[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20789-20790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8365]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Work Group on Measuring Systems for Taxis

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is 
forming a Work Group (WG) to develop proposals to revise the current 
Taximeters Code in NIST Handbook 44 (HB 44), Specifications, 
Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring 
Devices, to adequately address emerging technologies used to assess 
charges based on time and/or distance measurements in taxi applications 
and to ensure that the prescribed methodologies and standards 
facilitate measurements that are traceable to the International System 
of Units (SI).

DATES: A preliminary web-based meeting or teleconference will be held 
on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. 
This meeting is intended to be a precursor to any subsequent face-to-
face meeting and will serve to provide further information and 
orientation regarding the objectives of the WG. To register for this 
preliminary meeting, please submit your full name, email address, and 
phone number to Mr. John Barton by April 30, 2012, using the contact 
information provided below.

ADDRESSES: The preliminary meeting will be held using either a 
teleconference or a web-based format where participants will join the 
meeting remotely by telephone and/or computer. Once registered, 
participants will receive login and/or call-in instructions via email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Barton, NIST, Office of 
Weights and Measures, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-2600. You may also contact Mr. Barton by telephone (301) 975-4002 
or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The formation of this WG is intended to 
bring together government officials and representatives of business, 
industry, trade associations, and consumer organizations on the subject 
of standards and test procedures used in the testing of commercial 
measuring devices and systems by regulatory officials and service 
companies. NIST participates to promote uniformity among the states in 
laws, regulations, methods, and testing equipment that comprises the 
regulatory control of commercial weighing and measuring devices and 
systems and other trade and commerce issues.
    The WG will review existing requirements and test procedures 
currently referenced in HB 44 Section 5.54., Taximeters Code, and 
propose changes as needed. They will also identify gaps between the 
Code and technologies currently in use in taxi applications. 
Additionally, the WG will identify and develop proposed modifications 
to HB 44 regarding inspection procedures used by regulatory weights and 
measures officials. These changes will be presented as proposals 
through the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM).
    Included among the topics to be discussed by the WG for current and 
emerging device technologies used in commercial distance measuring 
systems are: Metrology laboratory standards and test procedures, 
uncertainties,

[[Page 20790]]

measurement traceability, tolerances and other technical requirements 
for commercial measuring systems, existing standards for testing 
equipment, field implementation, data analysis, field test and type 
evaluation procedures, field enforcement issues, training at all 
levels, and other relevant issues identified by the WG. WG 
recommendations may result in the revision of current standards or the 
development of new standards for testing equipment, including documents 
such as the NIST Handbook 105 Series for field standards; NIST HB 44, 
Specifications, Tolerances, and Technical Requirements for Weighing and 
Measuring Devices; NIST Examination Procedure Outlines; and NIST 
Handbook 137, Examination of Distance Measuring Devices, as well as 
proposed changes to requirements and testing procedures for commercial 
devices and systems used to assess charges to consumers based on time 
and/or distance measurements.

    Dated: March 30, 2012.
Willie E. May,
Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-8365 Filed 4-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P