When you drive into a gas station in Oregon, you can get your gas tank filled without ever leaving the car. In fact, you never even touch the gas cap, pump handle, or gas pump. An attendant does all that for you.
Oregon and New Jersey are the only two states that require attendants to pump the gas. New Jersey banned self-service gasoline in 1949. Safety and job creation were two of the reasons for passing this law.
Oregon banned self-service gasoline in 1951 and listed 17 reasons, including the flammability of gas, the risk of crime from customers leaving their car, the toxic fumes emitted by gasoline, and the jobs created by requiring mini service.
In 1982 Oregon voters rejected a ballot measure which would have legalized self-service gas. In both states it is legal for customers to pump their own diesel In Oregon, "certain nonretail" customers may also pump their own fuel, such as at a Commercial Fueling Network (CFN) station.
Non-residents may find it strange not to be able to pump their own gas, but it didn't take me long to get used to it. Now I find it strange whenever I drive outside of Oregon, pull into a filling station, and realize that I have to get out and fill the gas tank myself. It's one more reason for me to say "Only in Oregon" (and New Jersey).
Rick Obst is an Arizona native who moved to Eugene, Oregon in 2005 and fell in love with the verdant Pacific Northwest. He enjoys photography and discovering the many people, places, and events that make this part of the world so special.
To learn more about Eugene, Lane County, and western Oregon, visit 365 and More Things to do in Lane County, Oregon on Facebook. You'll see hundreds of pictures and links to discover the beauty and attractions of this special area.
Gas station attendants are a rarity. Good thin for Oregon where it rains a lot.
Rick
Very interesting facts. The one question I have is the gas more expensive for having someone pump it? I know it can't be more expensive than the Bay Area where yesterday it cost me $4.06 a gallon and in SF the lowest I saw on TV was $4.19. cheers cvc
Hi Rick, is it still 26 cents per gallon also? lol I wouldn't mind paying a litlle more to have an attendant. I hate the smell of gas.
Edward & Celia, It rains a lot less here than most people think, especially in eastern Oregon. The Eugene area gets as much precipitation as New York City. We enjoy four mild seasons, although the wet winters can seem to last too long. The summers are glorious and residents enjoy being outdoors.
Curtis, Gas prices in western Oregon are comparable to Washington state and Reno, Nevada when I drive there. I do make sure to gas up before crossing into California, since prices are significantly higher there. Gas prices in Florence on the Oregon Coast are usually $0.10 to $0.15 per gallon cheaper than in Eugene, so we'll gas up there whenever we make the one-hour trip over the Coast Range to the ocean.
Bob, The days of $0.26 per gallon gas are long gone. I enjoy having an attendant also. Too bad that they don't also check the oil and wash the windshield.
Well, wise old Oregon! I always search out a full service gas station in my region.
Don't those cold and wet winter days I love that there is someone to pump my gas for me. I know they say that it will lower the price of gas if they do away with this law, but I can see that it is still just as expensive in Washington and California.
Rick, I didn't realize there are states where you can't pump your own gas. As a child I remember full service gas stations but that was more years ago than I care to remember.