If I was getting paid $10 a hour I wouldn't stop anyone from stealing anything.

I think it will hurt gas stations as I think people will seek out gas stations that have pay at the pump. If people pay at the pump they are less likely to go inside and buy overpriced junk food.

I don't understand the problem. If you aren't already paying at the pump haven't you always had to go inside at some point anyway? What difference does it make if you go in before or after?

Good point realitysetsin and I agree.
This will spell the end of full service as we know it,where you don't have to get out of the car.
It also slows everything down as well.I noticed some fairly congested gas stations today and there did seem to be some confusion.
I think it will hurt the stations overall, and it could also cause some layoffs.

I for one don't use the ESSO here because they don't have a pay-at-the-pump. I'll go to the Petro-Can where they do. I won't leave my Credit card in the care of a minimum wage person while I go for a fill up. If that is the way they want it, they will lose money unless they put in the pay pumps.

I dont use any of them get my gas at a commercial pump at 5 cents a litre cheaper and no hassle.

This is another ploy that allows the gas companys to get us to do their work and pay them for it.

Someone gets killed in Vancouver for doing something he probably shouldnt have done and because of collusion between the gas companys, worksafe BC and some saftey nurds every driver in BC is effected. What a pile of crap. Someone falls off a bike and cracks their skull, and every Canadian has to wear a helmut. (Except Siekhs), Natives, and the poverty groups who are required to wear them but never do, nor do they get charged.

Some people unfortunately get shot in Montreal and every Canadian gun owner is penalized.

You better hope that someone doesnt beat somebody to death with a frozen salmon, or
we will no longer be able to buy fish.

Canadians are under read, easily led, over fed, and politically active dead.

Eeww ouch. Well I guess this is where we have stop and think where to pick our battles. I'd rather battle over the price of gas and not before or after I pump do I pay.
I don't see the big hassle as gas stations are only good for purchasing gas and not stale junk food or 10.00 for a jug of milk :) like mentioned above. There are more important things to stress about in this world I guess. It's nice knowing that workers at gas stations will have one less thing to worry about. With the variety of different people they already have to deal with hopefully this will make things easier on a daily basis for them??? I don't know I guess we'll have to try it and see.

uyter>>>> If you can leave your credit card with the attendent without having it processed before you pump, they are doing it wrong. EVERY gas purchase must be payed for before one drop of fuel is dispensed. As far as making things easier, once everyone stopd bitching at the attends, the sooner things will be easier

This will mean a few less more gas station employees as they surely wont be able to pay them when their instore traffic is going to be cut in probobly more than half.

I would think the logical next step would be to eliminate the gas station attendant all together (in the smaller gas stations) by automating the entire process of selling gasoline, oil, and snack foods.

Ben and Elaine. Could you please consider having one continuously running "wild card" (general topic) post section on your home page.

If you had something like this, the following is what I would have posted on it today.

I noticed today there were several signs posted around town advertising an "Are you concerned about the air quality in Prince George" public meeting/rally, scheduled for Saturday (tomorrow) at the Inn of the North from 9 AM to 4 PM. (I think I have the date and time correct.)

Does anyone in Opinion.250 land know anything about this. I did not see this event advertised in today's newspaper, or discussed recently on this web site.

Yes, Charles you have it correct. Something we all need to support.

I am amazed at the statment made by uyterlindkel that he would not leave his credit card with a minimum wage person. There are millions of low wage people out there[my Grandson included] who I would trust completely with not only my credit card but also my life. What a slap in the face.

One bozo steals gas and kills someone, so now the rest of the province are potential thieves and killers? I hope no one gets run over or hurt by a full unpaid shopping cart full of .....oh, never mind.

and there are millions out there I wouldnt trust with a 5 dollar bill. Ive seen some crazy bad stuff happen in this city alone to not have much faith in the human race. Very recently too!

it is supposed to make it safer for employees, so be it if everyone is so woorried about having to do it here are some pay at the pumps i know, Mrg in the Hart, and 15th & central, and on Gauthier Road, Petro Canada @ 5th and Carney, and Husky in the BCR site, if anyone knows where else. Lets remember most of us work in jobs where it is probably to inconvienent to rob us, but a gas station isnt. You got cars and money , all realitavley at hand so of course the scumbags of society will exploit this mater and ruin it for everyone else, but I do support this because its all about keeping employees safe

This law is not to protect workers from death or injury but to prevent the theft of oil companies products.
The oil companies hypocrisy would be all to obvious being as they ve been stealing from the consumer.
It is shameful using this young mans death to increase profit.

