For over six decades, most Oregonians have been prohibited from pumping their own gas.

But a bill passed last year and signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown allows gas stations in counties with a population less than 40,000 to have pumps that let drivers purchase and pump their own gas between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

But at least one Eastern Oregon station manager said the law, which took effect Jan. 1, has had unfortunate consequences.

Amber Smith, who manages a gas station and convenience store in Baker City, said the law frustrates her. While she agrees the limited self-service law would benefit more remote towns such as John Day or Halfway, she is seeing firsthand how the law is affecting her customers and employees.

Smith said the company has reduced staff at her store to one employee from 6 p.m. until the store closes at 10 p.m.

The employee works only in the store and can’t pump gas, since it’s self-serve only between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“It’s impacting employees because their hours have been cut,” Smith said. “Customers are getting frustrated because they are sitting in their car waiting for someone to pump their gas. Customers just aren’t ready for the change.”

Smith said it has not been an easy transition to the new law. Cash customers who are used to paying an attendant have to come inside to pay and they often have to come inside to get help from the cashier who can give instructions on refueling, but only from inside the store.

“It’s been a hassle,” she said.

Smith said many of her employees are looking for new jobs because of the reduction in their hours.

After the store closes at 10 p.m., the gas pumps are open only to credit or debit card customers until 6 a.m.

Smith doesn’t think the self-serve option is much of an advantage in Baker City.

“There are three other places in town open 24 hours where people can get their gas pumped and not have to get out of their car,” Smith said.

The Truck Corral is one of those 24-hour gas stations. Owner Kurt Miller said he doesn’t intend to offer self-serve pumps at the Truck Corral.

Miller said that if he ever upgrades his pumps to allow self service at them, he would not let any of his employees go.

“We’ll just find other things for them to do,” Miller said.

Representatives from Maverik and Jackson’s — the two other 24-hour fuel stations — could not be reached for comment.

Joe Shaffer, manager of a Chevron Food Mart, posted a sign on the station’s entrance saying self-serve gas is not available now. But that probably will change in the future, Shaffer said. The Chevron station is slated for a gas pump upgrade and Shaffer expects the new pumps will offer the self-serve option.

“I’m pretty sure when that happens, when we turn off the lights, people will be able to pump their own gas,” he said.

Shaffer said the nature of competition dictates that most gas stations will offer the after hours self-service option.

He also said attendants at the Chevron station have had more out-of-state customers recently asking if they can pump their own gas, which suggests travelers have heard about the law.

“That’s why I put up the sign,” he said. “They have always been confused about the law in Oregon.”

As with all new laws and regulations, there will be an adjustment period for customers to get used to the option of pumping their own gas — especially for Oregonians who haven’t had the option until now.

In spite of the intention of the new law, small towns in the more rural parts of Baker County might not get to reap its benefits.

It isn’t cost-effective, some small-business owners say, to upgrade their fuel pumps to handle self-serve.

Jack Helm, who owns the J&M Country Store in Huntington, was interested in adding self-service to his pumps, but the estimated $20,000 cost convinced him not to.

“I wish we could, but it’s not worth it,” Helm said.

Calvin Ransom, co-owner of Halfway Feed and Seed, which sells gas, said he likes the intent of the new law, but he too has no plans to upgrade his pumps to allow self-service. The cost is prohibitive for the minimal added gasoline sales it would generate, he said.

“When you make 20 cents per gallon on gas, you got to sell a lot of gas,” he said. “It just doesn’t pencil out.”

He said the added two or three customers a night would not pay for the expensive upgrade to his pumps. Those in an emergency situation that need gas after Halfway Feed and Seed is closed can call a number posted there.

“We’ll take care of them,” Ransom said.

Terry Vaughan, owner of the Halfway Merchantile — the only other supplier of gasoline in the town of 280 — agrees with Ransom that it’s too expensive to upgrade the gas pumps.

“It’s not worth it for the 10 or 15 extra customers in a week,” Vaughan said.

But he has another concern.

It would be easier for people to steal gas when pumps are turned on. Vaughan said there’s not much metal in the way of getting inside of the pumps to start dispensing gas. He also believes Oregon should just change the law to allow everybody to pump their own gas. He said the limited hours the new law allows aren’t adequate.

“It’s a joke,” Vaughan said.