A New Jersey state senator and gubernatorial candidate wants to allow New Jersey residents to pump their own gas.
New Jersey is the only state in the country that has a law preventing drivers from operating a gas pump. But Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick wants to see the laws change. He had introduced a bill that would allow drivers to pump their own gas if they chose to.
The bill states that gas stations with more than four dispensers would continue to offer full service between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. However, a station could have the option to only provide self-service outside of that 12-hour span unless the driver has a disability. Bramnick says that in this case, an attendant needs to be available.
The proposed legislation is called the “Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act.”
“It means that if you pull up to a gas station and you see three cars or four cars in line and one attendant, you can go over in this other lane, which may actually give you a little cheaper gas and you can pump your own gas if you don't want to wait in line,” Bramnick says.
The bill would need to be passed in the state Senate and Assembly before getting approval from Gov. Phil Murphy.
Similar bills have been introduced before but did not get approved.