According to the EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey, lead that falls off vehicles and grinds up on roads can contaminate water supplies. Lead is known to be highly toxic and has been linked to a variety of health hazards.

Currently, nine states, as well as large independent tire dealers, have banned the use of lead wheel weights. The states that have banned lead wheel weights are California, Minnesota, Illinois, Maine, New York, Vermont, Washington, New Jersey, and Maryland. Other states have legislation under consideration or that has been proposed but not passed. Over time, more states will continue to ban or restrict the use of lead wheel weights due to their harmful effects.

Lead

Lead wheel weights have been produced for decades and are known to be more ductile and denser than zinc and steel. The greater density of lead wheel weights allows technicians to install smaller but heavier weights.

However, depending on where you live, you may not be allowed to sell, distribute, or service vehicles with lead wheel weights. According to the EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey, lead wheel weights that fall off vehicles and grind onto roadways can contaminate water supplies. Lead is known to be highly toxic and has been linked to a variety of health hazards.

Lead wheel weight laws & Renalties

Currently, only nine (9) states within the United States have laws in place regarding lead wheel weights. These nine states currently represent 33% of the vehicles registered in North America. No other state has laws in place regarding wheel weights. This document provides a condensed version of the full laws for states that do have laws in place. Please note that each state listed in this document has its own legal language regarding prohibiting the use of lead wheel weights, and the information on this table is provided for reference only. Please refer to each state’s individual laws for specific legal information and compliance policies regarding lead wheel weights. Please also note that all states that have laws only have laws in place regarding lead and/or mercury wheel weights. No other modern wheel weight materials are subject to any current regulations.

California The state of California lists penalties for lead wheel weights in its Health and Safety Code. Senate Bill 757 was a bill that added provisions to the Health and Safety Code, which was eventually passed and enacted. California prohibits the manufacture, sale, or installation of lead wheel weights. The bill does not specifically use the words “distribute” or “distribute” in its statutory language, the bill specifically provides the following in Section 252157 (Section IC). “A person who violates this section shall be subject to an administrative or civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per day for each violation” The California lead wheel weight law went into effect on January 1, 2010.

Illinois The state of Illinois lists penalties for lead wheel weights in its Environmental Protection Act, which prohibits the “sale, offering for sale, distribution, or dispensing of lead weights” in the state. It does not actually prohibit the “use or installation” of lead wheel weights as some states do. In a FA@ document regarding the ban on lead and mercury wheel weights in Linos, the penalties for violating the ban are as follows: “A person who violates this law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be subject to a fine of up to $50,000 and an additional civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each day during the period of violation.” The Linos lead wheel weight law went into effect on January 1, 2012.

MAINE

Maine lists its lead-based wheel weight:penalties under its Sale of consumer AfectingThe Environment Act, This act is governed by the Department of Environmental Protection Title 38, Section 349.Maine prohibits thto sell, distribution and use of lead wheel weights.This law even has language to ban lead wheel weight sales by mail order and on the internet, The act goes on to state the folowing under it’scriminal penalties section:“Except as otherwise specificallya person who intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligenceDroVidedwiolates a law administered by the denartment. incuding, without imitation, a violation of the terms or conditions of an order ule, icense, permitapproval or decision of the board or commissioner.ess than $2.500 and not more than.. the fine for a violation of this subsection may not be$25.000 for each dav of the violation, except that the minimym amount for knowing violations is $5.000 for each day of violation” There is alsoa civil penalties section with similar legallanguage.Itstates the following:”..a person whoaw administered by the department,… isWio ates asublectto a cwl penaty, pavable to the State ofnot less than si00 and not more than si0 000 for each dav ofthat vioation or ifthe violatiorrelates to hazardous waste, of not more than $25,000 for each day of the violation” The Maine lead-based wheel weight law became efectiveJanuary 1.2011.

