Weights & Measures
The Weights & Measures team conducts thorough inspections of all commercial weighing and measuring devices to ensure that consumers are not overcharged and that fair business practices are upheld
View the video below from California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association to learn how this essential division helps protect consumer, ensures fair trade, and supports businesses every day.
County Weights & Measures Inspectors test and inspect weighing and measuring devices for accuracy and correctness.
County inspectors carry out comprehensive annual inspections to ensure precise measurements and pricing, reinforcing consumer confidence in these transactions. There are approximately 20,000 commercially used devices in San Joaquin County.
Commercial devices include a variety of scales and meters used in the buying and selling of products. Commercialdevices include retail motor fuel pumps, computing scales at grocery stores, flea markets, certified farmers markets, pharmacies and recycling facilities. Additional scales tested are hopper scales at cement batching facilities, vehicle scales, livestock, and warehouse and shipping scales.
Price and Quantity Verification inspections serve to ensure advertised priced and the net content of packaged goods are accurate. If a discrepancy is found, inspectors work to ensure immediate corrective actions.
Weights & Measures Inspectors enforce the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation to prevent misleading or deceptive packing or advertising. Packages are checked to assure labeling requirements and the stated weight, volume, measure, or count is correct.
Price verifications are also conducted on scanners and point of sale systems to verify regularly-priced and sale items are correctly shelf priced. Price and Quantity Verification Inspectors enforce corrective actions that may include correcting prices or labels and removing products from sale if they contain inaccurate net content.
County Weights & Measures Inspectors conduct random sampling of motor fuel to ensure that it meets national standards. The division actively monitors the advertising of motor fuel price signs and labeling at gas stations to ensure consumers are charged accurately for every transaction.
Petroleum products sold are checked to comply with State of California Division of Measurement Standards regulations. The Fuels, Lubricants, and Automotive Products Program assures minimum quality standards for most automotive products sold in California, including gasoline, diesel fuel, motor oil, and alternative engine fuels.
For more information:
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/dms/programs/petroleum/petroleum.html
County Inspectors regulate and perform audits on state-licensed weighmasters to ensure the commodity transactions based on quantities certified on a weighmaster certificate are accurate and recorded correctly.
What is a Weighmaster?
A person who, for hire or otherwise, weighs, measures, or counts any commodity and issues a statement or memorandum of the weight, measure, or count that is used as the basis for either the purchase or sale of that commodity or charge for service.
Visit the CDFA Division of Measurement Standards site for more information.
Registered Service Agents install and repair weighing and measuring devices.
Any persons that sell, rent, install, or repair commercial weighing and measuring devices are required to be licensed as a Registered Service Agent or Agency with the California Division of Measure Standards. Weights & Measures officials may issue a violation, which result in penalty, to an RSA for improper or incorrect repair, and/or not reporting work to local officials. Repeat violations may result in license suspension or revocation.
Service Agents are required to notify the local county Weights & Measures office of work performed within their county. This includes the sale, rental, repair, servicing, and/or installation of commercial weighing and measuring devices.
Weights and Measures Related Services
Legal Authority - BPC §§ 12240; SJ Ordinance No. 3372
| Device Type | Device Fee | Admin Fee | Max Registration Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Business Location Fee | $120.00 | ||
| Scales (other than livestock) greater than 10K | $250.00 | $24.00 | |
| Scales (other than livestock) 2K to 10K | $150.00 | $16.00 | |
| Scales 100 lbs. to 2,000 lbs. | $50.00 | $2.20 | |
| Computing Scales | $25.00 | $2.20 | $1,200.00 |
| Prescription / Jewelry Scales | $80.00 | $2.20 | |
| Class II Precision Scales | $80.00 | $2.20 | |
| Livestock Scales greater than 10K | $150.00 | $24.00 | |
| Livestock Scales 2K to 10K | $100.00 | $16.00 | |
| CNG & LNG Gas Meters | $185.00 | $16.00 | |
| Liquid Petroleum Gas Meters (Stationary or Truck Mounted) | $185.00 | $16.00 | |
| Wholesale & Vehicle Meters | $75.00 | $2.20 | |
| Odometers (Ambulance, Towing) | $60.00 | $2.20 | |
| Odometers (Passenger, Moving Vehicle) | $60.00 | $2.20 | |
| Utility Sub-meter - Electric | $3.00 | $0.50 | |
| Utility Sub-meter - Vapor Gas | $10.00 | $0.50 | |
| Utility Sub-meter - Water | $6.00 | $0.50 | |
| All Other Commercial Weighing & Measuring Devices (Including EVSE, Retail Motor Fuel, Retail Meters, Counter Scales, Hanging Scales) | $26.00 | $2.20 | $1,200.00 |
| Penalty Fee / Late Device Registration | 50% of Fee (not to exceed $100.00) | ||
| Requested Commercial Test | $154.41/hr. | ||
| Requested Non-Commercial Test | $154.41/hr. | ||
Inspector Labor Rates
| Inspector | Standard Labor Rate | Overtime Labor Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standards Inspector I, II or III | $154.41 (minimum ½ hour) | $177.38 (minimum ½ hour) |
| Deputy Sealer of Weights & Measures | $198.59 (minimum ½ hour) | N/A |
Equipment Rental Fees
| Equipment | Per Day | Per Mile / Additional Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Truck or Van | Plus inspector time | ½ Ton: $0.70 ¾ Ton: $0.86 2 Ton: $1.01 |
| Medium Capacity Test Truck | $48.00 | Plus inspector time |
| Heavy Capacity Test Truck or R&R Weight Cart (Over 20,000 lb.) | $600.00; $200.00 minimum fee | $3.60 per mile; plus inspector time |
| LPG Meter Prover Trailer (25–100 Gallon) | $240.00 | Plus tow vehicle and inspector time |
| Prover Truck or Trailer (Gas/Diesel) (25–100 Gallon Provers with Pump) | $125.00 | Plus tow vehicle and inspector time |
| Water Meter Test Bench including Provers | $120.00 | Plus inspector time |
| Vapor Meter Laboratory | $175.00 | Plus inspector time |
| Electric Watt-Hour Meter Test Unit | $100.00 | Plus inspector time |
| Other Unspecified Equipment | $100.00 | Plus vehicle and inspector time |