For people who live in New Jersey and Oregon:  Why is it illegal to pump your own gas?
486764
"The Garden State is one of two states where it's illegal to fill 'er up yourself. Only gas station owners or employees can pump gas in New Jersey and Oregon -- "the only two states atavistic, sadistic, and masochistic enough to still require thousands of 'professionals' to waste time, money, and inconvenience customers," according to one columnist. \nThe ban on self-service gas stations is a highly combustible issue and makes for some heated debates. New Jersey passed the law making it illegal to pump your own gas in 1949. At the time, legislators felt it was too dangerous to have untrained people dispensing such a flammable liquid. \n\nThat may have been sensible at the time, but pumping gas is much safer today, and some motorists feel the ban is outdated and needs to go. Opponents of the law argue that removing it would lower the cost of gas and make refueling much quicker and more convenient. Proponents of the ban argue that it creates jobs and customers like full service. \n\nWhatever your position on the matter, next time you're in Jersey and need to refuel, take the opportunity to relax in the comfort of your car while the gas station attendant does the dirty work."
656676
I'll Tell You What the Problem is. You won't want to Hear it, but maybe someone out there in "Cyberspace" that wants to Help Expose the real "Problem" Does! Thanks to the Clinton/Gore EPA-OBD II Law, all Gasoline Powered Vehicles in the USA from 1996 to the Present are Required to Run at 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel. Any Deviation from that, even if Fuel Economy is Improved, and Emissions are Lowered, will Result in a Failed Vehicle Inspection. The Vehicle will then be Illegal to Operate, because it's not Putting Out Enough Pollution! Really! I've come up with a Way to Turn Regular Pump Gasoline into Propane. 100 Parts of Air, to 1 Part of Fuel. 50 + MPG, with even the Largest SUV! And I'm not the First to do so. I Saw, On-File, at the US Patent Office, the Pogue Carburetor, which was Bought Out before WW II, with a Patented Claim of 100 MPG, with a Flathead Ford V-8 Engine Powered Vehicle that was 15 MPG! And, there are many Others as well. Only a Basic Drawing & General Description is Given, to Prevent an actual Copy of the Device. See, on a Molecular Level, all Petroleum is essentially the Same. Only the Dispersal is Altered. If this is not so, then how is it that Engines DO Run on Expensive, Cumbersome Bottled Propane? My System is Safe, Compact, and uses Low Pressure Air to do it's Thing.It's not just the Oil Companies that have kept a "Lid" on this Technology. When an Engine Runs on Vapor Fuel, it Lasts 10 Times Longer!Now, Who would want to Stop that? Watch what Happens the Next Time Your Car is Inspected with that OBD II Machine. The Gestapo would be so Proud of it! Big Brother has Won! What I'd like to do, to Expose the Hypocricy of this Law is to Restore, Convert, and Donate Vehicles to Charity. Starting with the Local "Meals-On-Wheels" Program. Also, Volunteer Veterans' Assistance Services. We in the USA Owe Them so Very Much! See, there's no Shortage of Good People that want to Help the Less Fortunate. It's the High Cost of Fuel that's made it so Difficult. Charity would be such a "Slap" in the Face of Greed! I can understand why a Vehicle that's putting out an Excessive amount of Pollution should Fail Inspection, but to Fail for not Emitting enough Pollution? This is Insane! It would take "Deep Pockets" to Expose this . Everyone Else that's Tried has been Stopped! For even more Insight, Check Out this Website. It's a Couple of Years Old, but well worth Checking Out! http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html Please Feel Free to Contact Me, Right Here, to let Me Know what You Think!
348524
I would but NO. And why? By keeping it illegal I think they are just trying to make a private thing. Ya know, people complain about the second hand smoke from cigs could you imagine the mass witch fest that would go on because of that & the fact o contact buzzes. Then wht about the job market? Don't already have enough problems with drunk driving too? It does sound great but the reality is just to impracticle. Maybe you are fine & still live life happily but many others would not. I just say becareful when you have it in tow & I do what you like in private. I've seriously thought about it.... More than once. The cops really don't bother anyone, people are just gonna be at the wrong place at the wrong time & catch the heat. That's just life. Most smokers aren't really winning at the game of life, really most of them aren't.... I guess there's just some it works for & say cool!
