Why you can’t fill up in this American state
Now that Oregon has passed a law change, New Jersey is the only state where it’s still illegal to self-fuel your car. Each pumping station must have someone present to do this for you. But why exactly?
After 1900, as passenger cars became more accessible to the general public, gas stations decided to employ gas station attendants. They were not only on site to refuel the cars, but also checked fluids, tires and batteries.
Cars were complicated and people found refueling scary
Cars were not yet very reliable and complicated for most people. That’s why it was useful to have someone at the gas station who could help you.
The first self-service gas station in the United States opened in 1915, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s that such gas stations became commonplace.
23 states with self-service bans
Many states introduced self-service bans in the 1940s and 1950s, ostensibly for safety reasons. Gas station owners, who therefore did not have self-service, claimed that inexperienced drivers could overfill the tank and start a fire.
This was grossly exaggerated and also motivated by the fear of losing customers to self-service stations that could offer fuel cheaper due to lower staff costs.
By 1968, self-service was banned in 23 US states. Only after the triumph of self-service stations in Europe did the USA follow suit, which was also helped by the fact that cars now had to be serviced at the dealership in order to be able to make use of the guarantee.
No more maintenance, but sale of food and drinks
In other words, gas stations had to switch to a different revenue model because they could no longer carry out maintenance work. So the focus was on selling food, drink, tobacco, etc.
Most self-service bans were lifted in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1972, 8 percent of American gas stations were self-service stations, twenty years later it was 80 percent.
In New Jersey, prohibition is now part of the culture
But why is it still not allowed in New Jersey? It’s been banned in the state since 1949, and every time there’s talk of a law change, gas station owners get involved. They are afraid of losing their business.
Additionally, not fueling up has become part of New Jersey’s culture and identity. “Jersey Girls Don’t Pump Pas” reads a popular bumper sticker. Politicians don’t want to burn their hands either, because the ban is strangely popular with the population.
This is slowly changing as fuel prices rise and service station operators find it difficult to find staff. But a survey shows that 73 percent of New Jersey residents prefer to be served at the gas station.