Should New Jersey Drivers Be Able to Pump Their Own Gas?

It's always been said that one of the easiest ways to spot a New Jersey driver is at a gas station. In fact, when I travel out of the state, I know that I usually look like a deer in the headlights when I get to the gas pump. New Jersey and Oregon are the only two states in the country where self-service gasoline is not even an option. That could be changing for Oregon in the very near future. So it's time for the age old question: Should New Jersey follow suit? Should we be able to pump our own gasoline?

The full service gas station law first went into effect in 1949, and despite several legal challenges since then nothing has changed. In fact, for quite a while New Jersey and Oregon have held the honor of being the only states where self-service stations are banned.

Lawmakers in Oregon are debating a bill that would allow customers to pump their own gas at stations after the close. This is only true, however, in counties that have a population of under 40,000 people. So that is twenty Oregon counties. One can assume if this bill passes in Oregon that the state may look to expand the self service options in the state.

So what about New Jersey? Should we be able to pump our own gas? Every couple of years a lawmaker gets the idea to discuss this. They always make bold claims that we could save money on gasoline if we pumped our own. Is that true? Who knows. It definitely could cost some local jobs, and we'd lose the convenience factor of being able to sit on our cars when it's raining or snowing.

So take our poll, and help us see if public opinion has changed on this age old question.