Author Archives: Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

Beware: it’s “skimmer” fraud season

December 15, 2016   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

Credit card crime happens all year long – but right now, when holiday travel and transactions are on the upswing, credit criminals are at their busiest. It’s a good time to learn what we’re doing to protect your credit/debit transactions from thieves who install hidden devices, often at service stations, to “skim” card info, passwords and related data during seemingly …

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CDFA and Governor Brown’s 2016 ZEV Action Plan

October 20, 2016   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

  CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) is pleased to play a key role in Governor Brown’s 2016 ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) Action Plan.  ZEV technologies include hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), which include both pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The 2016 Action Plan contains six broad goals …

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National Weights and Measures Week – making sure you get what you pay for

March 2, 2016   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

National Weights and Measures Week is March 1-7 Scenario 1 –  You’re at the gas station.  You push the button for premium gasoline and pay an extra ten cents per gallon to pump fifteen gallons into the tank.  Did you get the amount and quality that you paid for? Scenario 2 –  You use your phone to request Uber to …

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Uber moves forward with Temporary Use Permit approved by CDFA

August 5, 2015   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) often deals with the application of new technology as it evaluates the accuracy and suitability of new measuring devices for commercial service.  Over the years, we have encountered many new commercial instruments and software-interfaced systems for which there is no existing weights and measures code.  Fortunately, California law facilitates the use of new technology …

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Measurement Standards: It All Started Down on the Farm…

February 11, 2015   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

When you go to the supermarket and you buy a gallon of milk or a pound of oranges, how do you know you’re getting your money’s worth? How about a quart of oil, or an acre of land, or a truckload of building materials? Well, it all started down on the farm… As our ancestors made the transition from their …

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Taking Measure of Farm-to-Fork – It’s Weights and Measures Week

March 5, 2014   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

With the “Farm to Fork” concept getting more and more attention, it’s worth noting that it’s essential to maintain the integrity of commerce as food products move from farm to fork. In observing National Weights and Measures week (March 1-7), CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) protects both businesses and consumers in commerce by ensuring fair competition and accurate value comparisons. …

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Diesel Fuel Substitute Shows Promise – CDFA Partnering in Test Project

June 20, 2013   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

A new fuel will soon be powering some vehicles in a test project in California. Volvo’s heavy truck division is partnering with an innovative California start-up, Oberon Fuels, to develop Dimethyl Ether (DME) as a diesel engine fuel replacement, at a price comparable to regular diesel fuel. DME, already in use as a propellant in many consumer products, is a non-toxic, …

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National Weights and Measures Week Marks 100 Years of State of California Oversight

March 4, 2013   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

  “Weights & Measures may be ranked among the necessaries of life to every individual of human society.”  -John Quincy Adams, sixth US president. In celebrating National Weights and Measures Week (March 1-7), we are recognizing a U.S. system of weights and measures that was established almost at the very start of our country, in 1799.  When California became a state in …

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New Algae-Based Biodiesel Meets State Fuel Quality Standards

December 12, 2012   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

The Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) has tested samples of a new 20 percent biodiesel blend fuel made from algae and is happy to report that the fuel is compliant with California’s quality specification for biodiesel blends.  The new fuel became available November 13, 2012 at four gas stations in Berkeley, Oakland, Redwood City and …

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Buyer beware during the holiday season – check those prices!

November 19, 2012   Kristin Macey, Director, CDFA Division of Measurement Standards

It’s that time of year again. Holiday shopping is already underway and will increase in earnest during the Thanksgiving weekend. As frugal consumers, it’s time for us to note the advertisements, synchronize our shopping lists, and hope to strike a bargain.  Whether it’s a flat screen TV, the latest communications gadget, or the coolest toy, we want the best price …

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