Gas Rationing in New Jersey to End Tuesday

New Jersey was the first to embrace 1970s-era gas rationing in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and now it will be the first to jettison it.

The rationing system - restricting gas sales to cars with even-numbered license plates on even days, and odd-numbered on odd days - will be discontinued at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Gov. Chris Christie announced on Monday.

The system was imposed in 12 New Jersey counties on Nov. 3, and has been widely credited by municipal officials, gas station owners and drivers with cutting down lines and taking pressure off a gas distribution network of ports and terminals that was badly damaged by the storm.

A similar rationing system took effect on Friday in New York City and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. Officials have not said how long the rationing will last.

Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Mr. Christie, said the rationing was no longer needed in New Jersey because “the power restoratio n and fuel delivery efforts of the past two weeks have allowed lines to subside, lessening the need for this type of rationing system.”

He added, “Now is an appropriate time to end it.”