Why No Free Air For Car Tires At Costco?

Editor:

While shopping at the Business Costco on A Street, I asked the store manager why there is no facility to check the air in my car tires. His reply was “we don’t sell tires here”. Well, there’s a law passed in 1999 that made it a requirement for service stations in California to provide free water, compressed air and an air pressure gauge to customers who purchase fuel.

Specifically, Section 13651 of the California Business and Professions Code further indicates “Every service station in this state shall display, at a conspicuous place on, at, or near the dispensing apparatus, at least one clearly visible sign which shall read as follows: CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES THIS STATION TO PROVIDE FREE AIR AND WATER FOR AUTOMOTIVE PURPOSES TO ITS CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT NOTIFY THE STATION ATTENDANT AND/OR CALL THIS TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1 (800) ___ ____. “

So, is any Costco selling fuel acting as a service station? If so, are they in violation of Section 13651?

–Conrad Wilgus, Castro Valley