NJ lawmakers advance bill requiring annual baggage scale inspections at Newark airport
TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey Assembly committee has advanced legislation that would require annual inspections of baggage scales at Newark Liberty International Airport following reports that more than a quarter of the scales examined during a previous inspection produced inaccurate readings.
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee advanced bill A5507 last week. Sponsored by Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, D-Bergen and Passaic, the legislation would require the New Jersey Office of Weights and Measures to inspect baggage scales at qualifying airports at least once a year and publicly release inspection results within 30 days.
The legislation follows a report by NJ Spotlight News and NYCity News Service citing data showing that baggage scales at Newark Liberty International Airport displayed inaccurate readings approximately 27% of the time.
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 found to be sufficiently inaccurate to be condemned and removed from service.
According to information released by lawmakers, Newark Liberty International Airport had not undergone another examination since October 2023. By comparison, New York City conducts annual baggage scale inspections 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,” said Assemblyman Calabrese (D-Bergen, Passaic). “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.”
Under the proposed legislation, the state superintendent and assistant superintendents of the Office of Weights and Measures would be required to inspect, or arrange for the inspection of, baggage scales at qualifying airports at least once annually.
Within 30 days of completing an inspection, the office would also be required to publish a summary of its findings on its website, including information about the number of baggage scales that failed inspection.
Although New Jersey has several airports, the legislation would not apply to all of them. The bill defines a qualifying airport as one located entirely or partially within a New Jersey city of the first class and containing multiple terminals, including an international airport terminal.
Under that definition, Newark Liberty International Airport appears to be the only airport currently covered by the proposed requirements.
The measure is intended to strengthen consumer protections by ensuring that travelers are not improperly charged baggage fees because of inaccurate equipment used to determine luggage weight.
Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and Assemblyman Chigozie Onyema are also sponsors of the legislation.
The bill has been reported and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
