Council" by wreaking havoc on the current Council of Candles. When government restricts free market evolution, the result can only be stagnation. Can you imagine life if the government had stepped in to halt the 'diminished availability' of blacksmiths, chimney sweeps, milkmen, 8 tracks tapes, rotary phones, etc, etc. If there is market demand for a business it will survive without intervention.

Self-serve gas stations have not led to higher unemployment rates in other states. Most of those stations are equipped with automated electronic pumps and surveilance. More high tech equipment = more high tech maintenance & sales = more high tech jobs. Hmmm. Oregon has the highest gasoline prices in the country. It also has the highest unemployment rate. Oregon lawmakers claim to be passing these laws in an effort to reduce unemployment and help the low income citizens. Obviously, the opposite effect has taken place. Perhaps it is time to rethink the current strategy?

Oh and the best for last!

Declaration 17: small children left alone while paying for gas poses a 'dangerous' situation. Are children all over the country spontaneously combusting at these self serve stations? What are these children doing.....drinking the gasoline when mom's not looking? I could find no data anywhere to support a higher rate of injury to minors at self service stations vs. full serve stations. A vast majority of self serve stations are equipped with pay at the pump service, so you never have to leave the perimeter of your car. If it does not offer this, drive 1/4 mile to one that does. Don't want to do that: take the child inside with you.

It has not been quite a decade since this law was imposed and already the arguments for keeping it intact are " so many people wouldn't know how to pump their own gas now". So here is yet another law fully enforced and completely ridiculous. It is another step up the government ladder of dependancy, where we leave Liberty and Freedom on the ground below.

Let me end this with a fitting quote from Benjamin Franklin: "People who are willing to give up their freedom for securtiy deserve neither"



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: clinton; congress; democrat; free; freedom; gas; hillery; liberal; liberty; oregon; peace; senate
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1 posted on 12/01/2002 1:27:54 PM PST by vannrox
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To: vannrox
They're just making sure that no one with any sense moves into the state.
2 posted on 12/01/2002 1:29:50 PM PST by Cicero
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To: vannrox
I lived in Oregon and thought it astounding I couldn't pump my own gas. I was told there was one other state that did the same thing. In New England?
I asked several owners why we had the law, and none really knew.

Stupid law? UBETCHA
3 posted on 12/01/2002 1:37:36 PM PST by ALS
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To: vannrox
Oregon's legislature has been, for way too long, run by the loopies elected by the loopies on the left.

This ancient and utterly preposterous law is still here, in spite of the people wanting it gone... And seeing as how Oregon hasn't any better record with safety problems at gas stations... It's just about the legislature refusing to "let go" once they have gotten thier hands on something.

4 posted on 12/01/2002 1:38:40 PM PST by The Watcher
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To: vannrox
I think the a federal law should be passed requiring all retail outlets selling gasoline within one mile of an Interstate or US highway to have self-serve pumps.
5 posted on 12/01/2002 1:42:15 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: ALS
New Jersey and I love it. I can sit in the car when the wind in howling and the rain is hitting my windshield and just let someone else do it.
6 posted on 12/01/2002 1:46:36 PM PST by ladylib
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To: vannrox
The state of Oregon has the highest gas prices in all of the contiguous United States thanks to taxes and restrictions imposed upon it's service stations.

Not true. Come to the SF Bay Area some day to verify. I know I've seen it at 1.95/gal here vs. 1.59/gal there... within the last year.

Oregon not only demands its gas station proprietors hire full time attendants to pump gas but also imposes a 24 cent per gallon “licensing tax” which is due every month of operation.

Fuel stations have a variety of taxes that are due each month of operation. The last I knew, Multnomah county required a $250.00/year permit to have an air compressor on the premises.

Really, she can come up with better things to complain about. And having no sales tax sort of evens things out.

7 posted on 12/01/2002 1:48:47 PM PST by Who dat?
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To: vannrox
"7) Exposure to toxic fumes represents a health hazard to customers dispensing Class 1 flammable liquids."

Another thing about Oregon's situation with reqards to this situation is that there has never been a requirement to install recovery nozzle systems.Other states have them as a means to stop fumes from leaking into the atmosphere and to protect people pumping their own gas from breathing the fumes.This means that the pump jockeys in Oregon end up breathing the fumes.Other than that,I like to have my gas pumped for me,and it does create some jobs I will admit.

