Starting June 1, gas stations will enforce stricter safety rules. Talking on the phone near a fuel pump can now result in a refusal of service or being placed on the station’s internal blacklist. Let’s figure out what this means for an ordinary driver with a smartphone in hand and where the line is between internal gas station rules and actual legal liability.

New restrictions starting June 1, 2026

Rules for Using Phones at Gas Stations Starting June 1, 2026

The point is that gas stations now have a formal basis to refuse service to customers who use their phones outside the vehicle near the pump. Talking on the phone outside the car near a fuel pump can lead to refusal of service or the offender being placed on internal gas station blacklists.

According to the rules, using a smartphone is only permitted inside the vehicle, and the only exception is payment via QR code at the terminal. In other words, taking out your phone to scan a code and pay is fine, but standing by the nozzle and chatting on speakerphone is already grounds for a conflict with the staff.

Why You Can’t Use Your Phone at Gas Stations

The official reason is fire safety. The changes are linked to updated fire safety requirements from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) and fuel operators, with the main risk cited being a possible spark from using a mobile phone near combustible vapors.

A smartphone could cause a fire

It’s worth keeping a level head here: the actual probability of igniting gasoline vapors with a functioning smartphone is extremely low, and there are virtually no well-documented cases of fires caused specifically by phone calls. However, gas stations operate on the principle of caution in this matter, and arguing with an employee at the pump is a losing battle from the start.

Will There Be a Fine for Using a Phone at a Gas Station?

The main practical question is what this means in terms of money and the law. And here’s an important detail: there is currently no separate administrative offense for using a phone at a gas station.

At the same time, lawyers point out that a gas station is private property. According to attorney Irina Grebneva, a gas station has the right to refuse service: not turn on the pump, cancel a payment, or demand that the customer leave the premises, as well as add the customer to an internal blacklist. So there’s no fine per se, but you may not be allowed to refuel at a particular station.

What to Do If a Dispute Arises with a Gas Station Employee

The conflict scenario is also described: in disputed situations, gas station employees can call the police to assess the customer’s actions. In this case, it will be up to law enforcement to determine whether an administrative offense has been committed and to what extent the customer’s actions threatened safety.

Gas station employees can call the police

In practice, this means that escalating to a police call over a phone conversation is a dubious endeavor both in terms of time and stress. It’s better to follow the rules of conduct at gas stations:

  • Make calls and text without leaving the vehicle
  • At the pump itself, it’s better to put your phone in your pocket
  • For QR code payments, take out your smartphone at the terminal, not at the nozzle
  • If an employee gives you a warning, don’t argue at the pump — it’s their territory and their rules

Blacklisted for Using a Phone at a Gas Station

This news is primarily important for those who are used to refueling with a phone to their ear or filming the process on camera. For everyone else, essentially nothing changes: card and QR code payments work as before, and the rules themselves concern behavior at the pump, not smartphone functions.

The bottom line is simple: there is no formal fine for using a phone at a gas station yet, but the station has the right to refuse service and add you to its blacklist. The safest approach is to make all calls from inside the car and only take out your smartphone at the pump for QR code payments.