Finance and Administration Services - Consumer Affairs

Departments | Services | Staff Directory | My.Seattle.Gov

Consumer Affairs Unit

Taxicab Regulatory Program

For-Hire Vehicle Regulatory Program

Seattle Weights & Measures Program

SPD Impound Agreement

Limousine Enforcement Program

Consumer Protection

Consumer Affairs

Weights and Measures Inspections in Seattle

The five weights and measures inspectors assigned to the Consumer Affairs Unit work out of the Test Station. They perform inspections on a wide variety of weighing and measuring devices including:

Over 3,300 scales ranging from small 30-pound capacity computing scales used in many retail applications to large, permanently installed dormant scales with capacities well in excess of 1,000 pounds that are commonly used in manufacturing, wholesale, or moving and storage businesses;
approximately 3,100 gas pumps at 150 locations;
nearly 74 heating oil delivery trucks from 13 companies that serve customers in Seattle;
more than 884 taxicabs with electronic taximeters that must be tested annually; and
miscellaneous devices that measure the length of cordage or fabric, timing devices, mass flow meters, and others. Inspectors use specially equipped trucks to transport their "tools" including ten 50-pound handweights on a hand truck, sets of smaller "case" weights, and 5-gallon liquid test measures. Inspectors also use calibrated glassware to check volumes and portable scales to verify weights during "net contents" inspections. Net contents inspections include all products sold by weight or volume including: meat, deli, dairy, produce, and other packaged (canned, bottled, boxed) goods. Another major activity for weights and measures inspectors is price scanning inspections. These inspections are conducted at all locations that scan prices at the cash register from small convenience stores to large department stores. Often, inspectors verify compliance with unit pricing and labeling requirements during scanning inspections.

We welcome your comments. If you have a specific question you would like answered, please send us E-Mail at: seattle.consumer-affairs@seattle.gov