I'd like to see a reduction in the price of gas, since I'm now doing all the work when I fill my car up.

I agree that this is just oil companies exploiting the death of an attendent that did what he was not paid to do in the first place, and was killed in the process. Nobody has ever said the attendents should put their life in harms way for collection of payment. Part of the problem is that the police will no longer respond to gas-&-runs, so the solution is to make all guilty until proven innocient. I think stations where you can not pay at the pump will suffer the most for the fill-up customers.

How often does one walk out of a restaurant without paying? I bet it is more frequent than people driving away from gas stations without paying. I do not know whether anyone ever pursued such an individual. I was sitting in a downtown sushi bar in Vancouver a while ago when this happened around 9 pm. One of the staff went running after them (there were 3 patrons) butdid not catch them. COuld have gotten himslef knifed or shot or beaten up if he had caught them I would think.

So, we should be paying as we order based on that thinking.

I am wondering what made the gas station lobby that strong. Probably less resistance than the restaurant situation.

Remember, the cards gets swiped at a hotel, car rental, etc.

I have had a preference for pumps that will accept cards. Drive up, swipe the card, fill up, drive off. As convenient as it can get other than having a car be able to run on solar panels like toy cars.

--------------------------------
Someone said: "I think it will hurt the stations overall" ...??

I am not sure how. The total amount of gas used in PG or BC is hardly going to be reduced. It looks like some are reducing staff as a result. Maybe some will now have to get new pumps that allow payment at the pump.

I agree with Charles, it would be nice to have a "wild card" section. In fact, there is one called "letter to the editor" under "views". There is not text box, however. There used to be, but they may have had problems with monitoring it.

Some municipalities and some states have laws in place that only allow full serve stations and their prices are similar to self serve in neighbouring areas. These laws are in place for safety reasons. I wish they would have enacted a law B.C. wide demanding full serve. We could stay in the car and there would be more jobs for students etc.

This whole thing could be solved, almost totally , if the service stations, installed the automated pumpps.
But they are so worrid that we won't go into their fair establishments and spend money on the other stuff.
Money over customer satisfaction I suppose.
And as usual money wins....
I am looking for the automated pump, and those stations will get my service........

Palpou, look out for the black helicopters hovering over you. It seems that you are hung up on the conspiracy theory for a lot of things!
Don't you think people are safer wearing helmuts, seatbelts etc.? I think that the pay before you pump should have happened long ago, although maybe just evenings. How do you figure it is collusion?

Everyone, give the DePaties a break. They want at least one positive to come out of the death of their son. Perhaps this is it. How long does it take to go into the station and pay for your gas? Maybe 2 1/2 minutes. What is the big deal? It wasn't the gas companies that initiated this. Also, it doesn't matter if a person is making $10.00 per hour or $50.00 per hour a life is worth a lot more than that. I have been paying at the pump ever since Petro-can put these pumps in. I like it a whole lot better than running inside all the time. For the people that feel they have to have cash, maybe you should join the 21st century and get a debit card.

Papalou,

I have to take you to task on your comments about bike helmets. There is nothing in the amendment about Sikhs or natives nor people in poverty. There is an exemption for religious headgear, but I do believe that does not specify one group in particular.

Honestly, if your going to be a racist at least try being a little more subtle about it.

All gas stations have had ample time to install PAY AT THE PUMP pumps. They have also made billions in profits to afford to make the changes. On most credit card agreements, you are not covered for fraud if you leave your credit card with someone unobserved. As far as I'm concerned it's the big oil companies that pushed this law through.

Where are the statistics to back up pay before you pump. It's unfortunate that Grant was killed over a few bucks worth of gas, but maybe the stations owner should have been charged as well for docking employees pay for the gas and dashes, the employees don't get paid enough as it is.

