Washington drivers may receive less gas than paid

Drivers in Washington state may be receiving less gas than they pay for due to a failure in inspection processes. Regulators revealed that a shortage of inspectors has led to infrequent checks on gas pumps. This means many stations may not be accurately dispensing fuel. The Weights and Measures program, which ensures gas pumps are correct, is struggling to keep up with inspections. Each gas station should be checked at least once every two years. However, out of 1,055 gas stations in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, only 75 were inspected recently. Of those, 26 had problems regarding accuracy. Many gas pumps in the Puget Sound area lack inspection stickers, making it hard for drivers to know if their station is safe. The allowed margin of error for gas pumps is about half a cup, but some pumps have dispensed up to two full cups less fuel than paid for. In rare cases, some pumps may have given drivers more gas than they paid for. Tahis McQueen, a program manager for Weights and Measures, noted that most gas station owners likely are not aware of these issues. The problems usually stem from faulty meters rather than tampering. When a station fails an inspection, they are given 30 days to fix the issues and can face fines if they do not comply.