headlights on at servo = security threat?

SlikedTurb · 03-03-2008, 10:18 AM

last night we were ducking down to port Melb to get a bit of tucker, i was low on juice so i decided to go down to the shell on the West Gate to fill up. I always have my headlight switch on Auto. because the Mrs was with me i left the keys in so she could listen to the radio (which also leaves lights on.) i started filling the car up, got $2.48 worth and the pump stopped. went inside lined up to tell the attendant the pump had stopped. he tells me to turn my lights off.
so i ask "why?"
he says "it's a security risk."
told me that the rule has been in place for 12 months.

anyway, has anybody else heard of this?
maybe someone in the know can shed some light on it.
Cheers.

exrtnz · 03-03-2008, 10:25 AM

Sounds weird, maybe they have made up there rules, ive never had a problem although only sometimes leave my lights on.

Fev · 03-03-2008, 10:41 AM

security risk? Wtf? never heard of it

2002xr6 · 03-03-2008, 10:44 AM

It may make it hard for the cameras to see your license plate?

Lightning Strike GT · 03-03-2008, 10:48 AM

Go and pay the 2.48 and tell then to get stuffed and take your business else where security risk my wobbly butt.
There was a Caltex near us that brought in the pay before you fill up between 7pm and 5am needless to say it lasted a few months as every one went to the Shell 2 stops down even when the fuel was a few C cheaper it was always empty of a night time and now it has turned into another brand of servo

blueoval · 03-03-2008, 10:49 AM

security? from what? I would have thought it would be better to have more light than not. Did the attendant give an explanation as to why? Is this an australia wide rule? Sounds like bollocks to me.

SlikedTurb · 03-03-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

security? from what? I would have thought it would be better to have more light than not. Did the attendant give an explanation as to why? Is this an australia wide rule? Sounds like bollocks to me.

i asked him, he said he couldn't tell me why.
doesn't sound right to me.

XR8putts · 03-03-2008, 10:55 AM

I've been informed to turn my lights off, next time. She was nice about it and didn't feed me any 'security risk' rubbish. She just said her bosses are inforcing this nowadays (and that it has always been a rule!) and they have to let customers know not to do it next time. Meh, they must have their reasons.

Boosh Brus · 03-03-2008, 10:56 AM

The attendant at my local servo writes down all the number plates on a little notepad. I assume this is so if anyone does a runner they have the details. Maybe with your lights on they cant read the plate.

Buddy 1 · 03-03-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlikedTurb

i asked him, he said he couldn't tell me why.
doesn't sound right to me.

Having spent some time working in a Servo when I was a young Fella the reason you should turn your lights off when in a servo is a safety issue with all the Fuel vapours around at headlight height which could be caused to ignite by your headlights.

Have you not ever taken notice of signs at Fuel Depots or on some Tankers saying to turn off headlights or no naked lights etc...

Though these days with many people not paying for their Fuel is also a security risk Coz is harder to see your Numberplate.

blueoval · 03-03-2008, 11:00 AM

arent the service desks parallel with the pumps? the headlights wouldnt be in the attendants face would they?

Or is that they want to get your plate in the video camera clearly incase there are people who dont pay?

KBBossedXR · 03-03-2008, 11:03 AM

This is the Country we live in today. This rule would have been made up by some person who sits in an office and doesnt even go to petrol stations as someone else puts petrol in there car for them.
What they would have done is looked at the amount of people that had stolen petrol and noticed that there might have been cars with headlights on.
New rule introduced no cars allowed to fill up with headlights on, thats how it works today.
A bit like Father Christmas not being allowed to say HO HO HO anymore cause it might offend woman.
And the AFL not allowed to have practice shots for goal before the game once the 5 minute siren goes due to some injuries in the crowd, if your going to go to the footy and want to sit behind the goals expect the ball to come your way or stay home and watch it on TV.

This is completely of topic but its on the radio now and this always gets me, i think its the same people that make up these statistics that make up the rules we have to live with. There talking about the population on average every family has 1.8 children but they would prefer 2.3 children. I dont know about you but where do you get a .8 or .3 of a child from you either have 1 child or you have 2 children.

Back on topic i've had my whinge

jcxr · 03-03-2008, 11:08 AM

2 reasons. 1st is they would automatically think the engines running, ready for a getaway. 2nd is glare, not enabling camera recognition.

**Sorted** · 03-03-2008, 11:13 AM

Prob becuase you had your Fog lights on as well as everyone hates those people who drive around with their Fog lights on when its not FOGGY!!!!

:

SlikedTurb · 03-03-2008, 11:15 AM

just rang both, Coles express customer care and the actual service station i was at. they both told me that it was because of the camera not picking up the rego, which is fair enough. i asked the manager why they don't have signs at the pump and he said because the company won't let them

:

SlikedTurb · 03-03-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRHEMI

Prob becuase you had your Fog lights on as well as everyone hates those people who drive around with their Fog lights on when its not FOGGY!!!!