What is protecting the attendant in the store for cash robberies from the till, or shoplifting for that matter? Nothing! It's the big oils preciuous gas and profits.

Pretty soon we will have to pre pay before you go grocery shopping. What a crock!

Dear 'Bitter', Don't be offended. I'm not accusing all minimum wage holder of theft. I have heard satistically 80% of CC theft happends at gas bars and restaurants, therefore I will not let mine out of my sight. And I'm a her!

I agree with the argument against this law based on some kid's genius idea to stop a fleeing car by standing in front of it. That's like a bank teller jumping in front of a firing gun during a bank robbery.

However, if you don't like that idea, there is the argument that with the runaway increases in gas prices, there are a lot more gas and runs these days than there ever used to be. It was due to come today or tomorrow, the stations are losing a lot of money to this.

I would have preferred to see "Grant's Law" revolve around the idea that it is criminal to recover your business losses from your employees. That would have been more fitting.

In any event, it has been like this stateside for many years, it was due to come sooner or later.

The idea behind self-service originally, was you would save a couple of cents over someone doing the pumping.
Most places now charge the same whether you do it or not, so we know who won that round!
I also expect to see fewer stations with someone actually putting the gas in your car because if you have to get out anyway,you might as well do it yourself.
Goodbye so called full service.
Somebody earning minimum wage will no doubt be out of work.
I respect the reasoning by the family behind Grants Law, but I still think it played right into the oil companies hands...as usual!
Service stations in general are a bunch of lying thieves, same as the oil companies,because it is not nearly as low profit as they like to tell us.
If it was,they wouldn't be in business.
I know a guy on the island with an Esso self-serve and believe me,he is doing very well thankyou!
And no way in the world should they be able to make the employee pay for a gas and dash,that's just plain sleazy.
Funny how none of this crap ever benefits the employees?
The scam goes on.

Reasonableman. Do you have any idea of the circumstances regarding Grants death? Doesn't look like it. Usually you just seem to parrot whatever opinion Meisner has on an issue. For someone who always yammers on about being a trained investigator you sure don't seem to gather any information further than the local media. Unlike those that post here, Grant's family have tried to make a difference. If your lazy asses are inconvenienced a little then tfb..

Reb2b and Howard P Stern.

Nothing racist here except your overly active minds. Firstly I agree that it is religious headgear that is exempt, however I beleive this headgear is mainly Sikhs.

Insofar as the natives and low income poverty people go, my point is that these people ride bikes day in and day out all year and never wear a helmut. You can see them everyday and so do the police, however they are never charged, and therefore by extension are exempt from the law.

We should have the freedom to buy and pay for a product as we see fit, and should not be subjected to laws put into effect for individuals, worksafe bc, or the oil companies. Its a matter of individual freedom.

In Vancouver the attendents are locked into thier vestibules and you pay through the window. Late at night you rather than the attendent becomes the target so what have you gained.

Of course their was collusion between the Government, worksafe BC, and the oil companies, how else would they get this legislation through so quickly.

Its not black helicopters that this country has to worry about, its blank minds, blindly doing whatever they are told without looking at the consequences.
Each time you pass one of these assine laws that are always touted **for the better good of all concerned** you lose a basic freedom. Eventually you will lose them all, then what?

"Do you have any idea of the circumstances regarding Grants death?"

Yes, I do. It was horrible. It was also needless.


"Grant's family have tried to make a difference."

I understand that, and my heart goes out to them for their loss. They are trying to make something good come out of a really bad situation.

I just happen to not feel this is the perfect tribute to a kid who tried to do the right thing.

On that 'A' channel from Edmonton they interviewed a gas station attendant to ask if he thought they needed a similar law in Edmonton, his response..

"If you think I am going to try and stop someone from stealing gas you have something coming. I'd tell him to give me 20% in exchange for telling the police he was a 9' tall Mexican"

How does one go from talking about pre-paying for gas to all the way about talking about racism? Is that something of a stretch or what? Speaking of racism, I think I will
push my self away from my computer and go and do something that reqires some thinking. See ya.

Harb, how is that racism?

It isn't racism. But just the the fact that the word racism crept into this chat. What that has to do with pumping yer own gas is beyond me.