With New Jersey now the last state in the country that prohibits drivers from pumping their own gas, what fines do drivers face if they decide to serve themselves at the gas pump?
Even the potential savings by allowing self-service to offset last November’s 23-cent-per-gallon increase in the state gas tax was not enough to convince lawmakers to end the ban. Oregon modified its self-service ban in 2015, leaving New Jersey as the last state with a total prohibition.
Experts said legalizing self-service would save five to seven cents a gallon. A reader asked what happens if a driver takes over the gas nozzle.
Q: What is the penalty if you are caught pumping your own gas?
A: We asked Thomas Wright, a spokesman for the state labor department, and he said violators face a fine that ranges between $50 and $250 for a first offense and fines up to $500 for subsequent offenses.
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But here’s the catch: the driver pumping their own gas doesn’t get ticketed. Instead, the dealer who runs the gas station is cited for the violation under the law, if they fail to stop the illegal pumper.
Even that is a moot point, because no summonses have been issued to anyone, Wright said.
“We have not received any reports regarding this violation, thus no summons have been issued in recent history,” he said.
That was the case in 2015 and 2014 when we asked labor department officials if tickets had been issued. Two summons were issued in 2013.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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