Is it just me or is this new law that you MUST pre-pay for your gas before you pump it incredibly stupid?

I got some gas in Logan Lake the other day and wanted to fill both tanks in the pick-up truck that I was driving. Since it wasn't my truck, I had no idea how much it would cost to fill it. They wouldn't let me give them my credit card to hold and make the charge after I pumped the gas. I had to charge $200 to my card, pump the gas ($96 or so), then do a refund for the $200, and finally, charge the actual amount.

I had to tell myself repeatedly that it wasn't the gas attendant's fault, and "going off" on them wouldn't solve anything.

According to the ad that they're running on the radio, it's supposed to be safer for gas attendants because they don't have to chase after people who leave without paying. Um......why would they chase someone stealing gas? Just get the license number and phone the police.

I think that this is actually a plot to do away with the gas attendant jobs and replace them all with automatic pumps.

I don't think it's stupid, but I do feel that the stations knew for several months that this change was coming into effect. Then they should be prepared for the change. I know of a few places that are waiting for the right pumps to come in.

One place in Kamloops is still letting you pump before you pay because they are waiting for the pumps and don't want to incovenience the customer, which is nice.

I think this is a ploy to take away jobs from the gas station attendants. First they got rid of full serve, now they're removing the need to have attendants at all by making it so inconvenient for people to not pay at the pump.
Honestly, who the heck wants to go in, pay, then go back for your change. I like to fill my tank, which means I never know how much gas I'm going to get.
Maybe we should all make the move to only getting gas at full serve stations and save the jobs of gas attendants.

Hey Jippy, I don't think the politicians who make the laws give a carp about the unskilled labour jobs. I think it was just a misguided attempt to get some good press. I heard the ads too on the radio saying it was safer for the gas jockeys. Now when you want to steal gas you have to go in and threaten the jockey, pump, then leave, rather than just pump and run.

It just seems like it's a stupid law for no reason, which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so damn annoying to everyone.

I disagree. It always take an innocent death before a law is changed. I for one don't mind the extra minute it takes me to walk into the booth to pay for my gas and go. If its gonna save some poor kid's life, I'm for it. Now the next step is to lock down the booths after 9:00 so that you can only pay by shoving your money through a small opening in a window. That way,the jockeys are safe no matter what. Good law-too bad someone had to die.