4 ms·

Oregon has already lifted the restriction on pumping your own gas, for exactly this reason.

kelnos 7y ago
Add "not allowed to pump your own gas" to the list of "things that are completely unnecessary and stupid that have been removed because of COVID-19 and never need to come back".
- xref 7y ago
  It’s a job creation/protection play, like grocery stores where the union won’t allow self-checkout. No idea if the law is achieving its goals or if it just exists because of historical inertia now, but that’s why it exists.
  - blaser-waffle 7y ago
    Where are there checkout clerk unions blocking self-check out? Not saying it's impossible, but I've lived in WA, CA, VA, DC, TX, and NY, plus 1.5 years in Australia, and going on 6 years in Canada and have consistently seen self check-out everywhere.
    - arh68 7y ago
      Oregon, yet again? https://katu.com/news/local/initiative-looks-to-limit-number-of-self-checkout-machines-in-oregon https://katu.com/news/local/initiative-looks-to-limit-number...
  - kelnos 7y ago
    Oh, I know why it exists (I grew up in New Jersey, which has [had?] similar laws); I'm just reiterating that it exists for stupid reasons.
odysseus 7y ago
I wonder if New Jersey has done the same ..
JPKab 7y ago
Just wondering, is this article out of date? https://www.koin.com/oregon-2/oregon-loosens-self-service-restrictions-for-pumping-gas/ https://www.koin.com/oregon-2/oregon-loosens-self-service-re... Have they further loosened it since late March? "Effective immediately, gas stations will be allowed to let drivers pump their own gas if they meet any of the following requirements: The owner (of the gas station) retains documentation that there are no employees available to work as an attendant, including documentation for absences and employee hiring and retention efforts; The owner is subject to State Fire Marshal audit and has posted safety signs for how to safely operate a fuel pump; and The hours of operation under this subsection do not exceed 10 consecutive hours. “During this unprecedented time of state emergency, we need to ensure that critical supply lines for fuels and other basic services remain uninterrupted,” said State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. Additionally, active stations must abide by the Fire Marshal’s latest guidelines: Prepare, implement and enforce social distancing policies consistent with guidance from the Oregon Health Authority, Require an attendant to be on duty to supervise self-service refueling consistent with the social distancing policies and help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through sanitization measures, and Designate an employee at each station to implement and enforce the social distancing policies." The above doesn't seem like it's actually self-service unless the owner has certain issues. My brother just told me he isn't seeing self-service at his area, and wasn't notified it was an option.

Add "not allowed to pump your own gas" to the list of "things that are completely unnecessary and stupid that have been removed because of COVID-19 and never need to come back".

xref 7y ago
It’s a job creation/protection play, like grocery stores where the union won’t allow self-checkout. No idea if the law is achieving its goals or if it just exists because of historical inertia now, but that’s why it exists.
- blaser-waffle 7y ago
  Where are there checkout clerk unions blocking self-check out? Not saying it's impossible, but I've lived in WA, CA, VA, DC, TX, and NY, plus 1.5 years in Australia, and going on 6 years in Canada and have consistently seen self check-out everywhere.
  - arh68 7y ago
    Oregon, yet again? https://katu.com/news/local/initiative-looks-to-limit-number-of-self-checkout-machines-in-oregon https://katu.com/news/local/initiative-looks-to-limit-number...
- kelnos 7y ago
  Oh, I know why it exists (I grew up in New Jersey, which has [had?] similar laws); I'm just reiterating that it exists for stupid reasons.

odysseus 7y ago

I wonder if New Jersey has done the same ..

JPKab 7y ago

Just wondering, is this article out of date? https://www.koin.com/oregon-2/oregon-loosens-self-service-restrictions-for-pumping-gas/ https://www.koin.com/oregon-2/oregon-loosens-self-service-re... Have they further loosened it since late March? "Effective immediately, gas stations will be allowed to let drivers pump their own gas if they meet any of the following requirements: The owner (of the gas station) retains documentation that there are no employees available to work as an attendant, including documentation for absences and employee hiring and retention efforts; The owner is subject to State Fire Marshal audit and has posted safety signs for how to safely operate a fuel pump; and The hours of operation under this subsection do not exceed 10 consecutive hours. “During this unprecedented time of state emergency, we need to ensure that critical supply lines for fuels and other basic services remain uninterrupted,” said State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. Additionally, active stations must abide by the Fire Marshal’s latest guidelines: Prepare, implement and enforce social distancing policies consistent with guidance from the Oregon Health Authority, Require an attendant to be on duty to supervise self-service refueling consistent with the social distancing policies and help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through sanitization measures, and Designate an employee at each station to implement and enforce the social distancing policies." The above doesn't seem like it's actually self-service unless the owner has certain issues. My brother just told me he isn't seeing self-service at his area, and wasn't notified it was an option.