May 26, 10

NEWS / Consumer Affairs Inspects Newark Liberty International Airport Scales Prior to Memorial Day Weekend

NEWARK – State Office of Weights and Measures inspectors have checked all baggage scales inside the three passenger terminals at Newark Liberty International Airport to ensure the devices accurately weigh luggage, prior to Memorial Day and the traditional start of the summer travel season.

Problems were found with nine of the 308 baggage scales that were inspected, a failure rate of approximately 3%, said Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs. The nine scales have been serviced, re-inspected and are now in compliance.

“We don’t want passengers to pay for overweight suitcases when, in fact, their luggage is within weight allowances,” Acting Director Calcagni said. “The scale inspections performed by our Office of Weights and Measures ensure that the indicated luggage weights are accurate.”

Each airline pays $250 annually to have its baggage scales inspected. The Office of Weights and Measures is a unit within the Division of Consumer Affairs.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases10/pr20100526a.html