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Weights and Measures Division
As the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the entire County, the Auditor is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices used commercially and that all State laws relating to weights and measures are strictly enforced. Some examples of weighing and measuring devices include gas pumps, store scales, vehicle scales and bulk fuel tanker trucks. The Auditor is also involved with checking price verification systems (scanners), advertising, packaging and the labeling of products such as meats, vegetables, firewood, mulch, and milk. This offers you, the public consumer, protections from fluctuations which may occur from faulty measuring devices such as scales and pumps. A good Weights and Measures program saves the average household at least $300 in overcharges per year. The Weights and Measures department protects both the buyer and seller to ensure equity in the marketplace.
Are you Protected ?
Quality and quantity is what initially comes to mind when
considering a purchase. Quality is subjective; one person's good quality may be
another person's bad taste. Deciding on the quality of a product to purchase is
left to the judgment of the individual. Government regulates quality to the
extent that standards for health and safety are met. Beyond that, quality
becomes a highly subjective matter.
Quantity on the other hand is fixed. The content of a package can be determined
to a high degree of accuracy. Determining the amount in a package requires two
things, a wide range of precise measuring equipment, and thorough technical
knowledge of commodity types obtained through state mandated training.
It is your weights and measures officials’ job to make certain that although
quality is subjective, quantity will never be. If the quantity of the package
in your supermarket states that it is one pound, your weights and measures
official works hard to
take the burden off the taxpayer and make sure that the
quantity is in fact one pound.
When in doubt, what should you do?
Have you ever found yourself having similar thoughts?
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I think that gasoline pump is registering more gallons that it is giving.
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This scale is not weighing correctly.
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This package I bought does not have the correct amount in it.
After the device has been inspected and found to be accurate and
correct, the inspector places an approval seal on the device. Look for the
sticker!
Weighing and measuring devices such as scales or gasoline pumps are mechanical
instruments and are subject to wear and tear and error. A malfunction on the
packaging line can result in a package not being filled with the stated amount.
If a device is found to be inaccurate, inspectors may reject, condemn, or in
extreme cases, confiscate the device. For example, in the case of scanners, if
the error rate exceeds 2 percent of the test sample, the items will be ordered off
sale and the price immediately corrected. In the case of inaccurate package
quantity, the Auditor can order the packages to be repacked, order them off
sale, or even confiscate the packages.
What should you do if you feel you have encountered an incorrect weights and
measures device, a short weight package, or are in doubt on any weighing or
measuring matter?
1. Phone the Weights and Measures Department at (419) 213-4358.
2. Submit an online complaint form by
clicking here.
Download and print a complaint form and mail the completed form to the address
listed below.
3. OR E-mail a Suggestion/Problem by
clicking here.
4. Contact the Office of Anita Lopez, Lucas County Auditor, Weights and
Measures Department, One Government Center, Suite 600, Toledo, Ohio 43604.
Additional Information
At Your Service!
Get more detailed information on what the Auditor’s Weights and Measures
department does to protect Lucas County’s buyers and sellers and to ensure
equity in the marketplace.
Consumer Tips
Top Gas Complaints
and Explanations
Download a PDF (portable document format) file of top RMFD (Retail Motor Fuel
Dispensers) complaints, fuel tank capacity and gas pump accuracy complaints,
and possible explanations.
Consumer Information Brochure
Download a consumer information brochure in Adobe PDF.
Weights
& Measures Department recognized at Ohio Conference
Frank P. Gallo
Award for excellence in the Weights and Measures department
2007
Annual Report
2006
Annual Report
Ohio Weights & Measures Association
Ohio Department of Agriculture
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