Unless I am mistaken, it is illegal to Pump your own Gas in Jersey too. I think the reasoning behind this law has something to do with the dangerous fumes. Of course, if that is the case, then the Legislators just made things a Lot more dangerous for the gas station Attendants who had to breathe it All in everyday.

True.  By law they a limited to using the petroleum that is available at the local gas station.

GREAT law!! Think of the convienence in the winter.

Such a kind state to create all these jobs by outlawing something a child could do. How about outlawing mowing your own lawn(something far more potentially dangerous than pumping gas)? Just imagine how many jobs THAT would create! How about fixing one's own plumbing, reshingling one's own roof, etc. Can't have those ignorant asses doing jobs that only a LICENSED PROFESSIONAL should do. All hail the People's Republic of Oregon!

Why? Do they not think residents are smart enough to fend for themselves at the gas station?

As far as actually being a law, it is ridiculous.

They have this one in New Jersey too. I guess the gas station attendant lobby is being solidly protected in those states, for I don't know any other area in the US that still have full serve on a widespread basis.

This isn't even close to being one of the worst laws. I've lived in Oregon and, while this law is outdated and annoying, there is at least a rationale for it. The basic idea is that it creates jobs. Horrible, minimum-wage, get few tips, freeze-your-ass-off-in-the-winter jobs, but jobs nonetheless. That is more than you can say for the others on this list.

Oregon and New Jersey are the only two U.S. states that make pumping your own gas illegal. These laws have been on the books for over 50 years, and were passed on the belief that only professionals should pump gas due to the dangerous and combustible qualities of gasoline for the untrained pumper. One factor (aside from tradition), keeping these laws from being repealed is concern for the unemployment rate. Yet, they haven't banned self-service grocery checkout lines, go figure.

Sounds like New Jersey. . .

This one is really annoying.

It's true, and this is one strange law that really is enforced. I go to Oregon every summer for a visit and have to get used to not being allowed to fill the tank myself. Oregon is the most beautiful state that I'm familiar with, but it does have a number of superfluous laws.

Where I live, ALL of the gas stations are full service and no one really knows how to pump their own gas. But making a LAW against self serve is pretty dumb to me, hey, may be my state has the same thing (lol)!

I was in Oregon on a music tour, and this is one of the things I actually liked about it. How can this law actually be dumb? That's sort of like hospitality! It's good to be served once in awhile.

Good example of over-governing. People rail at the Patriot Act (which very few have any clue about) and sniff at the government stepping in to prohibit something 95% of Americans do safely every day. I suppose they were thinking about those people who would light up their cigs WHILE pumping their gas. No smoking? Hey, I have rights, you know.

Not so bad. I'm sure it's because of the danger element but if I owned a gas station I would justify it like this: Jersey winters are cold and snowy and Oregon's are rainy, so why would you want to get out of your car anyway?

I believe the reason Oregon has this law is that they have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. They are trying to do anything they can to create work, support tourism, and prevent people from moving there. It is a beautiful state, but if you are hoping to easily find work there, think again.

I'd really like to know the reasoning behind some of these. I could see this as one coming into being back when gas pumps were new technology and people may have been leary of them. Most states need to do some house cleaning and get rid of some of these pointless laws.