“Almost everyone that has come up here the last few days has been talking about it,” said Naeem Khan, an employee at Garden State Fuel. “Most people have said they think it’s unfair.”

The state Legislature passed a bill Oct. 7 raising the gas tax by 23 cents to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund, which lost its borrowing power over the summer. In return for raising the gas tax, lawmakers struck a deal that lowers the state sales tax from 7 percent to 6.875 percent by January and to 6.625 percent by July. It also phases out the estate tax by 2018.

Most lawmakers in South Jersey voted against the bill, which was signed by Christie two weeks ago.

Despite the deal, some motorists were still upset that the tax is a dramatic increase to New Jersey’s normally low gas prices.

“It sucks,” said Larry Donnelly, manager of Brick Works Inc., as he waited while his car was filled. “I’ve got about seven more vehicles to fill up.”

Donnelly said the business does work in all parts of the state, including Trenton and Toms River, so gas becomes a factor when they have to take several vehicles up and down the Garden State Parkway.

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to have to tighten up some things,” he said.

Meanwhile, Khan said many cars came in during the lunch hour, but the busiest part of the day was after people started getting out of work. By 6 p.m. the Sunoco gas station on Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway had run out of regular gas. The attendant at the station said people were still filling their cars with premium, but that too was quickly running out.

Meanwhile, Khan said, Garden State Fuel would not change the price of gas until 11:59 p.m. Monday night. After that, the state told them, the tax is in full effect, he said.

“We got a notice that any gas we sell after midnight will be taxed,” he said. “If we sell gas at the current price after midnight, the difference is on us.”