Trenton, NJ - May Drop Ban on Self-Service Gas Stations

Trenton, NJ - If Gov. Jon S. Corzine has his way, drivers may soon be in for a cultural about-face. Mr. Corzine proposed that the state lift its self-serve ban as part of a package of transportation proposals on carpooling, mass transit and enforcement, intended to cushion residents from rising gasoline prices. And while he cautioned that his proposal was just a pilot program that would be limited to perhaps three months, he said that self-serve gasoline could save drivers about 5 or 6 cents a gallon, if properly handled.

"We think it's a responsible thing to do," he said. "If we can enforce the pass-through and we can mainstream that over a period of time, then it would be permanent and broadly applied throughout the state."

The proposal would first be tested on the New Jersey Turnpike, where 8 of the 12 rest areas will be equipped with credit-card readers at the pumps by Memorial Day, said Kris Kolluri, the state's transportation commissioner. And since many drivers are from out of state, they would be familiar with the procedure.