Nanny State Nonsense

Another "good" idea from a Democrat...

Motorists filling up in this borough are allowed to pump their own gas - but only if they're supervised by an attendant.

It's been this way for three decades, ever since a motorist overfilled a car tank, sending some 50 gallons into storm sewers.

Mount Pleasant's ordinance, which requires an attendant within 15 feet of the pump, is apparently unique in Pennsylvania. A recent effort to allow self-serve gas in the borough failed, but a state legislator is pushing a bill that would require stations to offer full service.

W. Curtis Thomas, D-Philadelphia, said his bill wouldn't eliminate self-service gas pumps. The bill is still being tweaked, but Thomas said he favors offering full-service along with self-service, which he says would be helpful to the elderly and disabled.

These are the kind of nanny-state nonsensical ideas that we laugh at over-taxed and under-gunned New Jersey over.

Has Rep Thomas paid for gas lately? It's nearly $2.50 a gallon. What do you think forcing a gas station to have a babysitter or a pumper on hand going to do for the price of gas?

Any article like this needs to be replete with quotations.

I present some for your consumption.

My biggest concern as a fire chief was the overflow of gasoline which can go in the storm sewers," said [Mount Pleasant's mayor and fire chief] Gerald Lucia.

Besides the spill three decades ago, there have been other accidents, Lucia said, including one about six years ago where a trucker was pumping diesel. Even with an attendant within the required 15 feet, "I don't know how it happened ... but (the trucker) ran about 100 gallons of diesel fuel down the street," he said.

100 gallons of fuel? Me thinks this is a wee bit of hyperbole. I'm pretty sure I've never seen a pump that pumps more than a few gallons per minute. I've got an 18 gallon tank, and five minutes at the pump is not out of the question. This must've been a firehose of a pump, or the pumper (and the attendant) both dosed off.

Perhaps from the fumes.

I stick the pump in the tank all the time and wash my windows. It cuts off when the tank is full. I like to have an even amount of money on the meter (to the nearest 10 or 25 cents). I have to work to put more gas in the tank. How is a hundred gallon spill possible?

I suspect screwing around. Or huffing.

Let's continue...

One of them is Diane Pieszak, who was having her Dodge Durango filled up on Thursday.

"I don't like to pump my own gas," she said, as she was out running errands.

Her SUV Durango? I really feel for her. I mean, my heart weeps.

Drive a PRIUS. You won't need as much gas.

Unreal.

And another one..

Rachel Williams, also of Mount Pleasant said, "Having an attendant around to check my oil while pumping my gas is a great thing. Think of how it will lower the local unemployment rate."

Ok, I made that one up.

Hey.

I've got an idea.

All of those overpaid State Reps and Senators.... maybe they can start pumping gas for the elderly, the lame and indigent.

(thanks to Kathy for the tip)

We're from the government, and here to help. Posted by AlexC at August 7, 2005 9:00 PM