Almost made a bad boo-boo

[DutchmenSport]

The wife had a business meeting in Wilmington, Delaware on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Her company paid for the motel room and we debated about bringing the fifth wheel, but couldn't locate any campgrounds, so we opted for the motel.

Meanwhile, after her meetings, we decided to explore the area, so took the rest of Tuesday (May 24) and drove into New Jersey. My dad was stationed at Camp Kilmer after World War 2 and my younger sister was born there. I've NEVER been to New Jersey, so decided this would be a great opportunity to find the location where my sister was born. So we did! We were successful. But, here's the clincher....


We left Delaware and upon entering New Jersey we needed to stop for gas. We were not towing towing the camper, we were traveling in our small Chevy Colorado pick-up truck.

I jumped out of the truck and started to the fuel pump when an attendant stopped me. He said he'd pump the fuel for me. Well... honestly, it's been more than 35 years since I've had anyone pump my fuel, and he even washed the windshield.

Talking to the attendant, I told him I was from Indiana and I thought that was really nice of him to pump the gas but it really wasn't necessary. I did not need the assistance.

That is when he told me, it's the New Jersey state law that only service station attendants can pump gas. What? He said, New Jersey is one of only 2 states remaining that will not allow patrons to pump their own gas.

It goes without saying, we did not see a single RV anywhere in Delaware or New Jersey, and we never saw any 18 wheeler semi trucks either. I wonder if someone has to pump their fuel too?

So, my wife did some internet research today and she told me, it is illegal to pump your own fuel in New Jersey. If you do the fine is between $50 and $250 for doing so!

OMG! Can you believe that!

I don't know of anyone traveling to New Jersey, but if you do ... beware!

[RRR]

And if you decide to go west next time, Oregon is the other no self-serve state, with some exceptions.

[TonyDi]

I live in NJ and love that I don't have to pump my own fuel. There's no more splashes on me when the pump kicks back. I don't have to get out my car in the rain or the cold to pump my fuel. There's no stepping in a diesel spill and the tracking it into your MH. Plus like you said, a lot of stations will wash the windshield for you.

[ArtJoyce]

I think it's the same for trucks. At least that what I saw years ago between NY and PA. NJ use to have the lower price.

[Ray,IN]

On the flip side; we were in California taking our children to Disneyland. I stopped at a filling station for gas, and the fume recovery nozzle would not fit well. So, I pulled over to the full-service island. The attendant tried his best to get out of pumping gas because he had seen me trying to get the nozzle to fit into my filler opening. He finally relented when his boss came outside to see what the talking was about.

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by RRR

And if you decide to go west next time, Oregon is the other no self-serve state, with some exceptions.

No attendants come out to pump your diesel in the truck lanes in Oregon.

I've heard they do pump gasoline thou.

[Talloaks]

In Costa Rica, only the station attendants operate the pumps and fuel your vehicle. And at some stations, they will wash your car for you by hand while the tank is being filled.

[Unplanned Tourist]

On the way home from AZ we went up through CA and after fighting with the fume recovery fillers it was nice to have an attendant fill my tank in Oregon. He topped it up without stopping.

I had to stop and re-swipe my CC 2 times to only get only close to full from around 1/4 everywhere else in 4600+ miles for the rest of the trip.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

No attendants come out to pump your diesel in the truck lanes in Oregon.

I've heard they do pump gasoline thou.

That's because Diesel is NOT a Class 1 Flammable

As of 2020 folks can pump their own Gasoline at Self Service unless prohibited by state statues (western side of state mostly)

[Isaac-1]

I spent about a week in New Jersey doing a continuing education class for work about a decade ago, about half the participants were locals, and we had a lot of free time, between class sessions to talk. It seems that overwhelmingly the locals think it is a good thing, as it provides safe entry level jobs for teenagers, it is cultural thing, as almost all of them either worked pumping gas or had relatives that did when they were young. We also discussed the rules of when you are allowed (required?) to pump your own gas, as I recall the attendants only pump gas into cars, they don't pump diesel, and don't fill gas cans, lawn mowers, boats, etc. for that you have to pump it yourself.

[0rion]

Not a job I could do these days....everyone would be .01 over of however much they asked for. Want $20 worth? That will have to be $20.01. $50 worth? $50.01. I used to be able to nail it but these days I rarely hit it. Yesterday I went .04 over so it seems I may be getting worse at it. Haha

[carybosse]

Originally Posted by 0rion

Not a job I could do these days....everyone would be .01 over of however much they asked for. Want $20 worth? That will have to be $20.01. $50 worth? $50.01. I used to be able to nail it but these days I rarely hit it. Yesterday I went .04 over so it seems I may be getting worse at it. Haha

The pump runs the same speed, but when gas was 33 cents a gallon, the dollar meter ran really, really slow. At $5 a gallon, that puppy is spinning like a top.

[bandorr2000]

You can pump your own diesel fuel, not gasoline. We are trying to get this law changed.

[MSHappyCampers]

I'm AMAZED!

At first I thought this was gonna be a joke!