Gas Rationing Day 1: Has it Made A Difference Yet?

Gas rationing is here. How’s it going?

Several stations on Coney Island Avenue remain closed (such as Avenue I and Beverley Road) but the Hess on 18th Avenue, the Mobil on Slocum and the Shell on Foster Avenue are all operational. Lines of cars have stretched several blocks from each of the stations but seem to be moving at least a bit faster than in previous days.

Thanks to the Mayor’s orders, only cars with license plates ending in odd numbers or a letter can get buy gas today. That hasn’t stopped even-numbered cars from trying to swing in and get gas.

The police are out enforcing the rules at most of the stations. Although an even-numbered car was able to sweet talk one cop at Hess, the next cop in line shrugged off the driver’s attempts at sweet-talk. She shook her head at her less strict colleague and, after 90 seconds of futile begging, the driver left the line without filling up.

The consensus from New Jersey seems to be that the rule takes several days to have a big positive effect on gas station lines. New Jersey began enforcing this rule last week and has much shorter lines for gas today.

Have you noticed improvements at the gas station today? Where have you found the shortest lines?