New Jersey is the last remaining state in the union that does not let its residents pump their own gas. But that could be changing under a new law proposed by state lawmakers Feb. 28.
Called the “Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act,” the law would undo the 73-year-old ban requiring gas station attendants to pump gas.
Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-7), Assemblyman Ned Thomson (R-30), and Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro (D-33) are serving as sponsors of the Assembly bill.
Oroho Sponsor
In the upper chamber, State Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho (R-24) will serve as a sponsor.
“It’s time to bring New Jersey up to speed with the rest of the country with this common-sense approach,” he said. “Over 300 million people already have the freedom to pump their gas. Why shouldn’t the people of New Jersey be included?”
Savings at the Pump
Fuel Your Way NJ, which bills itself as a coalition of business and industry organizations seeking to remove the attendant requirement, argued New Jersey drivers were paying a premium already whether they liked it or not.
“Motorists in every other state are able to pump their own gas, and if a consumer wants to choose to not wait for an attendant, that choice should not be denied to them by state law,” said Thomson in a press release issued by the group.
They estimated the price of gas in New Jersey could be reduced by at least 15 cents per gallon if the bill was enacted.
“It’s time to save our small business community and get rid of the stigma. Jersey girls can do anything – including pump their own gas. Jersey girls like to save money just like everyone else,” said Chaparro in the release.
Stipulations of the Legislation
The bill would no longer make it unlawful for someone other than an attendant to pump gas. However, gas stations would be given the leeway to offer gas via full-service, self-service, or a combination of the two.
Additionally, gas stations would be able to offer a discount to customers who pump their own gas. No county or municipality would be allowed to require or prohibit self-service options.
The bill would also address concerns for those will disabilities. A “calling device” would be required for those with disabilities to contact an attendant, and those with disabilities would be entitled to the lower self-service price if it is offered.
The sponsors noted these requirements put the New Jersey bill ahead of the federal bill by providing additional protections.
If enacted, the measure would go into effect 90 days after it was signed into law.
Bad move. NJ was the last state to have it’s gas buyers protection in mind. Self serve equals scammers self serving themselves to putting CC skimmers on the pumps to steal your CC info and your identity. Nobody at the pump means nobody sees somebody installing the skimmer. This has happened to me multiple times in multiple self serve states.
Next, all the people who will be unemployed. Take the WAWA stations. they employ loads of teenagers pumping gas, not to mention all the other gas stations in the state. The law says the stations will have self serve pumps and full serve pumps. That will last for a month or two. Then the stations will lay off everybody because it is more money in their pocket.
Last but not least, violence. Self serve states are not like NJ. People pull up to the pump waltz their way in to pay the person inside the store, get a snack or coffee. In the mean time their vehicle is sitting at the pump blocking it from being used. There will be fist fights, shootings, stabbings, you name it when people in NJ who are always rushed, get mad for waiting at the pump for somebody to move their car. Just wait and see!
This bill is non-sense, especially if you believe that the price of gas will be decrease by 15 cents a gallon. Frankly (on those frigid Winter days), I am happy I am not pumping my own gas. On top of that, I prefer not to eliminate all the jobs for the attendants that pump gas for a living. Also, I have been to States where you can pump your own gas, and the people that pump their own gas seem to be ‘baffled’ by how to do it. Thus, the delay at the pump would offset the ‘drawback’ of having to wait for an attendant to pump your gas for you.
Trying to make it sound as if pumping your own gas is something we all are just dying to do. Well, not me. You can take that smelly job, thankyouverymuch. It’s a nice NJ perk to know that wherever you go in Jersey, someone is going to pump your gas for you.
Bad, bad idea. Consumers won’t save a penny. The conglomerates who own and lease most service stations in NJ will fire workers and pocket the added profits. Shame on the Gasoline Retailers Association for using the raising gas prices and the war in e Ukraine to sneak in a plan like this. I will never ever again vote for a legislator who votes against the people and for big business.
People will regret standing in the cold and rain and heat handling gas pumps touched by countless others.
Ask NYers how much they are saving while pumping their own gas.
LEAVE IT ALONE!!!! The freedom to pump our own gas? Really? The last good thing about NJ & now you’re trying to take that.
Vote no! We will never see a discount. We’ll be penalized to have it pumped. I feel so much safer that I don’t have to get out of the car. I never need to stand in snow, rain, cold, or sun. There never seems to be a problem having it pumped. Pa/ NY fill up in NJ before heading back, just for the convenience.
This does not do residents any favor. All for big oil not to have to pay the little guy where this may be their only job!
Vote No!
