FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 2, 2012) — Kentucky could become the seventh state in the U.S. to ban lead wheel weights if a new bill before the state legislature becomes law.
Introduced Feb. 27, House Bill 448 would make it illegal to use wheel weights containing lead or mercury, or to sell a new motor vehicle equipped with wheel weights containing lead or mercury. If passed, HB 448 would go into effect Jan. 1, 2013.
The bill is now before the House Transportation Committee of the Kentucky legislature.
“Kentucky is the second state to propose a bill this year, and that means that the lead wheel weight topic is not going away,” said Gregory Parker, marketing manager for Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based Perfect Equipment Inc. Perfect Equipment has a full range of zinc and steel wheel weights to replace lead in Kentucky if the bill becomes law, Mr. Parker said.
Illinois became the sixth state in the Union to ban lead weights, beginning Jan. 1 of this year. It followed California, Maine, New York, Vermont and Washington State in instituting a ban.
Wisconsin was the first state this year to consider a lead weight ban, but the Wisconsin legislature adjourned March 23 before the bill could be enacted, according to Mr. Parker.