Can You Get in Trouble for Driving Off With a Gas Pump in Illinois?

Have you ever witnessed someone driving off with a gas pump still attached to their car in Illinois and thought; what happens next?

Embarrassing Gas Station Mistake

I'm not going to name any names or locations here , but today a friend confessed to me that they did something embarrassing yesterday; they accidentally drove off with a gas pump hose still attached to their car.

After I finished laughing hysterically, I then asked; "what happened after you did that?".

Thankfully, my friend had only driven a few feet away from the gas pump when they realized what they had done, so they got out of the car, re-attached the hose, and then did the walk of shame into the station to tell the clerks what happened.

The clerks thanked my friend for telling them and then marked the disgraced pump with an "Out of Order" sign, but could the consequences have been worse? That answer is, yes.

Consequences for Driving Off With a Gas Pump in Illinois

While I couldn't find any documentation proving that driving off with a gas pump is illegal in Illinois, I did find a lot of information stating that drivers can be held liable for the damages.

First off, all gas pump nozzles and hoses are equipped with breakaway fittings that seal off fuel leaks when a pump hose is pulled with too much force. When they break away there is a loud noise that is pretty hard to miss when you start driving off.

This should go without saying, but driving off the gas station lot with the pump and hose still attached is the absolute worst thing you can do! Not only will doing so make it seem like the act was not done accidentally, but it then enters into criminal damage to property territory which is very bad.

One article from Business Insider says some gas stations will file claims against YOUR insurance to cover the cost of the gas pump damages, especially if you drive off without reporting it.

Surveillance cameras are everywhere these days, so identifying the driver responsible for these accidents isn't very hard to do. Plus, they probably already have your credit card info to charge for damages...so keep that in mind.

RELATED: Don't Get Fined for This Common Winter Driving Mistake in Illinois