oh well! (kaboom), No Audi Content

["Christopher J. Ritchie" <cjr1@gte.net>]

Some years ago (70s, 80s), at a self-service gasoline station on
Commonwealth Avenue in the Brighton section of Boston, a thief filled his
tank late at night and hurriedly drove off without paying.  Or waking the
attendant who slept for hours during and after this.  The pump had been
locked on to pump without a human hand holding it.  When the nozzle came
out of the car's tank fill and hit the ground, it continued to pump
gasoline at full volume for many hours until this situation was discovered.
 The station was high on a hill and in a heavily populated residential
area.  Thousands of gallons of gasoline drained into the street catch basin
("sewer").  It then spread throughout the street drain pipes in the
neighborhood.  It did not explode or catch fire.  But boy, was the Fire
Department worried for a while! 

I have not seen those devices which allow unattended pumping on gasoline
pump nozzles at self-serve stations anywhere for some time now.  I do see
language on the pump hose which states something to the effect that it will
separate and shut off if it is pulled (Such as when someone inadvertently
drives off with the nozzle in the car's gasoline fill.).