Los Angeles Public Scales : San Bernardino County : Orange : Ventura : Kern : Certified Weighmaster
Certified Scales
About
Weighmaster Certicates
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles 4 ................ 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 5 ................ 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 6 ................ 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 7 ................ 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 8 ................ 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 9 ................ 39,000 42,500 42,500 42,500 42,500 10 ................ 40,000 43,500 43,500 43,500 43,500 11 ................ 40,000 44,000 44,000 44,000 44,000 12 ................ 40,000 45,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 13 ................ 40,000 45,500 50,500 50,500 50,500 14 ................ 40,000 46,500 51,500 51,500 51,500 15 ................ 40,000 47,000 52,000 52,000 52,000 16 ................ 40,000 48,000 52,500 52,500 52,500 17 ................ 40,000 48,500 53,500 53,500 53,500 18 ................ 40,000 49,500 54,000 54,000 54,000 19 ................ 40,000 50,000 54,500 54,500 54,500 20 ................ 40,000 51,000 55,500 55,500 55,500 21 ................ 40,000 51,500 56,000 56,000 56,000 22 ................ 40,000 52,500 56,500 56,500 56,500 23 ................ 40,000 53,000 57,500 57,500 57,500 24 ................ 40,000 54,000 58,000 58,000 58,000 25 ................ 40,000 54,500 58,500 58,500 58,500 26 ................ 40,000 55,500 59,500 59,500 59,500 27 ................ 40,000 56,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 28 ................ 40,000 57,000 60,500 60,500 60,500 29 ................ 40,000 57,500 61,500 61,500 61,500 30 ................ 40,000 58,500 62,000 62,000 62,000 31 ................ 40,000 59,000 62,500 62,500 62,500 32 ................ 40,000 60,000 63,500 63,500 63,500 33 ................ 40,000 60,000 64,000 64,000 64,000 34 ................ 40,000 60,000 64,500 64,500 64,500 35 ................ 40,000 60,000 65,500 65,500 65,500 36 ................ 40,000 60,000 66,000 66,000 66,000 37 ................ 40,000 60,000 66,500 66,500 66,500 38 ................ 40,000 60,000 67,500 67,500 67,500 39 ................ 40,000 60,000 68,000 68,000 68,000 40 ................ 40,000 60,000 68,500 70,000 70,000 41 ................ 40,000 60,000 69,500 72,000 72,000 42 ................ 40,000 60,000 70,000 73,280 73,280 43 ................ 40,000 60,000 70,500 73,280 73,280 44 ................ 40,000 60,000 71,500 73,280 73,280 45 ................ 40,000 60,000 72,000 76,000 80,000 46 ................ 40,000 60,000 72,500 76,500 80,000 47 ................ 40,000 60,000 73,500 77,500 80,000 48 ................ 40,000 60,000 74,000 78,000 80,000 49 ................ 40,000 60,000 74,500 78,500 80,000 50 ................ 40,000 60,000 75,500 79,000 80,000 51 ................ 40,000 60,000 76,000 80,000 80,000 52 ................ 40,000 60,000 76,500 80,000 80,000 53 ................ 40,000 60,000 77,500 80,000 80,000 54 ................ 40,000 60,000 78,000 80,000 80,000 55 ................ 40,000 60,000 78,500 80,000 80,000 56 ................ 40,000 60,000 79,500 80,000 80,000 57 ................ 40,000 60,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 58 ................ 40,000 60,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 59 ................ 40,000 60,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 60 ................ 40,000 60,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 -
(b) In addition to the weights specified in subdivision (a), two
consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000
pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles
of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more. The
gross weight of each set of tandem axles shall not exceed 34,000
pounds and the gross weight of the two consecutive sets of tandem
axles shall not exceed 68,000 pounds. -
(c) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used. -
(d) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the right to
prohibit the use of any highway or any bridge or other structure
thereon in the manner and to the extent specified in Article 4
(commencing with Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with
Section 35750) of this chapter. -
(e) The gross weight limits expressed by this section and Section
35550 shall include all enforcement tolerances. -
35551.5.
(a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to
combinations of vehicles which contain a trailer or semitrailer.
Each vehicle in such combination of vehicles, and every such
combination of vehicles, shall comply with either Section 35551 or
with subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of this section.
