County Weights and Measures Inspectors Protect Consumers at the Gas Pump
- Marketing | Weighing News .
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
How do you know that, when you pay for 10 gallons of gas at the gas station, you’re actually getting 10 gallons? What’s to stop an unscrupulous gas station owner from giving you less than you pay for?
The County of Santa Clara Weights and Measures Division – that’s what!
The Weights and Measures Division protects consumers in all transactions that involve weight, volume or measures, ensuring fairness in the marketplace.
Weights and Measures inspectors test and certify all commercial weighing and measuring devices in Santa Clara County, such as the scales at the meat counter in grocery stores, and they check price scanners at retail stores to make sure consumers are charged the right price.
They also inspect gas stations. Weights and Measures specialists test each pump at a gas station, confirming that they are dispensing the correct amount of gas and that customers are paying the lowest listed price. In addition, they ensure the octane level of the fuel matches its listed octane rating.
“The main purpose of the inspection is to protect the consumer, to make sure they get exactly what they pay for at the pump. We know gas prices are high, and we all want to save money,” said Ryan Atwood, a senior biologist and standards specialist for the County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, which includes the Weights and Measures Division. “We’re also protecting the business, because we don’t want them to give away too much gas. We want it to be an equal playing field for both the consumer and the business.”
When checking gas stations, Atwood and other inspectors pull up in a truck loaded with specialized equipment.
They test each type of gas at every pump, dispensing a gallon into precisely marked metal containers to confirm the correct amount and quality.
After they’re done, they place stickers of certification on the pumps with the date of the inspection.
It’s one of many ways the Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency – which also protects against wildfires, controls mosquitoes and other pests, collects household hazardous waste, rescues abandoned animals and prevents water pollution, among other responsibilities – looks out for the people, pets and environment of Santa Clara County.
“Most people don’t think twice about whether they’re getting the right amount of gas for the price they’re being charged for, and that’s exactly what our team is here to make sure of,” said Edgar Nolasco, director of the Santa Clara County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency. "This work may go unnoticed, but it plays a critical role in building trust between businesses and consumers, protecting family budgets, and ensuring fairness in our local economy.”
Every county in California is required by State law to regulate Weights and Measures. It’s a profession that attracts people who take pride in working behind the scenes to help their community.
“The number one thing I like about my job is that I protect the consumer on a daily basis,” said Atwood. “The consumer might not know who we are, but we have a direct impact in their life every day.”