Prop. 65

• USTMA Prop. 65 Response
• TIA Lawyer Memo Regarding Prop. 65

California: CARB Regulations on "Check and Inflate"

• As of September 1, 2010, all California automotive service providers (tire dealers, new car dealers that service vehicles, etc.) are required to perform a tire inflation service (check and inflate) on all passenger vehicles that are brought in for service or repair. In addition to "checking and inflating," you will be required to do the following:
• You need to use a tire pressure gauge with an error rate no more than ± 2 psi.
• On the invoice, you must note that the inflation service was performed to the psi recommended by the vehicle manufacturer (in the vehicle's manual, or on the door placard or glove box door). You must also note the psi number that you inflated the tire to.
  
  Note: You aren't required to wait until the tire has cooled before "checking and inflating."
• If the psi rating is not available, or the vehicle is equipped with a tire not meeting the vehicle manufacturer’s tire specifications, then the recommended psi should be taken from a Tire Inflation Reference.
• A Tire Inflation Reference is any industry recognized resource—book or electronic—that contains tire pressure inflation specifications for original equipment tires and wheels and non-original equipment sized tires and wheels. The Tire Inflation Reference must be current within three years.
  
  Note: If you have exhausted all avenues on locating the correct psi for a specific tire, then note on the invoice that you were unable to locate the correct tire pressure.
• You need to keep a copy of the invoice for three years.  It can be kept on-site, off-site, or electronically, but must be made available to enforcement personnel within 72 hours of a request.

There are some exceptions to the regulations:

• You do not have to fill out paperwork for a consumer requesting a "courtesy" tire inflation.
• You do not have to check and inflate a spare tire unless it is in use.
• You do not have to fill out paperwork on a vehicle with a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds.
• Customers with tires inflated with nitrogen gas are subject to the "check and inflate" requirements but may refuse if the tire dealer does not have a nitrogen inflation system.
• You do not have to inflate tires if you determine that the tires are unsafe in accordance with standard industry practices, due to tire tread ware, tire age, tread irregularity, or damage.
• You do not have to fill out paperwork if a customer declines the service because he/she "affirms" the following: 1) if a "check and inflate" has been done within the past 30 days or 2) if a "check and inflate" will be done within the next 7 days.

If you do not provide the tire inflation service because of one of the above reasons, you are required to note why the service wasn’t provided on the customer's service invoice.

Note: A courtesy (free) tire inflation without other service does not require such information since there will be no invoice.