Union Co. Rep Speaks Out Against NJ Self-Serve Gas Bill

UNION COUNTY, NJ — State Senate President and Democratic Representative of Union County Nicholas Scutari recently spoke out against a bill that would allow New Jerseyans to pump their own gas — a stance that could halt the bill from becoming law.

The Garden State is currently the only state where self-serve gas stations are illegal and require attendants to fill customers' tanks. Scutari told NJ Monitor that, at this time, he is opposed to the new self-serve proposal.

“The people of New Jersey are very clear in wanting to keep the system we have now, and there is no data supporting any contention that moving to a self-service model would save residents money at the pump,” Scutari told NJ Monitor.

“However, if the public sentiment changes or there is in fact data showing that it would dramatically reduce costs, I would reconsider,” Scutari said.

Because Scutari is the Senate's president, he is the highest-ranking state law maker in New Jersey and decides which bills come up for a vote in his chamber. His stance against the pump-your-own-gas bill — dubbed the "Motor Fueling Choice and Convenience Act" — could ultimately prevent it from becoming law.

This bill would not completely abolish full-service stations in NJ, however it would instead allow stations to offer full serve, self-serve or a combination of the two. Stations with more than four pumps would be required to have a full-service option between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Read more: NJ Self-Serve Gas Bill Is About Choice, Assemblymember Says

According to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll that was conducted two weeks ago, 73 percent of New Jerseyans said they prefer having their gas pumped for them, whereas 22 percent say they would prefer self-serve.

So, what is the reason behind proposing this bill?

Gov. Phil Murphy said adding the self-serve option could help ease the pressure on gas station employees, since there are staffing shortages statewide. This labor shortage could result in customers waiting a long time for gas if there are not enough attendants.

Some supporters of the bill also argue that allowing a self-serve option would cut the cost of gas in the state. The New Jersey Gasoline-Convenience-Automotive Association estimates stations could take off 15 cents a gallon if they're allowed to offer self-service.

However, critics say there is no guarantee stations will reduce prices even if they require less staff.

The average price for gas in NJ was $4.19 per gallon as of Tuesday, according to AAA. This is lower than the national average of $4.24.

More information about the Motor Fueling Choice and Convenience Act can be found here.