8 posted on 12/01/2002 1:49:17 PM PST by Rocksalt
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To: vannrox
In Kentucky the highway dept.will install a metal drainage pipe and enough gravel or asphalt to get you beyond the right of way so a driveway can be installed.They still do this but now because of (America's new criminals,the lawsuit filers),the state conducts a sight/distance measurement of 5 seconds on blind hills.This all sounds sensible unless your property is on a blind hill.YOU NOW HAVE YOUR RIGHTS VIOLATED because you cannot access your own property!People who file lawsuits are TRASH!
9 posted on 12/01/2002 1:51:33 PM PST by INSENSITIVE GUY
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To: ALS
The other state would be New Jersey.
Curiously this forced full service has a perverse affect that it encourages people to stay in these low paying jobs as they are always there. Job security is never threatened as the positions are required by law. So now we have a class of people that are dependant on the law. I consider it a form of welfare.
10 posted on 12/01/2002 1:53:57 PM PST by lelio
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To: vannrox
How much does gas cost in Oregon? Bet they did it so that all gas could be sold at a higher price. Probably the gas station owners asked for it. Self pumped gas is always cheaper.
11 posted on 12/01/2002 1:54:16 PM PST by Ditter
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To: ladylib
I agree. Although I found it irratating when I tried to fill up the first time during my trip to Oregon this summer, it was nice being "treated" to having someone else fill my tank up.
12 posted on 12/01/2002 1:55:19 PM PST by Slyfox
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To: vannrox
Do you know of a news story or law that just stinks of socialism or misguided good intentions?

Tobacco Nazis? Fat food Nazis?

13 posted on 12/01/2002 1:56:45 PM PST by Mark
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To: ladylib
New Jersey and I love it. I can sit in the car when the wind in howling and the rain is hitting my windshield and just let someone else do it.

I can do the same thing in Texas -- at a full service pump. On days when the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the gas is 20 cents per gallon cheaper self-pumped, I can CHOOSE to pump my own. You can't.

14 posted on 12/01/2002 1:57:13 PM PST by FreedomCalls
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To: vannrox
This situation gets "discovered" and posted here from time to time. The other state that prohibits self service is New Jersey.

It wouldn't really bother me if we had self service, but it doesn't really bother me that we don't. It gets debated in the media from time to time, and back in the '70s when I was in the service station business, the Oregon Gasoline Dealers' Association lobbied to keep the self service ban. These days, they lobby to end it. The issue has been on the ballot a couple of times in my lifetime, and the voters elected to keep it as is.

The legislative declaration on the price thing might be right on (though most of the rest of it is probably crap). Prices fluctuate rapidly, so media reports of average pricing are usually outdated, but our prices usually run below the national average. Right now my neighborhood station is at $1.25 per gallon.

Dave in Eugene
15 posted on 12/01/2002 1:57:16 PM PST by Clinging Bitterly
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To: vannrox
You know what? The law is socialist, stupid, economically ridiculous. It's a great thing! It's great because it is a state law. The people of Oregon have decided to do this to themselves. Would that the Tenth Amendment applied to all other areas of state decision making.
16 posted on 12/01/2002 2:01:42 PM PST by gcruse
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To: Dave in Eugene of all places
Right now my neighborhood station is at $1.25 per gallon.

$1.16 here in Texas.

17 posted on 12/01/2002 2:01:47 PM PST by FreedomCalls
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To: Cicero
Hey, it's working. I'll never move there, and my neice is leaving!
18 posted on 12/01/2002 2:01:49 PM PST by liberateUS
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To: Ditter
How much does gas cost in Oregon?

I just filled up at $1.25 per gallon here. How much is it per gallon where you're located? And during our long rainy season, it IS nice to not have to pump my own.

19 posted on 12/01/2002 2:02:20 PM PST by wanderin
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To: vannrox
I spent most of my life in Jersey City, NJ: the Garden State. I've never pumped my own gas. Imagine my surprise when I went moved to Florida and discovered that I was responsible for pumping my own gas, utterly medieval.

I have had no formal training and possess no qualifications that would lead anyone to believe that the public is best served by me pumping my own gas.

I resent having to perform this menial labor while dressed in business clothes, furthermore the smell of gasoline clashes with my Givenchy Gentleman Cologne.

Apart from this uncivilized barbarism, Florida is pretty cool.

20 posted on 12/01/2002 2:02:20 PM PST by TightSqueeze
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