From start to finish, it took only a few months to get the ban on lead wheel weights approved in Minnesota.
State Senate Bill SB 2192 was introduced in early March. After it passed through both the Senate and House of Representatives two weeks ago, it landed on Governor Mark Dayton's desk.
On May 16, he signed the bill into law. The bill, which expressly prohibits the installation, sale and distribution of lead and mercury based wheel weights in Minnesota, set a compliance date of Jan. 1, 2016.
"Now that the Minnesota lead wheel weight law has been finalized and signed by the governor, the market can begin to implement the change," says Gregory Parker, marketing manager for Perfect Equipment wheel weights, a brand of Wegmann automotive USA Inc.
"The key to a successful transition is to test the available options and not rush into a specific direction. The state's 19-month transition period should allow local businesses plenty of time to conduct their own product trials, compare products & suppliers and then decide which direction is right for their company."
Minnesota is the seventh state to enact a ban on lead wheel balance weights, joining California, Illinois, Maine, New York, Vermont, and Washington.
