Re-calibrate. That's what California legislators did last week to their already controversial law that requires all automotive service providers to check customer tire inflation pressures.

On August 24th, both houses of the California legislature unanimously passed a second bill that requires tire and auto service providers to have and utilize tire gauges that are accurate within plus or minus 2 pounds per square inch. Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law on August 25th.

In September 2010, the California Air Resources Board issued state regulations that require all tire and vehicle service centers to check and correct the inflation of all passenger vehicle tires on vehicles they service.

The new law also provides specific reasons why a service shop can legally refuse to check tire pressure, including threat of injury from a tire that could fail because of excessive or irregular wear or obvious damage. However, a tire’s age is not considered a legal reason to forego a pressure check.