Violence at the Gas Pumps

One of the cheapest cities for gas in Southern California is Cypress. I don't know why, but the pricing always seems better over there, and a lot of people from neighboring cities will go there to fill up. With prices running around $4.50, patience is no longer a virtue:

CYPRESS, Calif. (AP) - Violence broke out at the gas pumps in Orange County. Police say a La Palma doctor waiting in line to buy gas at the Costco warehouse store in Cypress grabbed a tire iron and confronted a motorist who cut into the line.

Sgt. Tom Bruce said the doctor was arrested and booked for investigation of brandishing a deadly weapon in a rude, angry or threatening manner, a misdemeanor.

Witnesses told police the doctor was in line at the pumps Monday evening when another vehicle cut in front of him. When the doctor confronted the motorist with a tire iron, the other driver locked himself in his car and called police.

This reminds me of the 1974 gas crisis when I was working as a gas man for a car wash. We had odd-even gas rationing for awhile, and even if it was your day, sometimes we had to limit purchases to 10 gallons. I dealt with more than one angry patron who was either turned away because he was there on the wrong day, or got mad because I wouldn't fill his gas-guzzling V-8 car.

We're not quite to that point yet, but I can't help but feel that it's coming. And when it does, it will be rougher than what we had in 1974 because there are far fewer gas stations around these days. Back then it was no uncommon to have 3 or 4 gas stations at every major intersection. These days you have to hunt around a bit for a gas station. That will just increase the lines should shortages hit.