FULL SERVICE GAS STATIONS WOULD RETURN UNDER PROPOSED STATE LAW

A proposed state law, if passed into law, would require all gas stations to have at least one attendant available to pump gas for customers wanting full-service instead of self-service. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson
A proposed state law, if passed into law, would require all gas stations to have at least one attendant available to pump gas for customers wanting full-service instead of self-service. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

Full Service Gas Stations Would Return Under Proposed State Law

BY WENDELL HUTSON, Contributing Writer

Not since the late 1970s has Chicago had a full-service gas station, but under proposed state legislation that would change next year.

In February, state Rep. Camille Lilly (D-78th), whose district includes Austin on the West Side, introduced House Bill 4571, which would create the Gas Station Attendant Act, and require all gas stations in Illinois to have at least one attendant to assist customers, such as seniors and the disabled, pump their gas and to monitor self-service customers to ensure they are pumping their gas safely.

But Lilly said the bill would not eliminate self-service as some people feel it would if it becomes law in January 2021.

“There’s no way I would try to take away the right to pump your own gas. I just want to make sure motorists have a choice and not always have to pump their own gas if they don’t want to,” Lilly told the Citizen. “There’s a safety component to all this too, which is my main reason for sponsoring House Bill 4571. Not everyone pumps their gas in a safe manner and I want to make sure no one is hurt as a result.”

According to Lilly, gas stations are already required to have a staffer available to help the disabled with pumping gas, but “we know every gas station is probably not abiding by this mandate, so House Bill 4571 would help enforce it,” she said.

Additionally, she said there’s s huge safety issue when you allow motorists to pump their own gas, such as leaving the vehicle running while pumping gas, smoking and simply, “not paying attention when pumping gas and accidently spill gasoline on the ground.”

The bill’s language, which Lilly said would ultimately be changed because, “House Bill 4571 is not intended to pass as is,” currently states, “No gas may be pumped at a gas station in this state unless it is pumped by a gas station attendant employed at the gas station.”

Community reaction to the bill was swift by motorists and the Illinois Petroleum Marketer’s Association, a trade association that represents the gasoline industry.

“I prefer to pump my own gas because I have trust issues,” said Veronica Shafffer, 25. “Maybe when it’s cold outside, it might be a good idea to have someone from the gas station pump your gas, but for me, I’ve been pumping gas my whole life and I don’t see any point in stopping now.”

And while Shaffer is too young to remember gas station attendants, Deloris Flowers, 77, said she remembers all too well.

“I didn’t like it then and I certainly wouldn’t like it now. Back then, those attendants pretended like they are mechanics and tried to fix any small thing wrong on your vehicle for a few bucks on the side,” recalled Flowers. “But all they did was make a bad situation worse and I fear that is what would happen if this so-called proposal becomes law.”

One concern industry experts have about the proposed legislation is gasoline prices surging.

“The price for full service was always more, that’s just the cost of doing business. You have to add labor costs into the price, so the prices are going to go up when you mandate everyone offer or require full service gas,” said Josh Sharp, a spokesman with the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association. “I’m happy to work with Representative Lilly toward some kind of solution if this is what she wants to do, but the way that the bill is drafted now we have to oppose.”

But not everyone is against paying more at the pump for full-service.

Arthur Norris, 83, said he would love to see the ‘glory days’ return when pumping gas was someone else’s job.

“Man, I would give anything to have someone else pump my gas and wash my windows like it used to be back in the day,” said Norris. “Back then, an attendant would pump your gas, check your engine oil and wash your windows. Of course this was back when all gas gauges were behind the rear license plate.”

Pumping gas was a part-time job for Bruce Boyd, 86, in 1971 when he worked at the now defunct Patterson Brothers Gas Station at 103rd and Prairie Avenue in Roseland.

“Yeah, that was my side hustle back then and I made good money,” recalled Boyd. “I say bring back the attendants and let’s create some jobs for the community.”

Job creation is another reason for sponsoring the bill, Lilly said.

“House Bill 4571 could potentially create jobs that impact the local economy,” she added. “The input we receive is very valuable to help shape House Bill 4571 into legislation the people of Illinois desire.

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