Re-calibrate. That’s what California legislators did last week to their already controversial law that requires all automotive service providers to check customer tire inflation pressures.
On Aug. 24, both houses of the California legislature unanimously passed a second bill that requires tire and auto service providers have and utilize tire gauges that are accurate within +/- 2 psi. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law on Aug. 25.
In September 2010, the California Air Resources Board issued state regulations that require an estimated all tire and vehicle service centers in the state to check and correct the inflation of all passenger vehicle tires on vehicles they service.
The new law also provides specific reasons why a service shop can legally refuse to check the inflation pressure of a customer’s tires, including threat of injury from a tire that could fail because of excessive or irregular wear or obvious damage. However, a tire’s age is not considered a legal reason to forego a pressure check.