Gas stations in other states do no “let” customers pump there own gas. They “make” them pump there own gas! I agree with Christie Todd Whitman, NJ has very low gas prices & attendants to pump. If you make consumers pump there own gas, the price will not get any lower! Oh with us pumping our own gas, how much will the price be lowered?
If New Jerseyans have to pump their own gas it will be a windfall for the gas station owners and a loss for the gasoline consuming folks. It will also be a loss of jobs for those who presently pump gas. The job of pumping gas may not be a great job but it is a job that is available all day long and it often is an entry level job where many have started before going on to whatever career they evolved into. Those workers gain the ability to interact with many people, deal with money, follow directions and all sorts of other necessary skills they found useful later in life. Look at all the States around NJ and while gasoline is purchaser pumped the charges are all higher so there is no money to be saved by the consumer. Personally, I will vote against any legislator that votes to pass any legislation that will require the consumer to pump their own gas.
This WILL NOT LOWER THE COST OF GAS. Only have folks go inside to pay for gas, then pump out own gas then go inside for a receipt. Will someone teach NJ driver how to pump gas and smell the gas flumes that are cancerous. This is not a way to save money. In a few years has taxes will increase to cover additional revenue as they did 3 years ago.
I’m sorry but I have my doubts that we will get all of the lower rates. Also, when I tried to pump my gas in New York that several times the pump stopped working.
Gas prices won’t go down. A whole group of workers will lose their jobs,there will be more accidental spills of fuel and a greater chance of a deliberate spillage. what are the alternative jobs for the gas station attendants? Retrain retired gentlemen who do attendant work> Provide state transportation door to door to get them to the few, if any remaining stations that employ attendants. provide a state buyout of their expected earnings for a 5 year period?
This is a horrible idea. For many years we were the bargain state for gas until Christie ruined that. I guarantee that if this goes through that gas prices go up. We need an uprising against this!
Who wants to get out and pump their gas? Everybody I know in Philly hates pumping gas. It’s nasty and it stinks. Why would you want to get out of your car in the freezing cold or rain to pump gas? Walk in the store to pay. Are you kidding me? You won’t be saving a dime. Is that why gas in NJ is cheaper than in Philly because people don’t pump their own gas? The excuse for this change is absolutely ridiculous! Leave it alone!
New Jersey does have some of the best prices for gas but what about all of the people that would lose their jobs because of this. If you read the first line of this article you’ll see that the proof reader might need a new job.
It is a terrible idea ! They say it offers choice but in reality full service becomes next to impossible to find. Which is terrible for those drivers with disabilities and older drivers… people with babies ! We should be proud of having only full service !
Absolutely no to pumping our own gas! I am a senior citizen and do not want to pump my own gas! Why should I be punished with higher gas prices?
This is just a ruse. The cost of gas for self-service stations in the Tri-state area is HIGHER than the full-service stations in New Jersey. Why should New Jersey be a lemming? I want the convenience of NOT pumping my own gas!!
Think about the math and you’ll see there is no way customers would save 15 cents a gallon. To save that much would mean an attendant earning $15 per hour is only pumping 100 gallons an hour, which is absurd. The labor cost at an average station is about three to five cents a gallon. The only thing I agree with is end it being illegal to pump your own if someone wants to get out of the car to help speed up the process.
Terrible idea. I have never paid less in neighboring states for gas — but I have stood in the cold, gotten gas on my hands and clothes, and stood in line inside to pay because the card reader at the pump was broken. This is a scam to eliminate gas station attendants to save gas stations money. It has nothing to do with choice or freedom — pumping your own gas will become all of our jobs, which we will have to do for free.
Well now, the way I see’s it is; This is good for’n some, while isn’t good for’n 0ther’s!! Especially those Pencil Dick’s, aka 0ffice poke’s, whom hate to get their hands flustered!! S0; You’ll still have to have knowledgeable people working & Pumping for’n them’s that don’t do their 0wn!! 0r’n,Until they decide to buy 0ne of them smart Electric vehicles..//
I don’t want to get out of my car to pump gas!
Bad Bad Bad thinking…. This is not a Freedom Issue ! We, as drivers will Never see any savings…. Let these legislators get out of their cars in the rain/snow/heat and more to pump my gas and pay it forward by pumping their nearby motorist’s gas ! I even tip my attendants because the job requires them to suffer the conditions so we do not have to..
MM Bergen County
I grew up in Philly and had to pump my own gas. Sometimes it was ok, but other times when it’s freezing, raining, or you’re well dressed going out, you get that smelly gas in your hands not fun.
Also 100% that prices will not come down. It’s not broke, leave it alone. It’s a scam by politicians.