152643
I live in Michigan, it is legal. My son did this against my wishes, the court said I could not stop him, they also said I could not stop him from moving back in either. Don't make the mistake, he dropped out of school, he had no job, no car, he ended up on the streets. He is now 23 and not much better off. Stay in school and stay at home! If there are other things going on at home, you need to get ahold of Child and Family Services. Good Luck
139238
No, both Oregon and New Jersey ban self-serve, but you can pump your own Diesel fuel, go figure.
406532
Because all of the gas stations are buying from the same supplier.  They all mark it up a couple of cents and sell at the same price.  I suppose it's collusion in a small way because they've agreed to the same price, but that's more of a running tradition.  Like if Burger King and McDonald's charge about the same price for burgers, are they colluding or is it just because they have the same costs and charge about the same?\n\nThe Sherman Act deals more with malicious fixing where they're doing things to drive out competition.  There are been tons of inquiries made into the price manipulation for the oil industry over the past few years, and none of them have found anything.  Most of the inquiries have concluded that the prices are from supply and demand, not price gouging.  You could argue it's from "bribes" or whatever, but there are no indications or concrete, credible sources to support this claim.\n\nThere's a bit more to read here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5365439
1036978
Laws in all states have upheld that garbage at the curb is not private and taking garbage is not stealing.  I cannot see how the town can lay claim to garbage until it is on the truck itself.\n\nI would think that in order to enforce this ordinance the city would have to supply houses with garbage cans and then they could say that anything inside the cans is offlimits.\n\nIts sounds like one of those ordinances that would be overturned as unconstitutional if it were appealed to a state court.  Besides unless they are sorting their refuse and separating those metals they can sell for money (it probably wouldn't be worth the cost) when people take trash from the street it reduces the amount of money the town pays in tipping charges.
579547
The Government is basically saying that it is OK to break the law (come into this country illegally). If it is OK to break laws, why can't I smoke pot in the middle of the street? Why can't I rob a bank, pay taxes on the money and live as a milionnare??? Risk??? No one gets anywhere in life without taking risks. They knew the risks and made their decision. This country is overpopulated as is and services such as Social Security and Welfare are already strapped. I think a lot of politicians voted on this law because they feared losing their housekeepers, gardeners, and nannies. God forbid if these people of privilege actually have to wash a dish, change a diaper, or get their hands dirty pulling weeds.
883096
becasue the legislative branch of the govt made it a law because the people of the nation said they don't want people driving and drinking at the same time.  The excutive(police) fine you for breaking it.   this is how america works.  the "game" may suck, but its the only one we have to play.
998002
If you can prove that they are not actually doing pipe repair then you'd have a case.  Most states have good renter's rights laws.
426641
If the girl is one of my daughters, yes, it is illegal. \n\nAnd dangerous, too. \n\nI have five acres out back and a brand new backhoe, if you catch my drift.
1026029
Greed.  Plain and simple.  Most store owners will tell you they make very little money on the gas.  It's all the soda, beer, smokes, and snacks that brings in the buck. But if they can get an extra few cents profit on gas, they will nickle and dime you to death!
1116205
Well, in some areas of the USA you would think it was a third world country because of this, California. We in Oregon give them drivers license, voting papers and free food. Plus many other aid items. They hear about that and a rush will exist to Oregon.
589485
There has simply been a ban on building new refineries for 25 years, and the capacity to refine crude oil has not kept up with demand for gasoline. The supply of crude oil, and crude oil inventories are ample. But the ability for the refineries to produce gasoline from the crude oil is at a maximum, and this time of year some of them shut down for maintenance (30-60 days), so gasoline supplies are even tighter.\n\nIn a free market, no matter the commodity, when Demand is greater than the Supply, the price goes up.
301537
Scandinavia. And it's about 70 dollars per litre. And you people are complaining. Hell... The gas prices in the United States are amongst the lowest in the whole world.
683151
Because law enforcement makes allot of money off of it. In my state for example, if you get caught with just one joint, it's like a 1200 dollar fine. That's allot of money for the corrupt law enforcement and politicians around. That's the only reason, because they make more than if they tax it. And people say you can't tax it because it's so easy to grow your own. Well, tomatoes are easy to grow too, but I'd rather just go buy them at the store, much less hassle, and potheads would do the same.
1019654
Because people don't want to walk or take a bike. Frankly I think we should invest more in hybrid cars and public transportation as it would at least help with the Gas "problem". \n\nBoycotting gas stations would probably not do anything except shut down the gas stations. Gas is used for other things like plastics, and paint, so the price of gas would still stay high.