Stinken NJ pump laws!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Stinken NJ pump laws!
Here in NJ there has been a law that you cannot pump your own gas. This has been debated in the past so I will not get into it. It is just plain stupid but Nj and one other state cannot pump your own gas. Why I do not know.
So the story is my son and I take a great cruise today. About 60 mile round trip. Burn some rubber take it up to "speed" a few times on some desolete roads. Just a great day. Car running perfect. Heading home we need gas, what else is new. Stop into the local place and I get out and hand him my credit card and say I'm filling it with premium. Ok he punches in the card and I say I'll fill it. He hands me the pump. I'm talking to my son not paying much attention. Another pump jockey comes over and asks about the car. Small talk, likes the car and I'm done. Put the pump back in grab the receipt and take off. Car running good. I go about 3 miles and make a turn and just get on it a little. The death rattle! What crap was put in the car. Ask my son for the receipt and sure enough it is just plus 89 octane. Crap. Get on it again same thing. I'll just have to take it easy and burn this gas off and fill it again with better stuff. Maybe a can of booster will help.
Next time remind self to pay attention to pump jockey!
So the story is my son and I take a great cruise today. About 60 mile round trip. Burn some rubber take it up to "speed" a few times on some desolete roads. Just a great day. Car running perfect. Heading home we need gas, what else is new. Stop into the local place and I get out and hand him my credit card and say I'm filling it with premium. Ok he punches in the card and I say I'll fill it. He hands me the pump. I'm talking to my son not paying much attention. Another pump jockey comes over and asks about the car. Small talk, likes the car and I'm done. Put the pump back in grab the receipt and take off. Car running good. I go about 3 miles and make a turn and just get on it a little. The death rattle! What crap was put in the car. Ask my son for the receipt and sure enough it is just plus 89 octane. Crap. Get on it again same thing. I'll just have to take it easy and burn this gas off and fill it again with better stuff. Maybe a can of booster will help.
Next time remind self to pay attention to pump jockey!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Many years ago a jack-*** blew himself up and the resulting lawsuit entailed enacting that law. Everytime I've gassed up in N.J. they asked me what grade, no matter what I was driving, even the motorcycle. But I can see how a fine Red Convertible would distract the pump jockey. Peace,,,Moosie 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
On a roadtrip to visit my brother in Marlton we stopped for gas, and we didnt' realize till we got home that the pump jockey had kept our American Express card. Sure enough, he racked up a couple hundred dollars at a convenience store. I would have thought that would raise a red flag. How can you spend that much at a C-store? Fortunately we weren't responsible and now my brother lives back here in VA, so no reason to go up there to NJ.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
On a roadtrip to visit my brother in Marlton we stopped for gas, and we didnt' realize till we got home that the pump jockey had kept our American Express card. Sure enough, he racked up a couple hundred dollars at a convenience store. I would have thought that would raise a red flag. How can you spend that much at a C-store? Fortunately we weren't responsible and now my brother lives back here in VA, so no reason to go up there to NJ.
A couple hundred dollars? Thats a lot of Wawa coffee!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 206
Likes: 15
From: East Greenwich NJ
With my Vette, and when I rode street bikes, the attendants ALWAYS let me pump. I agree you should able to trust the attendant, but I always watch which button they push, even in my daily driver. Plus, it sounds like you were charged for regular as well -- at least you weren't scammed, just a dumb person.
Lesson learned......
Shoevette
Lesson learned......
Shoevette
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I usually do watch what they do but I was talking to my son and not paying attention at the time, my fault. 
I always have pumped gas in my Vette. If they don't let me I just put the cap back on and go elsewhere. I did only get charged for plus but the fuel is in the car now so I'll just have to live with it. Next time I will be more observant of the pump jockeys. Ithink this kid was new as he was asking the other attendant some pretty simple questions about pumping gas.
I always have pumped gas in my Vette. If they don't let me I just put the cap back on and go elsewhere. I did only get charged for plus but the fuel is in the car now so I'll just have to live with it. Next time I will be more observant of the pump jockeys. Ithink this kid was new as he was asking the other attendant some pretty simple questions about pumping gas.
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
Gordon,
not like that up here by trenton, i always get out of whatever im driving
and they just hand me the nozzle ask if im filling and what grade and let me go to work.
LOL could be i have that look though since i ran stations in this area
for 14 years, i also found with the corvette that most of them dont even want to touch it out of gas spillage fear.
not like that up here by trenton, i always get out of whatever im driving
and they just hand me the nozzle ask if im filling and what grade and let me go to work.
LOL could be i have that look though since i ran stations in this area
for 14 years, i also found with the corvette that most of them dont even want to touch it out of gas spillage fear.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
It's very weird. How the heck are you supposed to teach your kid something basic like how to pump gas? Then the kid goes off to college in another state and his friends think he's a retard cuz he doesn't know how to put gas in his car. 
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Keizer OR
I grew up in Oregon, the other no-pump state. First time I was out of Oregon I thought it was inconvenient to get out in the rain and such, and Oregon has a lot of rain. Now I hate it when I visit Oregon and have to wait for them the attendant.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
The laws were written by elected officials. You guys in New Jersey elected them. It seems that the officials you elected think you aren't capable of pumping your own. Vote them out of office.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
I grew up in Jersey, and thought it normal- and convenient to have someone else pump the gas, especially in the rain. I had crappy cars then and didn't know any better. My sister still lives there and thinks the law is great. Ofcourse, she has never lifted the hood either. If I was still there, I wouldn't let some clown spill gas or scratch the vettte. Its good that some of them are intimidated and let you pump. Ironically in California, we would pay about $4.00 a gallon for the joker to fill the tank with premium. I paid $3.77 today for the "privilege" of doing it myself. Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Peace,,, Moosie
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
Hey " big G " , What you wrote fits in so many different ways for so many different aspects of whats going to affect our sport/enjoyment. Its time for us to get involved a lot more or otherwise all we'll be able to do is polish them and look at 'em and remember how it used to be.
Peace,,, Moosie
Peace,,, Moosie
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
I cant beleive that he is actually the Governator there, he ought to take his cigar chomping, Hummer driving, scarecrow looking wife, steriod racked body back to Austria or where ever he's from,,,he was more enjoyable in the movies,,oh wait,, we got Hillary, wanna swap?
Peace,,,Moosie
Hillary, wanna swap?Peace,,,Moosie
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Have not read the bill yet for details....but exempt status remains for pre-1976 cars..
Legislation (A.B. 616)
Rich