# Why can't you pump your own gas in Oregon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350 "2016-06-03T00:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/21 "2016-06-04T03:04:47Z")
So that when I drive Oregonians to Washington, they can be all amazed by my studly gas-pumping skills, which they do not have. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/22 "2016-06-04T03:11:48Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Don’t know about Oregon, but a law prohibiting it was passed in NJ in the late 40s. It was a safety measure. Many other states followed suit – perhaps Oregon was one. I’m pretty sure it’s safer to pump gas self service today than it was then due to automatic shut offs etc. When I lived in Japan back in the first half of the 1990s, safety was the stated reason for the law on pumping gas: one employee at the gas station had to pump and another employee of the same service station was required to be the safety observer. Come to think of it, I wish there were more jurisdictions that required a safety observer. Three years ago, just outside Atlanta, GA, I mentioned to an elderly gentlemen refueling his pickup truck that he should not be smoking. His response was, “Fuck off; my ve-hick-le is diesel so it’s okay.” No, you stupid mofo, it’s not okay. The other vehicles in the immediate area are not diesel and it’s still illegal. Damn, I’m glad I don’t live there anymore. To those who think the only reason is “job creation”: What do you think of all those “the way things were” photos making the rounds of the Internet? I’m referring to the photos of the veritable army of gas station attendants swarming the customer’s vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/23 "2016-06-04T05:10:29Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > …To those who think the only reason is “job creation”: What do you think of all those “the way things were” photos making the rounds of the Internet? I’m referring to the photos of the veritable army of gas station attendants swarming the customer’s vehicle. I was a pump jockey in 1977. Back when engines burned a quart of oil every 500 miles. And tires leaked air like bad birthday balloons. I kept a window rag in one back pocket, and an oil rag in the other. It’s just not needed anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/24 "2016-06-04T15:31:00Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > When I lived in Japan back in the first half of the 1990s, safety was the stated reason for the law on pumping gas: one employee at the gas station had to pump and another employee of the same service station was required to be the safety observer. One the things choking off Japan’s growth has been such barriers to efficiency in its non-manufacturing sector. So bringing up such examples is not very convincing if intended to suggest they’d be a good idea elsewhere.\* Experience with this in the US is obvious. In 49 states self service is allowed and accidents at gas stations are an extremely minor problem, before even considering whether gas pumping employees would actually cause fewer, it’s a separate issue whether such no self service laws set effective requirements on training or qualifications or whether companies do. The reason to force higher staffing of gas stations is a ham handed attempt to ‘create jobs’, or again inertia not to change these measures in the few places they remain, ‘because folks would get laid off’ though in contrast virtually nobody calls for such measures in the 49 states that have dropped them. And in fact that’s actually what the rat’s nest of inefficiencies in Japan’s economy outside its factories is also intended to do, mandated inefficiency as a misguided way to seek employment stability. \*I’ve worked in shipyards in the US and Japan, and financial institutions in the US in Japan, and my personal experience is in line with general statistics saying that Japanese manufacturing is very efficient but the rest of the economy is not. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/25 "2016-06-04T15:56:40Z")
Another factor that has changed is the size of gas stations. No longer 1 pump for each octane, you can have dozens of pumps in a plaza. The old way, wait times was usually tiny. Now, it is really frustrating when there’s one kid serving 20 customers. The law sort of made sense decades ago, now it’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/26 "2016-06-05T01:02:43Z")
I always assumed that NJ and Oregon, I guess, mandate no self pumping just to be contrarian… “well, see, in New York …” “Well, see, you aint in New Yawk, a’ight, you in fooking Joysie, a’ight?” In addition to the above sentiments already expressed, I find it hard to believe I’m that much safer when the kid pumping my gas is actually smoking a blunt while he’s doing it, as has happened more than once. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/27 "2016-06-05T01:54:41Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Another factor that has changed is the size of gas stations. No longer 1 pump for each octane, you can have dozens of pumps in a plaza. The old way, wait times was usually tiny. Now, it is really frustrating when there’s one kid serving 20 customers. > > The law sort of made sense decades ago, now it’s ridiculous. That’s what always frustrated me heading back to Newark airport in a rental car and needing to fill it. There is a service plaza in the middle of the Parkway with rows and rows of perfectly good gas pumps. But the cars waiting to fill up are backed up to the parkway. Why? Because only two rows are open since they don’t want to pay somebody to staff the rest. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/28 "2016-06-05T13:37:48Z")
Do gas station attendants in Oregon and New Jersey actually have to take training on how to pump gas? ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/29 "2016-06-05T18:26:03Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > We have that too here in Oregon regarding liquor … our local State-owned liquor store is run by an elderly couple, so we have to drive thirty miles if we want to buy liquor on Sunday or after 5pm … hilarious … > > Some seriously reactionary laws here, prohibition didn’t work out so this is the next best thing … OTOP, we’ve pry bars and quickie saws at hand if Union Pacific even thinks of hauling coal-for-export through our State. Id actually heard that you can’t buy liquor in Oregon. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/30 "2016-06-05T23:44:00Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > . . . OTOP . . On the Oregonian perspective? Seriously, WTF is OTOP? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/31 "2016-06-05T23:58:35Z")
