San Diego Public Scales

About

Weighmaster Certicates

1. A weighmaster certificate is a legal document completed by a deputy weighmaster. The certificate contains specific information about the:
   • Weight, measure or count of a product.
   • Buyer and seller of the product.
   • Date of the quantity determination.
   • Identification of the container holding the commodity.
   • Signature of the deputy weighmaster who determined the quantity certifying to the contents accuracy.
2. The certificate is used to buy or sell the product represented on the certificate, or to charge for a service based on the weight or measure on the certificate.
3. How often do Weights and Measures Officials inspect commercial scales?
   • Usually once a year. You may contact your individual County Weights and Measures office for their schedule.
4. When I purchase a product that needs to be weighed, how do I know if the scale used by the vendor is accurate?
• Any weighing, measuring or counting instrument used by a weighmaster, for which tolerances and specifications have been adopted shall be approved, tested, and sealed
5. How does the Weighmaster Enforcement Program verify that weighmasters are issuing accurate certificates?
• The program investigators audit weighmaster records. They also do undercover buying and selling of products that are weighed or measured by weighmasters.
6. What kind of products are weighed or measured by a weighmaster?
   • Everything from bulk agricultural products to rock, sand, gravel, cement and landscaping products. Also scrap metal, fish from commercial fishing boats, timber, and household goods.
7. Why is the Weighmaster Enforcement Program important to the consumer?
   • The Program works to make sure that the weights or measures of bulk products purchased by consumers and sold by businesses are accurate. Over 78 billion dollars worth of products or services is changing hands annually based on the weights or measures found on weighmaster certificates.
8. How do I file a complaint if I think I have been overcharged due to inaccurate scales?
   • Contact your local county Department of Weights and Measures.
9. What is the vehicle code regarding vehicle weights and the weighmaster's services
• VEHICLE CODE SECTION 35550-35558
• 35550. (a) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the gross weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle, and resting upon the roadway, shall not exceed 10,500 pounds.
• (b) The gross weight limit provided for weight bearing upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle shall not apply to vehicles the loads of which consist of livestock.
• (c) The maximum wheel load is the lesser of the following:
• (1) The load limit established by the tire manufacturer, as molded on at least one sidewall of the tire.
• (2) A load of 620 pounds per lateral inch of tire width, as determined by the manufacturer's rated tire width as molded on at least one sidewall of the tire for all axles except the steering axle, in which case paragraph (1) applies.
• 35551. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or Section 35551.5, the total gross weight in pounds imposed on the highway by any group of two or more consecutive axles shall not exceed that given for the respective distance in the following table:
• Distance in feet between the extremes of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles

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