Historically, self-service was banned in many states throughout the country. The first ban was passed in Indiana in 1930. By 1948, nine states had outlawed self-service. (Thank you George!)

“In 1968, only 27 states allowed the self-service dispensing of gasoline, and some of those states required that attendants be standing by.”

By 1977, every state except for New Jersey and Oregon had removed their bans on self-service gasoline

In their list of public interest reasons why self-service is banned, the state of Oregon includes everything from gas being a flammable liquid and fire hazard, to the dangers of crime, to Oregon’s uniquely adverse weather causing wet pavement, to preventing discrimination against lower-income individuals, to small children being unsafe when left alone (Oregon State Legislature 2021). Scott (2007) writes, “Full-service gasoline station laws were first enacted because of safety concerns. Pumping gasoline was more dangerous when pumps had few fail-safes.”

https://www.independent.org/tir/2023-24-winter/pumping-gas-and-siphoning-rents/