In the UK serviced petrol stations are as rare as rocking horse shit. Shell tried to bring them back as an experiment a few years ago but it seems that they quietly dropped it. I am guessing that a pump jockey in the US would expect to make a decent amount of tips. In the uk, he would probably get abuse for spilling the precious liquid or being too slow. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/32 "2016-06-06T00:50:41Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Do gas station attendants in Oregon and New Jersey actually have to take training on how to pump gas? I didn’t get any training when I worked at a gas station … nor have I heard of any … it’s not that difficult to figure out. > [@Laggard](#): > > Id actually heard that you can’t buy liquor in Oregon. Yes, you can, but only from a State owned liquor store … and State owned liquor stores can only sell liquor, mixers and cigarettes, nothing else. Let there be no profit to be had retailing an addictive substance. > [@KarlGauss](#): > > [snip] … Seriously, WTF is OTOP? Typo … ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/33 "2016-06-06T01:49:19Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > No kidding! Those fuckers are never in any kind of hurry to get off their ass to pump your gas. When in Oregon, I just get out and start on my own, and that tends to speed them up a little bit. > > Nice link to that stupid law. Meh, I lived in Oregon a few years. It was definitely annoying to have to wait for the pump, but I can’t recall a time when the wait time was outrageous. Maybe the worst time was around Thanksgiving one year when there were a lot of drivers going into Portland. Other than that, though, it was fine. Pumpers were usually friendly, like most Oregonians. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/34 "2016-06-06T03:26:53Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > They actually publish reasons for a bill to be passed, and the Oregen 1951 law for this has 17 reasons … here… > > [https://www.quora.com/When-and-why-did-the-state-of-Oregon-pass-the-law-about-not-pumping-your-own-gasoline](https://www.quora.com/When-and-why-did-the-state-of-Oregon-pass-the-law-about-not-pumping-your-own-gasoline) That is maybe 15 duplicate or complete BS excuses and possibly two actual reasons, both of which are weak. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/35 "2016-06-06T03:53:37Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > That is maybe 15 duplicate or complete BS excuses and possibly two actual reasons, both of which are weak. But it does create a lot of entry level jobs for kids fresh out of high school. Where I fill up I pay an extra 10¢/gal for better service, and it’s nice to see four teenage kids with full time jobs. If I’m the only customer, I get _all_ my windows washed. AND they have to laugh and smile at my jokes … ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/36 "2016-06-06T05:34:15Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > In the UK serviced petrol stations are as rare as rocking horse shit. Shell tried to bring them back as an experiment a few years ago but it seems that they quietly dropped it. > > **I am guessing that a pump jockey in the US would expect to make a decent amount of tips.** In the uk, he would probably get abuse for spilling the precious liquid or being too slow. Oddly enough, people that pump gas don’t generally get tips. I couldn’t tell you why exactly but it is the general rule. It is usually just a straight minimum wage job. I tip a lot of people including those that cut my hair, delivery people, waiters, bartenders and many more but never gas jockeys. That would be strange. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/37 "2016-06-06T08:59:26Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Seriously, WTF is OTOP? To judge by his username, I’d say “on the other paw.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/38 "2016-06-06T10:39:51Z")
> [@dofe](#): > > I’m curious if gas pumps in 1951 were in fact different than pumps today. Hell, gas pumps in 1974 were different than pumps today. Well, enabling pumping was different, anyway. The nozzle itself was pretty much how it is now. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/39 "2016-06-06T19:18:34Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Oddly enough, people that pump gas don’t generally get tips. I couldn’t tell you why exactly but it is the general rule. It is usually just a straight minimum wage job. I tip a lot of people including those that cut my hair, delivery people, waiters, bartenders and many more but never gas jockeys. That would be strange. When I still had a car (up until late last year), I used to tip the gas station attendants. I realized it was a poorly paid job where they had to breathe gas fumes, which include benzene, a carcinogen, all day. They deserve something more. It sometimes meant that I got somewhat better service, at least from those attendants who remembered me. But yes, most people don’t tip them, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Tannim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Tannim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tannim)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/40 "2016-06-06T20:52:44Z")
I worked in those stations through most of the 80’s even back then they looked at adding self serve. However, when they looked at it it was not something that would save them money. The rules they put in to add self server would have required just as many employees because there always had to be enough there to help with any handicapped or elderly people coming in. There are less accidents such as drive offs and other things. I would have been upset because one of the things I hated when I moved away from Oregon is having to search for a full service (which never is full service) when i was in a suite on the way to a meeting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350.md?page=3)