“Though this government service is largely unknown to the public, it protects consumers in millions of transactions everyday when they pump their gasoline, weigh their fruits and vegetables or have their purchases scanned at the check-out counter,” Ruskin said.

“The little known secret,” Ruskin continued, “is that for years a great many of the weighing and measuring devices in California have not been inspected for accuracy because of a shortfall in funding. Unless this bill becomes law, California consumers cannot be adequately protected from an inaccurate gas pump that gives them less than what they pay for or be assured of the true weight of a product they purchase. Gas prices are high enough. People ought to be protected from further gouging.”

“This is the most significant piece of legislation affecting local weights and measures programs that we have seen in the last twenty years,” said Greg Van Wassenhove, Santa Clara County’s Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer and a member of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association’s legislative committee.

“I strongly urge the governor to sign this bill and help us protect consumers and honest businesses. If he does so, this will be a milestone achievement for consumer protection,” Ruskin said.