MARYLAND

Marvland ists its ead-based wheel weight penaties under its Envronment and ransportation/Fducation, Heath and Fnvironmenta Afalrs Acts, Marvland prohibits the installation, sell and use of lead and mercury wheel weights, The Mary land state law states that allead and mercury wheel weights that are removed and collected shall be properly recycled, The law states in section 6-501.32..(2)the department shallsend awarning notice to a person that violates this law and if failure to comply after one vear from the warning notice, the person is subiect to a civil finenot exceeding $1.000 for each subsequent ofense after the warning period. The law has a compliance date of January 1 2018 for state-ownedvehicles, and january 1, 2020 for all new and used vehicles registered within the state.

Minnesota

Minnesota imposes fines for lead wheel weights under its Waste Management and Pollution Control Act. Minnesota prohibits the sale, offer for sale, distribution, and use of wheel weights containing lead. Unlike other states, Minnesota’s law also covers the management of recycling of old lead wheel weights, which means that businesses should be able to track where their old stock goes when they send it for recycling. The law states in Section 116.072 that (a) The commissioner or county commission may issue an order imposing a fine of up to $10,000 for all violations found during an inspection or other compliance review. Minnesota’s lead wheel weight law went into effect on January 1, 2016.

New Jersey

New Jersey imposes fines for lead wheel weights under its Motor Vehicle Commission Administrative Code. New Jersey prohibits the sale, offer for sale, and use of wheel weights containing lead and mercury. The law is set forth in Section 2.B. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has the authority to enter any retail establishment where weights are used or sold at any time during normal business hours to determine compliance. The law further provides that any person who violates this law shall be fined up to $2,500 per violation. New Jersey’s law regarding wheel weights containing lead and mercury took effect on July 8, 2018.

New York

New York lists penalties for lead-based wheel weights in its Environmental Protection Act. New York prohibits the sale, offer for sale, distribution, and use of lead-based wheel weights in New York. Penalties for Lead-Based Wheel Weights: In the FAQ sheet posted, the penalties for violating the ban are as follows: “The penalties in Section 71-3703 of the Environmental Protection Act shall apply. This section provides that any person who violates any provision of Section 37-0107 or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, or fails to comply with any obligation thereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation and an additional penalty of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each day the violation continues, and such person may be prohibited from continuing to violate the law. New York’s Lead-Based Wheel Weight Law went into effect on April 1, 2011

Washington

Washington lists lead-based wheel weights in its Public Health and Safety Act. House Bill 1033 is a bill to provide for the prohibition of lead-based wheel weights under Section 70.270 RcW of the Public Health and Safety Act. Chapter 11 increased wheel weight penalties, and the bill was eventually passed and enacted. Washington state law requires that persons who rebalance or re-balance tires on motor vehicles must replace lead wheel weights with environmentally friendly wheel weights. The law does not mention the words manufacture, sale, distribution, or distribution anywhere. The bill clearly states in Section 4:3: “The department shall issue a warning letter to a person who fails to comply with Section 3 of this Act and provide information or other appropriate assistance. If the person fails to comply with Section 3:1 of this Act within one year after the department issues the warning letter, the department may assess a civil penalty pursuant to Section 5 of this Act.” Section 5 of the bill clearly states: “A civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars may be imposed for a first violation of Section 3:1 of this Act and a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars may be imposed for each subsequent violation of Section 3:1 of this Act.” Washington state’s wheel weight law went into effect on January 1, 2011.

Note: It is USA policy that we wil not ship lead-based goods into any state that has an active lead wheel weight law.

Currently, some people use steel wheel balance weights and lead wheel balance weights to replace lead wheel balance weights. Shengshi Weiye produces three different wheel weights: zinc, lead, and steel to meet the needs of everyone in the industry.

Orange = States with lead wheel weight laws in place. Each law applies only to lead and/or mercury wheel weights and does not mention other materials.
Blue = States with lead and/or mercury wheel weight laws previously proposed but not yet enacted.
Gray = States with wheel weight laws not in effect and no law has been proposed before