Lake County Weights and Measures Report

VanDerWall thanked the Lake County Board of Supervisors for backing purchase of a new weight truck, showcased outside the meeting, and joined Upton to mark, “National Weights and Measures Week.” This year’s theme, “Building a Lasting Legacy,” underscores the department’s dedication to safeguarding Lake County’s economy through consumer education and precise testing of commercial weighing devices.

Like the Annual Crop Report, the department submits the 2025 Weights & Measures Report to the State of California, reviewing 2023–2024 activities. It highlights inspections of 213 unique businesses and 889 commercial devices, alongside 17 consumer complaints and 25 violations. The report details registered and tested commercial weighing and measuring devices from this period.

• 809 gas pumps

• 145 counter & computing scales

• 64 large capacity scales, such as for livestock

• 58 propane meters

• 1229 electric submeters

• 2142 vapor submeters

• 66 cannabis scales

Departmental staff conducts year-round testing to ensure consumer protection and market equity. This includes testing devices at various locations, such as:

• Grocery store scales

• The checkout stands

• Gas pumps

• Water stations

• Skimmer devices at the gas pump to protect County consumers

• Delivery trucks, such as those used for fuel delivery (e.g., propane for home heaters or heating fuel), and stationary devices, such as those used when residents refuel propane tanks

• Test submeters, such as for mobile home parks, apartment buildings and other residences

• Cannabis scales

• Garbage facilities

VanDerWall and Upton noted the County, “does everything it can to keep up with changing technology to protect County consumers, including borrowing standards from the State to stay most up to date.” These standards help the department test Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, and also test digital meters and respond to sub-meter billing complaints. Upton explained, while digital meters allow remote reading, they’re prone to tampering, so the department strives to ensure their accuracy.

According to VanDerWall and Upton, ensuring cannabis businesses are operating legally is tough due to their remote locations, locked gates and operators’ unfamiliarity with regulations. To act on this concern, the Department will be hosting a Cannabis Cultivators Outreach Event Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Space is limited. For more information on the Cannabis Cultivators Outreach Event, call the department for more information at (707) 263-0217. The department tests and seals high-precision cannabis and hemp scales—10-20% of all scales—distinct from standard ones, safeguarding Lake County producers and fair market access.

VanDerWall and Upton concluded their talk with a reminder that consumer education protects Lake County residents. The department investigates price verification complaints, conducting field checks to confirm checkout prices match advertised discounts, which stores must honor unless an expiration is noted.

To read the 2025 Lake County Weights & Measures Report, click here.

To watch the presentation, click here.