# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/41 "2016-06-06T21:03:12Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > 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. Well, back int he days he checked your oil, water, air pressure and cleaned your windshield, “Keep the change” was not uncommon. But hardly a “decent amount”. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/42 "2016-06-06T21:11:08Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > That is maybe 15 duplicate or complete BS excuses and possibly two actual reasons, both of which are weak. Yes - it smells of “We feel the real reasons will not be well received. What can we say that people might find semi-palatable?” My favorite line is “Oregons weather is uniquely adverse, causing wet pavement and reduced visibility”. I think we all understand that precipitation is rarely encountered in any of the other 49 states. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/43 "2016-06-06T21:11:13Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Do gas station attendants in Oregon and New Jersey actually have to take training on how to pump gas? The joke answer from us Washingtonians: “Yes, but they’ll waive the training requirement if you’ve ever been to another state.” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/44 "2016-06-06T21:23:54Z")
> [@susan](#): > > So that when I drive Oregonians to Washington, they can be all amazed by my studly gas-pumping skills, which they do not have. Say, are you calling them Toluenies…? :dubious: 😃 ---
**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 8, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/45 "2016-06-08T22:33:06Z")
> [@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. It is unusual but a guy at a station in my area (NJ) asked me for one. In this area most gas pumpers are adults just off the plane from another country, not teenage kids. Maybe some of them are surprised they don’t get tipped depending where they came from. That guy might have quit soon based on the generally puzzled looks he probably got, not just from me. I agree there’s no particular reason one way or the other, as with plenty of other low wage jobs, even with customer contact, where there isn’t tipping. Why/why not, all comes down to custom. It’s not a matter of your concern for your fellow person. If you were concerned enough for your fellow humans you could easily impoverish yourself contributing to organizations which help people literally dying of want in poor countries. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/46 "2016-06-08T23:01:13Z")
Follow up question: What is the penalty for disobeying the law? If some asshole is sitting on his crack, and you get out and pump your own gas, is it an affirmative defense to point out that they were taking too long to do a job you are perfectly capable of doing on your own? (I don’t live in such a state, and I am so antisocial that I would probably lose my shit if someone told me I have to wait for them to do it for me) ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/47 "2016-06-08T23:39:29Z")
> [@Chihuahua](#): > > Follow up question: What is the penalty for disobeying the law? > > If some asshole is sitting on his crack, and you get out and pump your own gas, is it an affirmative defense to point out that they were taking too long to do a job you are perfectly capable of doing on your own? > > (I don’t live in such a state, and I am so antisocial that I would probably lose my shit if someone told me I have to wait for them to do it for me) $500 fine in Oregon … [ORS 480.385](http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/480.385) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/48 "2016-06-09T16:32:36Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > That is maybe 15 duplicate or complete BS excuses and possibly two actual reasons, both of which are weak. Especially number 7: (7) Exposure to toxic fumes represents a health hazard to customers dispensing Class 1 flammable liquids; Does no one care about the health hazard to the pump jockey? He’s doing it all day, whereas the customer is doing it once a week-ish. Do the PJs wear haz-mat suits and respirators while they work? And what if the PJ is pregnant? (8) The hazard described in subsection (7) of this section is heightened when the customer is pregnant; ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/49 "2016-06-09T16:38:05Z")
You _never_ ask your butcher what he puts in his sausage … you don’t want to know … Same with Oregon law … you really really don’t want to know … ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/50 "2016-06-09T18:25:09Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > 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 … Where the hell are you getting filled up? lol I’m in the Portland metro (barely) and most places I go to I just get my gas and that’s it. It’s actually surprising to have them ask if my window needs washed. But honestly, I hate the law with a passion. It’s completely inconvenient. Especially if you’re in a hurry. Nothing worse than having to go somewhere and sitting in your car, waiting for an overworked attendant to come by and take the damn nozzle out. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/51 "2016-06-09T20:27:13Z")
I fill up in a small rural town along the Information Super Dirt Road … we actually have _two_ traffic lights … _thousands_ of residents … why, we’re so big we can support an Elementary School, a Middle School AND a High School. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/52 "2016-06-09T20:53:11Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > I fill up in a small rural town along the Information Super Dirt Road … we actually have _two_ traffic lights … _thousands_ of residents … why, we’re so big we can support an Elementary School, a Middle School AND a High School. Well hell…you’ve got me beat. We’ve got zero traffic lights and one school that houses K-12th lol We got our first (only) gas station two years ago and you’d think we’d get better service lol Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350/53 "2016-06-09T21:26:52Z")
My mum lived in a small town in Eastern Oregon … 35 miles one way to the closest gas station … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-pump-your-own-gas-in-oregon/756350.md?page=2)