(b) The gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 18,000 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 9,500 pounds, except
that the gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any
front steering axle of a motor vehicle shall not exceed 12,500
pounds. 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. The following
vehicles are exempt from the front axle weight limits specified in
this subdivision:
(1) Trucks transporting vehicles.
(2) Trucks transporting livestock.
(3) Dump trucks.
(4) Cranes.
(5) Buses.
(6) Transit mix concrete or cement trucks, and trucks that mix
concrete or cement at, or adjacent to, a jobsite.
(7) Motor vehicles that are not commercial vehicles.
(8) Vehicles operated by any public utility furnishing
electricity, gas, water, or telephone service.
(9) Trucks or truck tractors with a front axle at least four feet
to the rear of the foremost part of the truck or truck tractor, not
including the front bumper.
(10) Trucks transporting garbage, rubbish, or refuse.
(11) Trucks equipped with a fifth wheel when towing a semitrailer.
(12) Tank trucks which have a cargo capacity of at least 1,500
gallons.
(13) Trucks transporting bulk grains or bulk livestock feed.
(c) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any
group of two or more consecutive axles of a vehicle in such
combination of vehicles or of such combination of vehicles where the
distance between the first and last axles of the two or more
consecutive axles is 18 feet or less shall not exceed that given for
the respective distance in the following table: - Distance in feet Allowed load in between first and pounds on group last axles of group
-
of axles 4 ............................................ 32,000 5 ............................................ 32,000 6 ............................................ 32,200 7 ............................................ 32,900 8 ............................................ 33,600 9 ............................................ 34,300 10 ............................................ 35,000 11 ............................................ 35,700 12 ............................................ 36,400 13 ............................................ 37,100 14 ............................................ 43,200 15 ............................................ 44,000 16 ............................................ 44,800 17 ............................................ 45,600 18 ............................................ 46,400 - (d) The total gross weight with load imposed on the highway by any vehicle in such combination of vehicles or of such combination of vehicles where the distance between the first and last axles is more than 18 feet shall not exceed that given for the respective distances in the following table:
Distance Allowed load in feet in pounds 19 ...................................... 47,200 20 ...................................... 48,000 21 ...................................... 48,800 22 ...................................... 49,600 23 ...................................... 50,400 24 ...................................... 51,200 25 ...................................... 55,250 26 ...................................... 56,100 27 ...................................... 56,950 28 ...................................... 57,800 29 ...................................... 58,650 30 ...................................... 59,500 31 ...................................... 60,350 32 ...................................... 61,200 33 ...................................... 62,050 34 ...................................... 62,900 35 ...................................... 63,750 36 ...................................... 64,600 37 ...................................... 65,450 38 ...................................... 66,300 39 ...................................... 68,000 40 ...................................... 70,000 41 ...................................... 72,000 42 ...................................... 73,280 43 ...................................... 73,280 44 ...................................... 73,280 45 ...................................... 73,280 46 ...................................... 73,280 47 ...................................... 73,280 48 ...................................... 73,280 49 ...................................... 73,280 50 ...................................... 73,280 51 ...................................... 73,280 52 ...................................... 73,600 53 ...................................... 74,400 54 ...................................... 75,200 55 ...................................... 76,000 56 or over .............................. 76,800-
(e) The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest
whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger
whole foot shall be used.
(f) The gross weight limits expressed by this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
(g) Nothing in this section shall affect the right to prohibit the
use of any highway or any bridge or other structure thereon in the
manner and to the extent specified in Article 4 (commencing with
Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 35750) of
Chapter 5 of Division 15.
(h) The Legislature, in enacting this section, does not intend to
increase, and this section shall not be construed to allow, statutory
weights any greater than existed prior to January 1, 1976.
35552. (a) This section applies only to trucks and vehicle
combinations while transporting loads composed solely of logs.
