Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Holiday Travelers Wonder - How Accurate are Airport Luggage Scales?
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) provides information about the accuracy of airport luggage scales. With so many people traveling via air this holiday season and airlines charging for heavy bags, the accuracy of airport luggage scales is important. Here is information from DATCP about airport luggage scales:
Airline passengers pay to check their luggage, and the cost goes up substantially if the bags are overweight. This holiday travel season, Wisconsin travelers can be confident that the state’s airline baggage scales measure up.
Wisconsin weights and measures inspectors and city sealers inspected each of the 60 luggage scales in the state’s commercial airports and found an accuracy rate of 98.3 percent. All scales that were not working properly have been repaired.
The inspections were conducted throughout 2011 at airports in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, La Crosse, Mosinee, Eau Claire and Rhinelander.
Only one scale was found to weigh inaccurately in favor of the airline, at Mitchell Field in Milwaukee. The scale’s platform came in contact with the side of the scale during weighing, which increased the weight indication. Following repairs, the scale was re-inspected and found accurate.
Another seven scales around the state were rejected or ordered to be repaired for reasons other than accuracy. For instance, scales were not security sealed, the weight indicator was not visible to the customer, the scale was not marked correctly, or the scale was not functioning at all.
DATCP offers these tips for airport-bound travelers:
● Weigh your luggage before you leave home.
● Ask to have your luggage weighed on a different scale if you suspect an inaccurate reading.
● Be prepared to transfer items to a different bag in case your luggage is found overweight at the airport.
● Verify the scale indicator is at zero before you place your luggage on the scale. Airlines are required to have the scale indicator visible to customers.
● Check the platform to ensure it is not in contact with the side of the scale.
If you find a scale that is weighing inaccurately, file a complaint at datcp.wisconsin.gov; via e-mail at datcphotline@wisconsin.gov; or call toll-free at 1-800-422-7128.
The 2011 Airline Luggage Scales Testing Results can be found online at http://datcp.wi.gov/news/Index.aspx?Id=431.
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