TRENTON, NJ – Oregon has reversed a long-standing law prohibiting customers from pumping their gas. The ban on self-service at gas stations in Oregon dates back to 1951. With the enactment of House Bill 2426, signed by Governor Tina Kotek on Friday, Oregonians can now refuel their own vehicles.
Effective immediately, Oregon’s decision leaves New Jersey as the sole state in America where pumping your own gas remains against the law.
While the new law allows customers to pump their own gas, it doesn’t completely phase out full-service options in the state’s 16 most populous counties. Instead, it mandates that no more than half of the gas pumps at any service station be designated for self-serve. Furthermore, in these counties, at least one gas station employee must always be available to assist customers with pumping gas, and gas stations cannot charge higher prices for full-service assistance.
The change aligns Oregon with most other states, where self-service at gas stations has been a common practice for decades. This move is expected to provide greater convenience and flexibility for customers while preserving some full-service options for those who prefer or require assistance fueling their vehicles.
On the other hand, New Jersey remains steadfast in its ban on self-service gas.
The state’s ban has been a subject of longstanding debate and contention. Although there have been several attempts to overturn the ban, no successful legislation has been passed to allow self-service gas in the state.
Public opinion in New Jersey on this matter remains divided, with polls indicating residents are nearly evenly split on the issue. In February 2022, the New Jersey Legislature introduced Bill 3105, known as the “Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act,” aimed at addressing the ban and granting motorists the option to pump their own fuel, bringing the state’s regulations more in line with the majority of other states in the US.
However, as of now, the fate of Bill 3105 remains uncertain, and its success in lifting the ban on self-service gas in New Jersey is yet to be determined.