The legislation becomes effective immediately. Governor Tina Kotek approved a measure on Friday granting individuals throughout the entire state the option to decide whether they would like an attendant to pump their gas or if they prefer to do it themselves.

In South Africa, where tipping is customary, attendants typically offer to inspect fluid levels and wipe the windshield. It is worth noting that a few countries, such as New Jersey, also have a ban on self-service gas stations, making it the sole state in the US that prohibits motorists from pumping their own gas.

“It’s high time. It’s long overdue,” stated Karen Cooper, a resident of Salem, just before the bill was signed.

Cooper stated, “I have dedicated a considerable amount of time in California.” “It is essential for everyone to possess the knowledge of self-service refueling,” Cooper expressed. “I am proficient in the skill of self-service refueling.”

Kacy Willson, 32, who has been a resident of Oregon her entire life, stated that she lacks enthusiasm for refueling her vehicle. She has only made a few attempts at it.

“I feel strange,” she expressed at a gas station in Portland on Friday, “and I need to inquire with somebody about how to refill gas when I do, and I don’t frequently venture outside of Oregon.” “It’s somewhat pleasant to have someone perform that task.”

In sparsely populated areas of eastern Oregon, motorists could be stranded when there is low gas. In recent years, legislators relaxed the rule and extended the hours of gas stations in rural counties to have self-serve gas available at night. Lawmakers cited safety concerns, including motorists slipping on slick surfaces at filling stations, especially during Oregon’s notoriously rainy weather. This is why self-service gas was prohibited in Oregon in 1951.

The labor shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a renewed effort to permit self-service options throughout the entire state.

Steve Rodgers, who resides in a small town situated at the foothills of the snow-covered Cascade Mountains, expressed his grievances to legislators, stating, “In our expansive county, we encounter difficulties in recruiting individuals to operate fuel pumps. Despite our efforts to attract employees by providing enticing benefits such as insurance coverage, paid time off, and retirement benefits, we are still unable to achieve full staffing. Furthermore, we are willing to offer competitive remuneration.”

The self-service prohibition has been revoked by the state fire marshal amidst perilous heat waves experienced in the previous few summers. Haseeb Shojai, a gas station proprietor in the arid highlands of central Oregon who migrated from Afghanistan in 2004, also expressed his sorrow over the scarcity of labor and illustrated the significant impact of wildfires, which have become more intense and frequent as a result of climate change.

Shojai expressed, “because of the scarcity of workers, we are uncertain about our ability to remain operational tomorrow, or the following day, or possibly even next week. The presence of wildfires has significantly influenced our business operations during the summer months, as it becomes challenging for our gas station employees to endure extended periods outdoors amidst the smoke and intense heat.”

The union representing grocery store workers in Oregon predicted job losses at fuel stations and grocery stores due to the law, which they called a blatant cash grab for large corporations.

Sandy Humphrey, the secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 555, stated, “The failure of large corporations to pay millions of dollars each year in wages, benefits, and public payroll taxes equates to the elimination of a single employee at each of Oregon’s 2,000 gas stations.”

Both categories must possess identical prices for drivers. The cost of full-service pumps cannot exceed that of self-service pumps at a gas station according to the recent legislation.

Opponents of the measure are concerned that it could lead to the demise of full-service pumps, an option for people with disabilities and older adults.

“Senator Frederick Lew, a Democrat from the state of Oregon, stated on the Senate floor in June that he is increasingly concerned about the imminent elimination of Oregon’s fuel service law.”

Brandon Venable, a service station manager, had urged lawmakers to decline the bill due to the fact that certain patrons are inattentive and it is the responsibility of attendants to ensure the safety of individuals.

“According to Venable, I have to deal with many dangerous situations created by people who leave their engines running, smoke, and try to fill up jugs, bottles, and random objects with static electricity, all while driving the vehicle in the still pump.”

Rather than staying in their cozy, sheltered vehicles, drivers who are currently eager to refuel their own gasoline might become less enthusiastic about it when they are required to wait outside in inclement weather conditions such as rain, freezing temperatures, and snow. Some individuals ponder.

Tim Knopp, the Republican state senator who leads the minority caucus of the GOP, downplayed safety concerns by describing himself as being allowed to use his own gas pump for cooperative fueling in commercial settings.

During the debate on the bill, Knopp suggested, “Therefore, my esteemed colleagues, let us establish New Jersey as the sole state in the nation that prohibits self-service gasoline.” Knopp further expressed, “Throughout my experiences with self-service gas, I have yet to encounter any complications. Rest assured, I have never accidentally ignited myself.”

The legislation was endorsed by the state Senate with a vote of 16-9, and previously it had been adopted by the House with a vote of 47-10.

“Bumper stickers declaring ‘Jersey Girls Don’t Pump Gas’ are a source of pride for some in the state of New Jersey, where a self-service gas pump ban has remained since 1949.”

Since New Jersey has lower gas prices than Pennsylvania and New York, many drivers from neighboring states line up to fuel.

In 2015, lawmakers proposed ending the New Jersey ban, but the measure died because of opposition from the powerful state Senate president.

Journalists from the Associated Press, including Michael Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, and Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon, contributed to this report.