Oregon Gas laws (- Yet another attack on freedom)

CAPITALISTCHICKS.COM ^ | FR Post 12-1-2002 | Debbie Brannigan

[vannrox]

From the web site:

Do you know of a news story or law that just stinks of socialism or misguided good intentions? Drop us a line and let us know about it!

geek@capitalistchicks.co

[Cicero]

They're just making sure that no one with any sense moves into the state.

[ALS]

I lived in Oregon and thought it astounding I couldn't pump my own gas. I was told there was one other state that did the same thing. In New England?
I asked several owners why we had the law, and none really knew.

Stupid law? UBETCHA

[The Watcher]

Oregon's legislature has been, for way too long, run by the loopies elected by the loopies on the left.

This ancient and utterly preposterous law is still here, in spite of the people wanting it gone... And seeing as how Oregon hasn't any better record with safety problems at gas stations... It's just about the legislature refusing to "let go" once they have gotten thier hands on something.

[Paleo Conservative]

I think the a federal law should be passed requiring all retail outlets selling gasoline within one mile of an Interstate or US highway to have self-serve pumps.

[ladylib]

New Jersey and I love it. I can sit in the car when the wind in howling and the rain is hitting my windshield and just let someone else do it.

[Who dat?]

The state of Oregon has the highest gas prices in all of the contiguous United States thanks to taxes and restrictions imposed upon it's service stations.

Not true. Come to the SF Bay Area some day to verify. I know I've seen it at 1.95/gal here vs. 1.59/gal there... within the last year.

Oregon not only demands its gas station proprietors hire full time attendants to pump gas but also imposes a 24 cent per gallon “licensing tax” which is due every month of operation.

Fuel stations have a variety of taxes that are due each month of operation. The last I knew, Multnomah county required a $250.00/year permit to have an air compressor on the premises.

Really, she can come up with better things to complain about. And having no sales tax sort of evens things out.

[Rocksalt]

"7) Exposure to toxic fumes represents a health hazard to customers dispensing Class 1 flammable liquids."

Another thing about Oregon's situation with reqards to this situation is that there has never been a requirement to install recovery nozzle systems.Other states have them as a means to stop fumes from leaking into the atmosphere and to protect people pumping their own gas from breathing the fumes.This means that the pump jockeys in Oregon end up breathing the fumes.Other than that,I like to have my gas pumped for me,and it does create some jobs I will admit.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

In Kentucky the highway dept.will install a metal drainage pipe and enough gravel or asphalt to get you beyond the right of way so a driveway can be installed.They still do this but now because of (America's new criminals,the lawsuit filers),the state conducts a sight/distance measurement of 5 seconds on blind hills.This all sounds sensible unless your property is on a blind hill.YOU NOW HAVE YOUR RIGHTS VIOLATED because you cannot access your own property!People who file lawsuits are TRASH!

[lelio]

The other state would be New Jersey.
Curiously this forced full service has a perverse affect that it encourages people to stay in these low paying jobs as they are always there. Job security is never threatened as the positions are required by law. So now we have a class of people that are dependant on the law. I consider it a form of welfare.

[Ditter]

How much does gas cost in Oregon? Bet they did it so that all gas could be sold at a higher price. Probably the gas station owners asked for it. Self pumped gas is always cheaper.

[Slyfox]

I agree. Although I found it irratating when I tried to fill up the first time during my trip to Oregon this summer, it was nice being "treated" to having someone else fill my tank up.

[Mark]

Do you know of a news story or law that just stinks of socialism or misguided good intentions?

Tobacco Nazis? Fat food Nazis?

[FreedomCalls]

New Jersey and I love it. I can sit in the car when the wind in howling and the rain is hitting my windshield and just let someone else do it.

I can do the same thing in Texas -- at a full service pump. On days when the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the gas is 20 cents per gallon cheaper self-pumped, I can CHOOSE to pump my own. You can't.

[Clinging Bitterly]

This situation gets "discovered" and posted here from time to time. The other state that prohibits self service is New Jersey.

It wouldn't really bother me if we had self service, but it doesn't really bother me that we don't. It gets debated in the media from time to time, and back in the '70s when I was in the service station business, the Oregon Gasoline Dealers' Association lobbied to keep the self service ban. These days, they lobby to end it. The issue has been on the ballot a couple of times in my lifetime, and the voters elected to keep it as is.

The legislative declaration on the price thing might be right on (though most of the rest of it is probably crap). Prices fluctuate rapidly, so media reports of average pricing are usually outdated, but our prices usually run below the national average. Right now my neighborhood station is at $1.25 per gallon.

Dave in Eugene

[gcruse]

You know what? The law is socialist, stupid, economically ridiculous. It's a great thing! It's great because it is a state law. The people of Oregon have decided to do this to themselves. Would that the Tenth Amendment applied to all other areas of state decision making.

[FreedomCalls]

Right now my neighborhood station is at $1.25 per gallon.

$1.16 here in Texas.

[liberateUS]

Hey, it's working. I'll never move there, and my neice is leaving!

[wanderin]

How much does gas cost in Oregon?

I just filled up at $1.25 per gallon here. How much is it per gallon where you're located? And during our long rainy season, it IS nice to not have to pump my own.

[TightSqueeze]

I spent most of my life in Jersey City, NJ: the Garden State. I've never pumped my own gas. Imagine my surprise when I went moved to Florida and discovered that I was responsible for pumping my own gas, utterly medieval.

I have had no formal training and possess no qualifications that would lead anyone to believe that the public is best served by me pumping my own gas.

I resent having to perform this menial labor while dressed in business clothes, furthermore the smell of gasoline clashes with my Givenchy Gentleman Cologne.

Apart from this uncivilized barbarism, Florida is pretty cool.