Agriculture/Weights & Measures Ensuring Consumer Confidence

With the cost of gasoline soaring, Agricultural/Weights & Measures Standards Officers are routinely visiting service stations to ensure it is following proper regulations not only to protect the consumer, but also the business.

There are more than 600 service station locations in San Bernardino County with around 20,000 dispensers. Inspectors conduct a calibrated test measure called a “prover” or “field test measure” to verify that the pumps are actually delivering the correct volume (i.e., gallons) that are shown on the pump displays and are correctly calculating the final price.

If false readings are discovered, faulty construction, improper maintenance or fraudulent use of equipment, the officers can take action and require the owner or operator to fix the pump, possibly placing it out of order until it is fixed.

Angela Godwin, AWM Commissioner/Sealer says, “California consumers are seeing new record high gas prices greater than $6.00 per gallon and possibly higher. Next time you are at the gas station, look for our seal. This ensures that our commercial measurement system functions fairly and properly.”

If a consumer suspects any faulty readings or inaccuracies at a retail motor fuel station, visit our website at sbcounty.gov/awm to file an overcharge complaint or call 909.387.2105.