MDA Reports Weights and Measures Law Violations

MDA Weights and Measures inspectors test to make sure the scales at grocery store check outs are accurate.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Weights and Measures Section inspects and regulates devices used to determine the quantity of commodities as diverse as fuel oil, food products, livestock, grain, and precious metals. The Weights and Measures Section reported enforcement activity between March 14 and June 14, which is shown below.

• Safeway #2848 of Bethesda – On March 28, MDA received $1,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Giant Food #127 of Olney – On April 9, MDA received $2,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Giant Food #329 of Rockville – On April 9, MDA received $2,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Giant Food #132 of Bethesda – On April 15, MDA received $250 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Giant Food #338 of Accokeek – On April 15, 2013 MDA received $250 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Giant Food #132 of Bethesda – On April 29, MDA received $500.00 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Wegmans #47 of Columbia – On May 1, MDA received $750 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Safeway #107 of Greenbelt – On May 3, MDA received $1,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Safeway #4868 of Laurel – On May 3, MDA received $2,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• Jumbo Food International Supermarket of Temple Hills – On May 6, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

• CVS #4411 of Baltimore – On April 24, MDA received $2,000 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

• Target #2393 of Baltimore – On May 15, MDA received $250 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

Note that most violations are short weight violations which occur when MDA finds less product in a package than the label states, whether it’s a gallon of gas or pound of meat. A price verification violation occurs when a cash register with a scanner or bar-code reader charges a price that is different than the price on the shelf or the price tag. There are no penalties assessed if the price charged a consumer is lower than the price on the shelf.

During FY 2012, MDA issued 93 civil penalties that amounted to $94,250, most for packaging short weight violations and price misrepresentation. MDA completed field inspections of 8,261 package lots with 19.4 percent in violation; 16,002 price scanning and method of sale was inspected with 3.4 percent in violation. MDA field inspectors conducted 1,067 large scale inspections, with 16.1 percent in violation; 743 medium scale inspections, with 16 percent in violation; and 8,385 small scale inspections, with 21.5 percent in violation. MDA also inspected 28,970 retail gasoline meters, with 19.6 percent in violation; 481 LP gas meters, with 27.8 percent in violation; and 1,104 vehicle tank and rack meters, with 12 percent in violation. Inspectors tested 134 grain moisture meters, with 24.6 percent in violation. Other inspections include 2,072 tare inspections, with 11.9 percent in violation; and 1,294 inspections of delivery tickets, with 0.7 percent in violation. The state metrology lab conducted tests on 1,726 weights, with 13.3 percent rejected; 34 volumetric measures, with 41.2 percent rejected; 31 temperature devices, 2 timing devices and 405 grain samples. The lab completed National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) re-accreditation in November 2011.

MDA also investigated 584 consumer complaints during FY 2012, most related to complaints about the accuracy of retail motor fuel dispensers. That is an average of 2.4 complaints investigated every work day.

For more information about how the Weights and Measures program works, click here.

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