Cheaper, 'Self-Serve' Prices At 78 NJ Gas Stations In Bid To Offer Option At Pump

NEW JERSEY — Seventy-eight gas stations throughout New Jersey will offer lower, "self-serve" prices on Friday. The discounts are part of a campaign to push state lawmakers to add self-service options at the pump. (See participating gas stations below.)

The initiative was organized by Fuel Your Way NJ — a coalition "comprised of business and industry organizations" that advocates for New Jersey to allow drivers to pump their own gas while maintaining full-service stations.

The Fuel Your Way NJ Self-Serve Day of Awareness is designed to show the public how much they could save if New Jersey allowed customers to pump their own gas, according to organizers. State lawmakers introduced a measure in March that would add self-service options to stations, but the Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act has stalled in the General Assembly.

• From March 3: NJ Self-Serve Gas Bill Is About Choice, Assemblymember Says

Discounts will vary at each station, since every business has costs on expenses such as labor, according to Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store and Automotive Association — a group of small-business owners that have advocated for self-service legislation.

"Members have estimated to us previously that the cost per gallon of labor ranges between 7 and 23 cents," Risalvato told Patch. "Each location will determine how much discount they will offer for the day on Friday."

New Jersey is the lone state with no self-service option. Current state law, which came into effect in 1949, says it is in the public interest for station attendants to pump gas, to reduce fire hazards. Anyone who violates state law can be fined $50-250 for a first offense, and no more than $500 for further violations.

The Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act would maintain full-service options at each station, while giving consumers the choice to pump their own gas. Under the bill, disabled drivers can still have their gas pumped at the lower, self-serve price.

But critics of the bill have argued that adding a self-service option won't lower prices.

"Many states over the years have started down the path of offering a self-service option at gas stations, only to eventually take away that option, and make self-service mandatory," said State Sen. Jim Holzapfel (R-10). "This bill will eventually do the same — it will lead to a permanent establishment of self-service gas stations in New Jersey."

But Fuel Your Way NJ claims surveys have shown that implementing a self-service option would save drivers 15 cents or more per gallon.

Gas prices continue to climb in New Jersey, even as profits soar for oil and gas companies. The average cost of gas in New Jersey rose to $4.50 per gallon Thursday — higher than the average one week ago ($4.31), a month ago ($4.08) and a year ago ($3.04).

"With the cost of gas prices continuing to rise, it’s taking a bigger and bigger bite out of people’s wallets," Risalvato said. "We want the public to know that one of the quickest ways we can reduce gas prices is to allow gas stations the ability to offer self-serve in New Jersey."

Here are the participating gas stations:

Bergen County:

Camden County:

Cape May County:

Essex County:

Gloucester County:

Hudson County:

Hunterdon County:

Mercer County:

Middlesex County:

Monmouth County:

Morris County:

Ocean County:

Passaic County:

Somerset County:

Union County: