ARTICLE 16. Enforcement [13590. - 13600.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 16.

in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13590. Section 13590.

It is the duty of the department acting through the Division of Measurement Standards to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and to appoint and employ inspectors as may be necessary.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13591. Section 13591.

(a) The department, its inspectors, and each sealer, are hereby authorized and empowered to inspect the motor vehicle fuels or lubricants referred to in this chapter and to enter, for the purpose of the inspection, any place where motor vehicle fuels or lubricants are kept or stored for sale. (b) All those officers shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13592. Section 13592.

The department, each sealer, and any person now or hereafter authorized or empowered by law to inspect the motor vehicle fuels or lubricants referred to in this chapter, may take such sample or samples as may be necessary of any motor vehicle fuel or lubricant kept or stored for the purpose of sale.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13593. Section 13593.

It is unlawful for any person, or any member, officer, agent, or employee of a firm, association, or corporation, to refuse to permit any person authorized by this article to take such sample or samples permitted by this chapter, or to prevent or to attempt to prevent the taking of such sample or samples.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13594. Section 13594.

If the owner or person in possession of the product of which a sample is taken under this article shall at the time of the taking, demand payment for the commodity taken, then the person taking the sample shall pay therefor the reasonable market price.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13595. Section 13595.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to sell or deliver any motor vehicle fuel or lubricant referred to in this chapter that fails to meet the specifications required by this chapter. (b) It is unlawful for any person to sell or deliver any motor vehicle fuel or lubricant referred to in this chapter into, from, or through an unlabeled or mislabeled container or device. (c) (1) The department, each county sealer, deputy county sealer, and inspector may close and seal outlets and inlets of any receptacles, containers, pumps, dispensers, or storage tanks connected to the outlets and inlets, containing any motor vehicle fuel or lubricant referred to in this chapter that fails to meet the requirements of this chapter. (2) The person so sealing shall post in a conspicuous place on the premises, where a receptacle, container, pump, dispenser, or storage tank connected to the outlets and inlets has been sealed, a notice stating that the action of sealing has been taken in accordance with this chapter, and giving warning that it is unlawful to break, mutilate, or destroy the seal or seals of the outlets and inlets, to move the container, or to remove the contents from the container, under the penalty provided in this division. (d) If a container or lot of containers of any commodity subject to this chapter is found to contain a commodity not in conformity with this chapter, the secretary or sealer representing the secretary may take a sample or samples reasonably necessary for enforcement purposes and may, in writing, order the containers off sale. Any lot or container ordered off sale pursuant to this section shall be subject to a disposal order by the enforcing officer and shall not be sold, offered for sale, or transported, except in accordance with that disposal order. Any action pursuant to this section shall not affect any rights of a retailer under a warranty of merchantability or warranty of fitness.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13596. Section 13596.

Upon at least 24 hours’ written notice from the owner, manager, or operator of the container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank which has been sealed, to the department or to the sealer of the county in which the premises are situated stating that the contents of such container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank will be removed or that such container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank or inlet end of the fill-pipe thereof will be properly labeled as provided in this chapter, at a specified time, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. of a day specified in the notice, other than a holiday, such officer shall, at the time specified, break the seal or seals for the purpose of permitting the removal by such manager, owner, or operator, of the contents of such container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank connected thereto, or the use thereof after proper labeling. The removal of contents or proper labeling of the container, receptacle, pump, storage tank, or inlet end of the fill-pipe thereof, as the case may be, shall be made at the time specified and in the presence of the officer removing the seal.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13597. Section 13597.

If for any reason at the time specified in the written notice the contents are not removed, or the container, receptacle, pump, storage tank, or inlet end of the fill-pipe thereof is not properly labeled, then the container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank connected thereto and the inlet end of the fill-pipe of such storage tank shall be again sealed as provided in this article and the contents may not thereafter be removed or the container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank connected thereto, or inlet end of the fill-pipe thereof, be again used, except upon the giving of a new notice and proper labeling.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13598. Section 13598.

Upon removal of the contents or proper labeling as provided in this article, the notice previously posted shall be removed and the container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank may be restored to lawful use.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13599. Section 13599.

No container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank connected thereto, or the inlet end of the fill-pipe of such storage tank, shall, however, be relabeled by the owner, manager, or operator, whether under the provisions of this article or otherwise, without first removing from such container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank connected thereto, or the inlet end of the fill-pipe thereof, all distinctive colors, brands, trademarks, or trade names thereon of any manufacturer, refiner, producer, distributor, or marketer, indicative of any product not actually contained therein and sold therefrom.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 13600. Section 13600.

It is unlawful for any person, or any member, officer, agent, or employee of a firm, association, or corporation, other than the department or any of the officers mentioned in this article, to break, mutilate, or destroy any seal or seals placed upon a container, receptacle, pump, or storage tank connected thereto, or any other storage tank containing a motor vehicle fuel or lubricant, when placed thereon as provided by this article, or to move a container so sealed, or remove the contents therefrom, or to cover, deface, or remove the notice of sealing required by this article.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026