:

na, i didn't actually. because i hate it too.

bangm001 · 03-03-2008, 11:21 AM

MAybe he just thought that u were a shady character.. ;-)

blueoval · 03-03-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangm001

MAybe he just thought that u were a shady character.. ;-)

The only shady characters in my book are the fuel companies. :togo:

Buddy 1 · 03-03-2008, 11:48 AM

Even after I told you Guys the correct reason you still try to find others :P

28 years ago it was a general rule for safety & we had no Cameras back then or even many Drive Outs for that matter, is nothing new.

blueoval · 03-03-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddy 1

Even after I told you Guys the correct reason you still try to find others :P

28 years ago it was a general rule for safety & we had no Cameras back then or even many Drive Outs for that matter, is nothing new.

Its news to me. pity they didnt continue to advertise it as you drove in. otherwise yes, it would be old news.

woodsy109 · 03-03-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henry_buckle

The attendant at my local servo writes down all the number plates on a little notepad. I assume this is so if anyone does a runner they have the details. Maybe with your lights on they cant read the plate.

When I worked at a servo I always had a notepad with number plates written down. It just stops you worrying about knobs driving off without paying while you are not watching.

Man I have some stories from that place...Like the time a man of aboriginal decent climbed out the window of the EF falcon because his "central locking was broken". Sure it was! I sat there and chatted with him to ensure he paid for his fuel then called the cops with the number plate and directions he was headed. The next night I heard that they picked him up and the car was stolen.

Also if you see an attendant walk past you while filling up and check something like the squeegy bucket, then they probably think you look dodgy and are mentally storing your number plate and description. The camera's in every servo i've worked at have been useless for capturing numberplates so the attendants have to do these sort of things to make sure people pay.

flappist · 03-03-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddy 1

Having spent some time working in a Servo when I was a young Fella the reason you should turn your lights off when in a servo is a safety issue with all the Fuel vapours around at headlight height which could be caused to ignite by your headlights.

Have you not ever taken notice of signs at Fuel Depots or on some Tankers saying to turn off headlights or no naked lights etc...

Though these days with many people not paying for their Fuel is also a security risk Coz is harder to see your Numberplate.

But hang on, it is a spark that ignites not the low level of heat in a headlight (that you can touch when it is going).
So the most dangerous time would be when you turn the lights on and there is an instant current spike before the filiment heats. Leave your lights on for safety.

Or what about leaving the engine going, lots of spark there. Bloody ford are tring to kill us all, they actually put an electric fuel pump in petrol.

Each year hundreds of thousands of people are killed or injured by petrol stations exploding from mobile phones, headlights, smokers, CB radios and secret anti petrol attendant devices.

www.mythbusters.com

4Vman · 03-03-2008, 01:22 PM

I was out walking in Brisbane last year and took a short cut through the outskirts of a servo while i was on my mobile and the young attendant shut the whole system off while about 4 people were filling up and screamed over the PA to hang up immediately.... she ran out and started to abuse me because i was about to blow the whole joint up...

:

XW 393 · 03-03-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

But hang on, it is a spark that ignites not the low level of heat in a headlight (that you can touch when it is going).
So the most dangerous time would be when you turn the lights on and there is an instant current spike before the filiment heats. Leave your lights on for safety.

Or what about leaving the engine going, lots of spark there. Bloody ford are tring to kill us all, they actually put an electric fuel pump in petrol.

Each year hundreds of thousands of people are killed or injured by petrol stations exploding from mobile phones, headlights, smokers, CB radios and secret anti petrol attendant devices.

www.mythbusters.com

Thank you, I couldnt work out how to say what I thought !

SiKoRa_eL_97 · 03-03-2008, 01:32 PM

^^^^ hahaha

blueoval · 03-03-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I was out walking in Brisbane last year and took a short cut through the outskirts of a servo while i was on my mobile and the young attendant shut the whole system off while about 4 people were filling up and screamed over the PA to hang up immediately.... she ran out and started to abuse me because i was about to blow the whole joint up...

:

hahaha, that would have been funny to see. I guess she didnt see that episode of myth busters did she...

Yaw · 03-03-2008, 01:34 PM

What a lot of you guys fail to realise is that service stations are a private buisness, They CAN make up thier own rules if they wish. They CAN refuse service for any reason they like. Ifyou are told to leave the premisis you ARE then tresspassing. Just because a business is open to the public does not change that they are a private property.

So if they want to refuse service until you have complied with one of thier rules they have that right to do so. This does not automatically mean it is good buisness sense to do so but it is thier right.

Pinkbits · 03-03-2008, 01:54 PM

Slightly off topic.
I put $30 in the coupe at BP in Lyndhurst Vic and paid with a new $100 note.
The attendant took the note and was fumbling around on the counter, then crouches down behind the counter and says to me "i just have to check it". I sarcastically replied "don't worry mate it's all there".
I said to him, "have a look at that car out there, do you think i would be so stupid to hand over a counterfeit note driving a car that obvious"
All he said was "company policy". Can someone confirm this?
Probably never seen one before.

4Vman · 03-03-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

hahaha, that would have been funny to see. I guess she didnt see that episode of myth busters did she...

funny you say that, After i politely told her to "go forth and multiply" i suggested she view the appropriate episode of mythbusters, that is after attending a basic customer service course first......

blueoval · 03-03-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

funny you say that, After i politely told her to "go forth and multiply" i suggested she view the appropriate episode of mythbusters, that is after attending a basic customer service course first......

and fair enough too. BTW I wasnt having a go at you mate, just the situation and how this girl handled. Im sure you would have been startled to say the least.