Long Islanders might notice a peculiarity in the Town of Huntington as they look to fuel up: They're not allowed to do it themselves.

The town is one of a few places left in the country where a ban on self-service gas dispensing still exists. And that fuels a couple of questions: Why, and will it ever change here?

Self-service gas stations have been prohibited in the town since at least the 1970s, according to town officials. It happened because local officials at the time were concerned about consumers skimming gas from pumps. Later, in the 1980s, the fire marshal added his own concerns about safety, town officials said, and the ban has remained untouched.

Since then, "So much has changed in technology and in fire safety," said Kevin Beyer, vice president of government affairs for the

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