by
The
map
of
the
United
States
above
shows
the
legality
of
self-serve
gas.
Areas
in
red
require
full-service.
Areas
in
Blue
require
full-service
but
permit
customers
to
self-serve.
More
about
them
below:
New
Jersey:
Drivers
are
not
permitted
to
refuel
their
own
vehicles.
This
practice
was
prohibited
in
1949
following
pressure
from
service
station
owners.
As
a
result,
fuel
stations
now
provide
either
full
service
or
limited
“mini
service.”
Advocates
of
this
restriction
argue
that
it
enhances
safety
and
preserves
employment
opportunities.
Oregon:
Oregon
fully
banned
self-service
fuelling
in
1951,
but
in
2018,
the
practice
was
legalized
in
counties
with
40,000
or
fewer
residents.
In
2020,
in
response
to
COVID,
the
state
temporarily
allowed
self-service
state-wide.
Then,
in
August
2023,
Oregon
permitted
fuel
stations
to
offer
a
self-serve
option
on
up
to
half
of
their
pumps.
Under
the
new
rules,
rural
counties
are
not
required
to
have
attendants,
while
urban
counties
must
maintain
at
least
one
attendant
per
station.
The
rural
counties
specified
under
HB
2426
(2023)
are
Baker,
Clatsop,
Crook,
Curry,
Gilliam,
Grant,
Harney,
Hood
River,
Jefferson,
Klamath,
Lake,
Malheur,
Morrow,
Sherman,
Tillamook,
Umatilla,
Union,
Wallowa,
Wasco,
and
Wheeler.
Others:
In
towns
of
Huntington,
Long
Island
New
York
and
Weymouth,
Massachusetts,
gas
stations
that
let
you
pump
your
own
gas
are
illegal,
with
all
stations
being
full-service.
A
little
history
There’s
actually
a
great
history
of
self
fuelling
from
the
NACS
which
you
should
read
here.
But
here
is
a
brief
summary
of
a
few
of
their
main
points:
The
article
traces
the
evolution
of
self-service
gasoline
in
the
United
States,
highlighting
the
key
moments,
innovations,
and
individuals
who
helped
shape
this
transformative
change.
1.
Early
Attempts
(1940s–1950s)
-
1947:
Frank
Urich
opened
one
of
the
earliest
modern
self-service
stations
in
Los
Angeles,
where
customers
pumped
their
own
fuel,
and
attendants
collected
payment
and
reset
mechanical
pumps. -
Despite
these
experiments,
most
states
and
local
fire
codes
restricted
self-service,
and
major
oil
companies
competed
by
offering
full
service,
loyalty
incentives,
and
branded
gimmicks.
2.
Breakthrough
in
1964:
John
Roscoe’s
Remote
Self-Service
-
June
10,
1964:
John
Roscoe
introduced
remote-access
self-service
pumps
at
his
Big
Top
store
in
Westminster,
Colorado,
using
an
invention
by
Herb
Timms. -
Sales
began
modestly,
but
Roscoe
quickly
expanded
the
system.
Reduced
labor
costs
and
lower
fuel
prices
proved
attractive
to
both
retailers
and
consumers.
3.
Wider
Acceptance
and
Regulatory
Changes
-
Over
time,
states
gradually
amended
fire
codes
to
allow
self-service,
dispelling
safety
concerns. -
Many
retailers
and
major
oil
companies
initially
resisted,
doubting
that
customers
would
want
to
pump
their
own
gas.
However,
as
vehicles
and
cost-conscious
consumers
multiplied,
the
economic
advantages
became
more
compelling.
4.
Rise
of
Convenience
Stores
with
Fuel
(1970s–1980s)
-
The
1973–74
Oil
Crisis
drove
consumer
demand
for
cheaper
gas
and
led
to
rapid
adoption
of
self-service
and
the
convenience
store
model. -
By
the
mid-1980s,
pay-at-the-pump
technology
emerged,
allowing
customers
to
pay
directly
at
the
fuel
dispenser,
further
enhancing
speed
and
convenience.
5.
Consumer
Embrace
&
Industry
Transformation
-
Lower
prices
and
faster
fueling
drew
customers
to
self-service
stations,
and
concerns
about
losing
in-store
sales
proved
unfounded. -
Retailers
integrated
multiple
payment
systems
and
embraced
the
convenience
trend,
helping
transform
gas
stations
into
the
dominant
fueling
model
nationwide.
What
do
you
think
should
people
be
able
to
pump
their
own
gas?
Go to Source
Author: Brilliant Maps
