Am I crazy?

"nj959" (nj959) 08/02/2018 at 17:59 • Filed to: None

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Obviously the answer to that question is yes, but I still have a story to share.

The setting is the Sunoco at the rest area just south of the Driscoll on the Parkway. I pulled in to fill up, and there’s a small line of maybe 2-3 cars waiting in the two lanes of pumps near me. Keep in mind this is in New Jersey. We aren’t allowed to pump our own gas so this whole process takes way fucking longer than it has any right to. The entire next two lanes of pumps have out of order signs on them. I suspect this is bullshit and they just don’t feel like using them, but that’s a story for another time. Anyway, on the other side, there are several pumps open with no one waiting for them. I drive over there, pull up next to a pump, and wait patiently.

Of course, I end up waiting for about 10-15 minutes because the Nobel Prize laureates who run these gas stations don’t realize that maybe they should hire more than two attendants to operate the pumps at a gas station in a service area for one of the busiest highways in the country during goddamn rush hour, but whatever. Eventually, someone comes up to my window and you know what he fucking says?

“It’s a one way.”

Keep in mind that I’ve been coming to this gas station for years, and at this gas station, and frankly every other gas station I’ve ever been to, people pull up to whatever pump is available. There are also several pumps still open, so it’s not like I’ve cut anyone in line. I’m an asshole, but not that much of an asshole.

Anyway, this dude wants me to go back to the other side of the station and wait, even though there are at least five pumps open at this side. There are no markings in the road that prohibit going to whatever pump you want and I have never had a problem with going to whatever pump is available at this, or any other gas station in my entire life.

I decide that that’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever fucking heard, and get back on the road to go buy gas at another station that’s on the way home. I’m not going to wait for another 20 minutes to get gas when there are already several pumps open because of your stupid arbitrary rules that were apparently just implemented today. Fuck that noise.

Anyway, I just spend the last few minutes of my life bitching about a poorly run gas station so I’m obviously crazy for that reason. But am I right that this was pretty stupid?

TL;DR: New Jersey needs to let us pump our own fucking gas.

For Sweden > nj959 08/02/2018 at 18:31

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New Jersey should be given back to Great Britain .

HammerheadFistpunch > nj959 08/02/2018 at 18:33

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Im still amazed that there are still places where you aren’t allows to pump your own gas.  Im gobsmacked at the notion that there are people out there who’ve never done it and wouldn’t know how to do it if they wanted to.

nj959 > For Sweden 08/02/2018 at 18:37

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Our food is better though. Trust me, my dad was born in the UK, I’m all too familiar with the cuisine.

nj959 > HammerheadFistpunch 08/02/2018 at 18:39

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It’s literally just Jersey at this point, since Oregon recently changed its laws. I think most of us know how to pump gas, unless you’re a housewife who always lets your husband drive whenever you’re out of state or something.

I would honestly consider voting for Roy Moore or Ted Nugent if they ran for NJ Governor on the promise of allowing us to pump our own gas.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > nj959 08/02/2018 at 18:45

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My favorite way to get the attention of the gas attendants is to just start pumping it yourself. I have been enamored by living in California now where the only thing I can complain about at a gas station is that I cant get 93. But being from Jersey, I know the struggle of stupid gas stations. I once went to a Wawa in the Woodbridge area that had about 20 pumps open with only 1 attendant working at the time!! I just pumped my own gas that day and noone was the wiser. Unfortunately, many stations (especially the GSP and Turnpike ones) have a special card just to unlock the pump before any payments happen. Its bullshit and such a waste of time. 

nj959 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/02/2018 at 18:47

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Yeah this place needed a card to start pumping. I usually end up putting the pump back myself at busy stations since I’m not going to wait another 5+ minutes after the pump has already finished, but of course this place wouldn’t even sell me the gas in the first place.

Stapleface > nj959 08/02/2018 at 18:49

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Being from Jersey I’m always floored when I go to a full serve station out of state and the pump attendant will clean the windows and offer to check the oil.

But back to that gas station. I agree, thats bullshit. It’s not like Costco where it’s clearly labeled that it’s a one way station.

A sfor the pump your own gas thing, I know plenty of people that won't know what to do if this state were to ever change it. My mother, who grew up in PA where it's pretty much always been legal to pump your own, has no idea how to pump gas. Really it's not rocket science. 

nj959 > Stapleface 08/02/2018 at 18:56

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I’d forgotten about Costcos being one way; I never really go to them. That kind of makes sense since the whole road leading to and away from the pumps is a one way street, but that clearly isn’t the case at this place.

The only logical explanation behind it that I can figure out is that the northbound and southbound lanes run on each side of the Sunoco, but the area around the pumps is just wide open asphalt with no lane markings or anything. I don’t get it.

BeaterGT > nj959 08/02/2018 at 19:01

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“ The entire next two lanes of pumps have out of order signs on them.”

This shit happens way too often at NJ gas stations.

Also w henever there’s a line, check your oil and/or tires and tire pressure unless you got one of those fancy cars that does it for you.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > nj959 08/02/2018 at 19:01

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Oregon only changed the laws for rural counties, and most of them did not change. If your car is over 25 years old you can pump your own gas anywhere.

Fun Fact: You have to be a licensed driver to pump gas, even into a gas can.

nj959 > BeaterGT 08/02/2018 at 19:08

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It drives me nuts.

However, I’ve never really needed to top up my tires with air, unless they have an actual leak. I usually fill them up in the late fall because the lower temperatures reduces the pressure, and then six months later it gets warm again so even though they probably lost a little air, it doesn’t really matter since it’s hot out again. I’m also lucky enough that my car doesn’t really burn much oil, even with 190k+ miles on it. I usually add maybe half a quart every 1500-2000 miles.

nj959 > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition 08/02/2018 at 19:10

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At least it’s theoretically  possible to legally pump your own gas in Oregon.

BeaterGT > nj959 08/02/2018 at 19:15

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I usually do a quick visual inspection because NJ roads and I despise queuing up for gas. 

Berang > nj959 08/02/2018 at 20:00

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“just pump my fucking gas” is all you needed to say.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > HammerheadFistpunch 08/02/2018 at 20:28

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It’s a pain since I have to tell the attendants to let me fill in the gas because the YJ’s fuel filler lets the nozzle pop out unattended and then its a mess. 

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > nj959 08/03/2018 at 09:08

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Takes, in order of spicest to mildest:

1. Of course you’re crazy, you live in NJ.

2. One way? Do all the cars in NJ have their gas caps on the same side?

3. What’s stopping you from just getting out and pumping your own? Or is the card reader inside?

nj959 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 08/03/2018 at 11:18

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1. But pizza and the beach

2 . Exactly, this is why it’s so stupid.

3. Some of the larger/newer stations, including this one, require an employee card to be swiped to unlock the machine before you can stick a credit card in it.