New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation requiring annual inspections of airport baggage scales after a report found that more than a quarter of the scales inspected at Newark Liberty International Airport were inaccurate.
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee advanced Assembly Bill A5507, sponsored by Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, which would require the New Jersey Office of Weights and Measures to inspect baggage scales at least once a year.
The legislation also would require inspection results, including the number of scales that fail, to be made public within 30 days.
The proposal follows a report by NJ Spotlight News and NYCity News Service that found approximately 27% of baggage scales inspected at Newark Liberty International Airport were inaccurate.
During an October 2023 inspection, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs identified inaccuracies in 105 of the 384 baggage scales examined. Of those, 86 were sufficiently inaccurate to be condemned and removed from service.
According to the legislation’s sponsors, Newark had not undergone another inspection since October 2023. By comparison, New York City conducts annual inspections of baggage scales at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.
“When travelers check their bags at the airport, they should be able to trust that the scales are accurate. No one should face unnecessary fees because the equipment being used is giving an incorrect reading,” Calabrese said in a release.
“This legislation establishes a simple standard of accountability through regular inspections and public reporting. It is a commonsense step to protect consumers from unnecessary charges and make air travel a little less stressful,” he added.
Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and Assemblyman Chigozie Onyema also sponsor the bill.
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