* My mom sent me a link to this story along with a note about how it was a good idea. I agree. The bill helps Illinois comply with federal law and it was supported by the gas stations. It flew through both chambers and the governor is expected to sign it…
Illinois law says service stations are required to pump gas for people with disabilities. But in order to get that help, drivers have to honk or find some other way to get the attention of an attendant.
Ann Ford, with the Centers for Independent Living, says that can lead to frustration.
FORD: “One time when I was driving back from Springfield, it took going to three different gas stations and two hours to get a tank of gas, because no one could see us.”
Ford was in the Capitol testifying in support of legislation meant to address the problem. It would require gas stations to post a direct phone number to the attendant, so people can call for assistance. Gas stations can’t charge more for the service, but there are exceptions — like if an attendant is working alone and can’t leave his or her post.
Discuss.
LIVE session coverage...
- Fair Share - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 9:51 am:
Attendants are nearly always alone.
- Frank - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:04 am:
Agree that its a good bill. However, in regards to the last item, it seems like most gas stations I go to only have one employee working at any time. Not sure this solves the problem completely.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:26 am:
Most gas stations where I live are a combination of station and convenience store with one employee. It would be hard for these places to offer an extra service like this unless they hire an extra attendant.
- Mama - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:32 am:
I believe this bill is a good idea. However, I have found 95% of gas stations downstate only have one employee working per shift so this law would not help anyone. Therefore, an amendment should be added to this bill stating gas stations shall employ more than one person unless the owner can financially prove it would be an financial hardship to do so. What legally constitutes as a financial hardship should be spelled out in this bill as well so there are no loop- holes.
- Frank - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:39 am:
I disagree with Mama.
Instead of forcing a business to hire or fire based on the off chance of a motorist with a disablity pulling up, why not make the law so that the attendant is required to lock the store (once all other customers have left) to attend to the driver?
- Anon1417 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:44 am:
Or maybe another customer could take a few minutes and pump the gas.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:47 am:
=== I have found 95% of gas stations downstate only have one employee working per shift ===
Same is true upstate.
- Ken_in_Aurora - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:48 am:
My wife is handicapped and restricted to a wheelchair. She’s had problems finding cooperative gas stations; I think this is a good law. All it’s doing is requiring contact info at the pump.
Most of her gas station problems have stemmed from cultural differences, actually.
- Anon1417 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:50 am:
I should have been more clear…my comment was in response to legislating staffing levels. I think posting the phone number is a great idea, I have seen this at Qik-N-Ez in Springfield - sure beats honking.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:57 am:
It’s a net positive, but may not have much impact as currently structured.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 10:58 am:
And kudos to Momma Miller for pointing it out.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 11:05 am:
I would think you would also have to address an attendant putting in over/under the amount of gas requested. It’s pretty hard to stop a pump at an exact amount of money or gallons.
- Geneseo Gent - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 12:02 pm:
Last I knew New jersey had a law against ANYONE pumping their own gas. Watseka has a station that pumps your gas and that’s where my Aunts buy their gas.I’m old enough to remember when an attendant would come out from under a car, wipe his hands clean with an orange rag, check the oil and tires, clean the windows, pump the gas, call a long distance number and wait for clearance to charge the purchase of $2-3 and they were making money! They were called SERVICE Stations. What does the Illinois Petroleum Markerters Association say about this problem?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 1:07 pm:
A good idea, without legislative micromanaging.
As an aside, the folks from Springfield that run those Qik N Ez stores really do a nice job of customer service. That’s the only place I have ever actually seen a worker pump gas for a person with disabilities.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 1:09 pm:
I’m old enough to remember service stations as well. I also remember not bagging my own groceries, serving as my own bank teller or wandering around a shoe store with one shoe on and one off, trying things on rather than have a salesperson bring them to me. The world has changed since we were young.
I don’t own a car and I’m not disabled, so while I like the idea behind this bill I’m not sure if it will work out because of the insane practice of having just one person working at the convenience store with the gas tanks out front. Also, not everyone, including my dad, has a cell phone. My dad has a walker and really should have someone pump gas for him, but no phone. So I guess he’s still either pumping his own gas or beeping for service.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 2:46 pm:
The phone number can be useful in telling the customer whether there is an attendant able to perform the requested service in the first place.
Not all needs can be satisfied under all conditions.
At least the legislation does not demand a $100,000 robotic fuel filler for each location.
- Just an Intern - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 3:41 pm:
This is interesting. I was an intern with the Illinois Petroleum Council in 2007 and this was being brought up then. I may have actually written a letter to the editor about it at one time.
- Quill - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 8:10 pm:
In Oregon every station has someone who can come out and pump the gas. Seems like Illinois should be thinking about jobs creation…
- Excessively Rabid - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 9:40 pm:
==In Oregon every station has someone who can come out and pump the gas. Seems like Illinois should be thinking about jobs creation… ==
Yeah, I’ve spent time in Oregon. I love having state government specify which industries are required to be inefficient.
- Excessively Rabid - Tuesday, Dec 11, 12 @ 9:41 pm:
/snark/.