(b) One set of tandem axles of such a truck or vehicle combination
shall be deemed to be in compliance with Section 35551 if the total
gross weight of 34,000 pounds on such a set that is permitted by
Section 35551 is not exceeded by more than 1,500 pounds. In
addition, such a truck and vehicle combination that has two
consecutive sets of tandem axles shall be deemed to be in compliance
with Section 35551 if such consecutive sets of tandem axles do not
carry a combined total gross weight of more than 69,000 pounds, if
the total gross weight on any one such set does not exceed 35,500
pounds, and if the overall distance between the first and last axle
of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is 34 feet or more. All
such truck and vehicle combinations shall be subject to all other
provisions of Section 35551 or any other provision made applicable to
the total gross weight of such a truck or vehicle combination in
lieu of Section 35551.
(c) The gross weight limits expressed in this section shall
include all enforcement tolerances.
(d) If any total gross weight permitted by this section is
exceeded, the allowed weight in pounds set forth in subdivision (a)
of Section 35551 shall be the maximum permitted weight for purposes
of determining the amount of fine for such violation as specified in
the table in Section 42030; except that, whenever the violation is
for exceeding the total gross weight for two consecutive sets of
tandem axles, and if the overall distance between the first and last
axle of such sets is 34 feet or more, the allowed weight on the two
consecutive sets shall be 68,000 pounds.
(e) This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).
- This section may be cited as the Christensen-Belotti Act.
35553. The provisions of this article shall not apply to any
vehicle in the immediate vicinity of an unloading or loading area
while actually preparing for or in the process of unloading or
loading, provided any overload is incidental to and necessitated by
such action; and provided that such action does not occur on a bridge
or highway structure.
This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the national system of interstate and defense highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-aid
Highway Act of 1956).
35554. Notwithstanding Section 35550, the gross weight on any one
axle of a bus shall not exceed 20,500 pounds.
35555. (a) During the period commencing September 15 of each year
and ending March 15 of the following year, the weight limitations of
Section 35551 do not apply to any cotton module mover or any truck
tractor pulling a semitrailer that is a cotton module mover, when
operated as follows:
(1) Laterally across a state highway at grade of the state
highway.
(2) Upon any county highway within the Counties of Butte, Colusa,
Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside,
Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus,
Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba, except as prohibited or
limited on county highways or portions thereof by resolution of the
county board of supervisors having jurisdiction.
(b) A cotton module mover may be operated upon a state highway
within the counties and during the period set forth in subdivision
(a) if all of the following are met:
(1) The operator is in possession of a driver's license of the
class required for operation of the mover.
(2) The mover is operated in compliance with Sections 24002 and
24012; Article 1 (commencing with Section 24250) of, Article 3
(commencing with Section 24600) of, Article 4 (commencing with
Section 24800) of, Article 5 (commencing with Section 24950) of,
Article 6 (commencing with 25100) of, Article 9 (commencing with
25350) of, Article 11 (commencing with 25450) of, Chapter 2 of
Division 12; and Article 2 (commencing with 26450) and Article 3
(commencing with 26502) of Chapter 3 of Division 12.
(3) The mover does not exceed the maximum allowable gross axle
weight for tandem axles set forth in Section 35551 by more than 6,000
pounds.
(4) The operator of a mover that exceeds the maximum allowable
gross axle weight for tandem axle vehicles as set forth in Section
35551 shall possess a commercial driver's license as defined in
subdivision (a) of Section 15210.
(c) This section does not apply to those highways designated by
the United States Department of Transportation as national network
routes.
35557. (a) Only upon request to, and approval by, and in accordance
with regulations adopted by, the Director of Food and Agriculture,
all of the following are available for inspection by district
attorneys and are subject to legal process for admission in any
criminal or civil proceeding arising out of a violation of this
chapter:
(1) Vehicle weight certificates issued on or after January 1,
1984, pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 12700), Chapter
7.3 (commencing with Section 12740), and Chapter 7.7 (commencing with
Section 12770) of Division 5 of the Business and Professions Code.
(2) Other records of vehicle weight relating to those
certificates.
(3) Copies of those certificates and records.
(b) All certificates, records, and copies thereof, issued before
January 1, 1984, shall not be available for inspection and are not
admissible in any criminal or civil proceedings arising out of a
violation of this chapter.
35558. Any person or business which has an axle weight scale at its
loading facilities shall, upon the request of the driver, weigh any
load being transported for that person or business before the vehicle
leaves the loading facility. In a port facility, this requirement
only applies if the scale is located in outbound lanes. The request
to weigh shall be based upon a reasonable assumption that the load is
overweight.