As of this writing, two U.S. states restrict drivers from pumping their own gas: Oregon and New Jersey. Forbes reports that New Jersey led the way in 1949 when service station owners lobbied for a ban. Oregon didn’t trail far behind, imposing its restriction in 1951. The Gasoline Retailers Association backed New Jersey’s ban because self-service stations had a competitive edge, namely that they could afford to offer lower gas prices since they didn’t have to pay attendants to serve customers. However, the issue was framed in terms of safety concerns. 

The Beaver State listed 17 reasons to forbid motorists from filling their own gas tanks, including “the dangers of crime and slick surfaces,” leaving children unattended in cars, noxious fumes, and the fire hazard posed by gas. As anyone who’s seen Zoolander knows, fiery oblivion is just a gasoline fight and one lit cigarette away. Yet despite Oregon’s undoubtedly large population of highly flammable male models, in 2018, the state lifted the self-service ban in counties with fewer than 40,000 residents. Some people freaked out, worrying that this ability would prove too perilous for most people. But hey, times change.