For the first time in more than seven decades, drivers in Oregon are allowed to pump their own gas.

    • morphballganon@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The way I heard it, if the only people pumping gas were employees, the company didn’t have to pay as much liability insurance.

        • SCB@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          It’s a law specifically so that these jobs exist. It has nothing to do with liability insurance. Rather, one guy was able to lower his prices by having people pump their own gas and other gas stations didn’t like that

          Reingold decided to offer the consumer a choice by opening up a 24-pump gas station on Route 17 in Hackensack. He offered gas at 18.9 cents a gallon. The only requirement was that drivers pump it themselves. They didn’t mind. They lined up for blocks.

          "The other gas station operators didn’t like the competition. Someone tried shooting up Reingold’s station. But he installed bulletproof glass, so the retailers looked for a softer target - the Statehouse. The Gasoline Retailers Association prevailed upon its pals in the Legislature to push through a bill banning self-serve gas. The pretext was safety, but the Hackensack fire chief had already told all who would listen that Rein- gold’s operation was perfectly safe.

          https://www.nj.com/opinion/2014/02/the_real_reason_self-service_gas_was_banned_in_nj_corruption_not_safety.html

      • andrew@lemmy.stuart.fun
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        1 year ago

        Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn’t mean that we too can’t not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.

    • moitoi@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      You never went to Switzerland where the only noise you’re allowed to do after 10 pm is pooping.

      • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Now I’m curious about the situation that lead to that to that exception being added and if there was a death involved where someone held it in until morning when they should have just gone right away.

        • moitoi@feddit.de
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          1 year ago

          The legend says that you aren’t allowed to flush the toilet after 10 pm. Actually, people must avoid making noise after 10pm by law. It’s not here for fun.

          Switzerland has a reporting culture. People will report you to the police and/or your landlord if you’re making too much noise after 10pm. Also, Sundays and holidays are by law a day of rest.