Pay before you pump rules come into effect across Alberta Friday

HAMDI ISSAWI
May 31, 2018
StarMetro Edmonton

EDMONTON—When it comes to filling up at the pumps, pay-and-go is the way to go according to a new provincial safety measure that takes effect Friday.

On June 1, occupational health and safety rules will require all gas stations in Alberta to obtain fuel payment in advance to prevent gas-and-dash incidents that put station workers at risk.

Sean Allard, an attendant at an Edmonton Husky station, hopes the new prepay gas rules will prevent theft and reduce risk for convenience and gas station workers. 

According to the provincial government, fuel thefts rose between 2011 and 2015. The Alberta Association of Police Chiefs reported more that 4,000 incidents in 2015 alone, which works out to about 12 fuel thefts a day in Alberta. In the last four years, there have been five deaths connected to gas thefts. 

Last year, Ki Yun Jo, 54, was hit and killed outside his Fas Gas in Thorsby by someone who drove off without paying.

Prepay pumps have become the norm at many gas stations in the province, but the new measures won’t require stations to upgrade their pumps to accept advance payment.

There are still gas stations without the pay-at-the-pump technology. At a 24-hour Husky station in Boyle Street, a neighbourhood in central Edmonton, the lot is populated with older pumps where customers still fill first then pay during the day.

In lieu of prepay pumps, current policy requires customers to pay attendants inside the store when gas theft is most common, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Under the new rules, that policy will be in place 24/7.

Station attendant Sean Allard has only worked there for a year, but said he has seen his fair share of gas-and-dashes, which happen about once a month according to his estimates.

Allard said he is in favour of the new rules if they improve employee safety, but only time will tell if they reduce theft.

“If this works, and this reduces gas theft and possible injuries and death, then by all means,” Allard said. “But if there is little to no change, then I guess there has to be another step.”

He doesn’t expect much protest when the rules take effect, since many of the station’s regulars have come to expect similar measures, which are already in effect for half of the day.

“I’m pretty sure they’re used to prepay,” he said. “Its just the fact that now they have to walk into the store and pay for the gas then go back outside.” 

In addition to asking customers to prepurchase their gas, convenience stores will also beef up violence prevention policies measures, which include limiting overnight quantities of cash, tobacco products and lottery tickets on site. All stores will also have video surveillance.