[Simon Green]

The one time I drove through Oregon, I recall stopping for gas. As I picked up the nozzle, the clerk came running out of the station, yelling "Stop! You're breaking the law! Don't pump that gas!"

"You're kidding. Seriously?"

"Yes! Please don't pump your own gas! I'll have to report you to the police if you do!"

(Handing him the nozzle) "It's all yours."

[GnuThere]

Wow, I had no idea. Have never been to Oregon, although parts of it look beautiful.

[Milton Miteybad]

Vacationing in Oregon some years ago, I needed some gas on several occasions. Didn't think anything about hopping out and pumping my own, like I had been doing since 1975 or so. Each time I was met by a gas station attendant, apparently emerging from some mid-20th century time warp, furiously running up to the fuel island to handle the gas-pumping chores for me.

I just backed off and let them do the job. I got the impression that they got a lot of self-serve motorists from out of state passing through, and they had to politely ask these self-service savages to step off quite often.

One thing the citizens of Oregon don't seem to realize is that this antiquated statute adds about 5 to 10 cents/gallon to the price of gas, which is one of the reasons gasoline in Oregon is relatively expensive compared to that found in neighboring states. That, and the fact that Oregon is pretty much at the end of the gasoline supply chain, hence bearing the highest levels of distribution and transportation cost.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

First time I was in Oregon in 2007, I automatically started pumping my own gas, even though I had read about the stupid law beforehand. This was south of Portland, and the attendant came running up to me, IIRC, probably with similar exhortations. I don’t remember exactly what he said.