New York State will soon allow Fuel Nozzle Clips for Hands-Free-Fueling
For decades, state law has prohibited nearly all service stations in New York from equipping fuel nozzles with a clip that allows hands-free gas dispensing. That could finally change. This bill will bring New York State in line with the rest of the country.
Massachusetts was the only other state in recent years that had banned the clips on fuel nozzles until lawmakers there overturned that restriction a decade ago.
Holding a gas pump handle for several minutes can be physically difficult — or even impossible — for individuals with disabilities or limited mobility.
And if you are an idiot, it makes it incredibly difficult to check your text messages, update your Facebook and stream on TikTok, with only one-hand… L o L . . .
Additionally, the legislation also would require those service station operators to train employees on how to operate an fuel-shut off switch in an emergency. Who would have thought that a gas jockey would not know where the Big Red OFF Switch is located and what it does?
I seem to remember certain pumps not having the clips some years ago. I just used my pen knife to keep the nozzle operating. The auto shut off was not affected at all so still shut off. I think mainly it may have been certain stations making sure you had to stay by the pump instead of cleaning the windshield etc. I agree dumb.
Thank God for that. Makes me nuts every time I’m back in NY.
No matter, wedging my gas cap in there works. Or I’ve also used my wallet.
As for the emergency shutoff, I’m sure things have changed, but back in high school when I had a part time gas jockey job (back when you could choose self-serve of full service for a few cents more) I was clearly instructed on where the shut off was. Probably not for safety, but because the guy was a penny pincher and didn’t ever want to lose a penny. No matter. It’s amazing how often economic interests actually align with safety and environmental concerns.
Anyway, that emergency shut off came in handy that time the self-serve person drove off with the fill hose still stuck in their filler and ripped the whole thing off the pump. LOL.
At this time only New Jersey makes it illegal for a customer to pump their own gas.
There is a bill in the New Jersey State Legislature that will give the people the right to pump their own gas and even if this passes, the law would still requires an attendant be on duty to help anyone with a disability fuel up.
It has been illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey since 1949 under the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act. That law cites safety as the concern, it says… “Because of the fire hazards directly associated with dispensing fuel, it is in the public interest that gasoline operators have the control needed over that activity.”
In order to provide proper context for this topic, I will re-post one of my posts from a few years ago:
Because there is so much misinformation on the topic of full-service gas stations in NJ, I thought I would provide a link to an article on the origin of the regulation banning self-service stations. The regulation was actually requested (and paid for ) by the state association of gasoline retailers, who objected to the cut-rate tactics of one retailer. The only thing that the article’s writer got wrong was the name of the gas retailer who kicked-off the debacle. His last name was Reinauer, not Reingold.
When I lived in NY, many years ago, I would wedge my wallet in the handle. It worked perfectly. I just would not walk away. No need to give someone my wallet.
I can’t remember where I discovered this idea, maybe a car magazine article in the 90’s?
You start with a piece of 3/4 inch thick wood. Cut it 6 inches long and 2 1/8 wide. Now mark one end 1 and 5/8. Cut the slant from the 2 1/8 to the 1 5/8. You now have a “tool” to hold the fuel nozzle on.
What I DON"T do is start the fuel flowing and walk in to get my coffee and donut. That’s just stupid (But I see it all the time).
) by the state association of gasoline retailers, who objected to the cut-rate tactics of one retailer. The only thing that the article’s writer got wrong was the name of the gas retailer who kicked-off the debacle. His last name was Reinauer, not Reingold.