taxed again

[newhampshiretech]

well I was just unfortunately greeted by a local weights and measures investigator apparently New Hampshire has chosen to now license and regulate timing devices. ie vacuums, self serve bays, and shampooers etc.
this is what the letter read.

The New Hampshire General Courtr has charged the division of weights and measures with licensing the licensing of all commercial weighing and measuring devices used in the state as codified in RSA 438:7,VI The division has determined that vacuum cleaners, car washes and air compressors used in commercial service on the basis of time falls within this scope.

The legal license fee for all timing devices is currently $18.00 per device and the license period is 1 year.This fee will increase to 24.00 per year in the near future approx Jan 2010.

Just wondered if other states already did this and if so are the fees similar?


At some point in the future the division will conduct an annual inspection of these devices to determine accuracy. If found accurate it will be "sealed" certifying to the public that it is operating within the applicable tolerances of a timing device.The legal inspection fee is $20.00 dollars per device.

 

[MEP001]

It doesn't even make sense that they should regulate a device that you can set to whatever time you desire. Maybe there's a loophole that if you don't advertise a time given for a price that you don't need them licensed.

 

[pitzerwm]

You are the only source of revenue for the government. Get use to it.

The government does not how to reduce spending, so they will continue to need more money. Just pass it on to the customer and when they quit paying it, then you will get to quit paying it to the government.

 

[Eric H]

I've been waiting for this to happen for a long time. Just surprised the "live Free or DIE" state got to it first.

 

[Earl Weiss]

>>>The New Hampshire General Courtr has charged the division of weights and measures with licensing the licensing of all commercial weighing and measuring devices used in the state as codified in RSA 438:7,VI The division has determined that vacuum cleaners, car washes and air compressors used in commercial service on the basis of time falls within this scope.
<<<

Been thru something like this in Chicago. Here you have a departmernt that determines that this falls within weighing and measuring devices. You would have to read the stautory definitions to see whether or not their determination makes any sense. If it does not you may be able to oppose it on any number of levels including but not limited to going to court. If they are full of beans you may want to contact an area association to take up the battle. Of course you will need to determine the cost / benefit analysis .

 

[Randy]

There are a number of states that require timer certification, New York, Ohio, Arizona, and now New Hampshire come to mind, there may be more. Most states that require timer certification are hit and miss, meaning they are not consistent with all the operators; some are required to be tested and some aren’t. Some states also require that the amount of time purchased be posted, $2.00 for 4 minutes.

 

[newhampshiretech]

Thanks for the responses and input everyone.

I would imagine there are remedies. I'll take a close look at the law, they're usually quite vague.

 

[Red Baron]

Ahem, uhh, have you guys forgotten whose in charge in these United States??? This is craziness!!! We better pull up our big girl panties and do something about this runaway socialist government while there's still time. Thank goodness I live in Texas where they know that MY vacs are MINE, and if I want to charge $50 for 30 seconds that's my damn business!!!!!!!!!! The decision about my prices being too high or not is between me and Joe Customer - the government is not part of the equasion.

What idiot would go to the effort of reprogramming his vacs in order to cheat the customer of of enough time to make a difference, yet too little to notice? Typical for the government mindset, they're busily solving a nonexistant problem. What, next are they going to measure to make your your vacs suck enough, and charge you $20 more do do it?

 

[ScottV]

Here in the high tax state of New York, we've had weights and measures guys at our washes for years. I opened my newest location on Sunday (4 days ago) and on Monday the W&M guy was there to test our vacs and SS bays. I just shook my head!

Here they don't charge to do the certification, or make us register our meters with an annual fee. Hopefully our blind governor isnt reading this post, cause he might use the idea to help close the $3.2Billion budget gap that we have right now in NYS!

 

[cherokee235]

Thank goodness I live in Texas where they know that MY vacs are MINE, and if I want to charge $50 for 30 seconds that's my damn business!!!!!!!!!!

Easy Red Baron,

Nothing here in Texas is guaranteed. I was in the middle of the sales tax fight back in 1991 (I think that is the year). We were saved by one vote in the House. I new my state rep personally and called him to let him know what this would do to the coin op industry, how it effectively would be a gross income tax. He voted against it. That is how close it all comes sometimes.

We have a good business climate in Texas, but like cancer the stuff that comes out in some of the high tax states tends to get in the lymph nodes and spread around. Let's stay dilligent.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Here in the high tax state of New York, we've had weights and measures guys at our washes for years. I opened my newest location on Sunday (4 days ago) and on Monday the W&M guy was there to test our vacs and SS bays. I just shook my head!
<<,

Do they check to see if the corect time is given? I don't even list time on the vacs. Are your required to list time for $?

 

[ScottV]

Yes, it must show money and time. That is all that they check.

 

[newhampshiretech]

If we really wanted to get around it. guess we'll just have to get rid of the timers and sell an approx gallons of water/solution in the bays.

and sell an approximate volume of air at negative pressure at the vacs.


not sure customers would understand the new signs though.


"please insert 8 quarters for 366 cf of air -2lbs of vaccum"

 

[ScottV]

Thats a nifty idea, newhampshiretech, however the W&M guy would be back and then want to measure the volume of air and vaccum. There's no beating the government!!

 

[jprb]

How about going to an "Unlimited Time" for $5. No measuring there!

JPRB

 

[soapy]

In Arizona I remember that if you provided more time than your sign stated they would also fine you for not being in compliance. Technically all timed devises are regulated by federal law.