If you've ever noticed that some gas pumps in New York let you fuel up hands-free while others don't, the reason lies in a decades-old fire safety regulation.
New York’s fire code restricts the use of hold-open clips — small latches that let drivers release the handle during fueling — at most gas stations. State Senator Joe Griffo of Rome is pushing to lift those restrictions, arguing the rule is outdated and inconvenient.
Griffo says the issue came up after constituents raised concerns during this past winter’s extreme cold, when standing outside to manually pump gas became a hardship.
New York is the only state that still bans widespread use of hold-open clips. Griffo’s proposed legislation would allow all gas stations to install them, aligning the state with national standards.
