(SEPTEMBER 24, 2018) Many students come to Oregon to study. They find new and surprising things here. KVAL is a television station in Eugene. It made a list of seven things that new students need to know about life in their new state.
- People don't pump their own gas here. There are no regular "self-service" gas stations in the state. Oregon and New Jersey are the only states in the country with this law.
- There is no sales tax. Many states have a tax on things people buy. Oregon does not. Here, people pay for the government with property taxes (taxes on land and buildings) and income taxes (taxes on the money people earn).
- Marijuana is legal. Users must be at least 21 years old. However, they can't use it in public. Also, many colleges and universities do not permit it on campus.
- Oregon has a minimum wage (a wage is the money people receive for work). Now it is between $10.75 and $12.00 per hour. It depends where a person lives.
- People pay a deposit on beverage containers, such as soda cans. A deposit is money that you can get back. The deposit on beverage containers is 10 cents each.
- People do not own the beaches. The state owns the beaches. Oregon passed a law in 1967 that says all beaches are public beaches.
- It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving a car. Illegal means it is not legal; it is against the law. The police can give a driver a ticket. A person's first ticket can cost between $130 and $1,000.