MAJOR'S MESSAGE

FUELING A DEBATE

Picture this scene: you pull up to a pump at a gas station. The attendant comes up to the driver's side and asks you how much fuel you want to purchase for your car. You tell him, and he goes around the car, fills it up with the needed fuel and then comes to the driver's side again to get paid. That was the normal scenario for those of us who are legally not allowed to pump our own gas.

These days, those attendants rarely come to the driver's side to service your car, and that is a very dangerous fact of today's life. Often, a rude fist bangs on the passenger's side window or a hand shoves it's way inside the passenger window to grab the money. This is not only unacceptable, but can lead to some frightening results. Here are three incidents that resulted from such conduct on the part of the attendants:

1. An attendant who pushed his hand into the passenger side when no passenger was in the seat stole a woman's purse.
2. A dog bit an attendant who did not heed the warning not to come to the passenger's side.
3. An attendant who had designs on collecting more than just money physically accosted a woman in the passenger seat.

Be aware that it should NOT be okay for any attendant to come to the passenger's side of your automobile for the purpose of collecting money from the driver of the car. This protects both of you from everything from a lawsuit to personal bodily harm. Remember that the next time you are anywhere where an attendant is helping you. Safety first!