(1) (a) Provision shall be made for official certified scales throughout the state for the purpose of doing public weighing if the scale owners agree to meet the requirements of this article. Such scales shall be operated only by a certified weigher. All equipment used by certified weighers shall be approved by the commissioner.

(b) The commissioner shall require the owner or operator of all certified scales to post on the outside of the scale house, where it can be conveniently observed by all persons, a sign at least twelve inches high and thirty-six inches long, stating the maximum weighing capacity of the scale. No person shall weigh or attempt to weigh any article or load having a greater weight or suspected weight greater than the rated capacity of the scale.

(2) (a) It shall be the duty of each certified weigher to weigh upon the certified scales any load delivered at the scales for weighing when engaged to do so by any person and to issue a certificate of correct weight. The certificate of correct weight shall state the gross weight of the load, the tare weight, the net weight of the load, and the date of weighing. In addition, the weight certificate shall indicate the state license number of the vehicle, or other positive identification, a serial number, the name of the shipper or the owner of the load, the nature of the load, the name of the receiver of the load, whether the driver is off or on the scale, the name of the certified weigher, and the location of the certified scale. For issuing a certificate, the certified weigher may charge a reasonable fee; except that no charge may be made for weighing done or for certificates issued upon the demand of the commissioner or any employee acting in an official capacity under the provisions of this article.

(b) All certified weighers shall keep a daily register in which they shall enter every transaction by them as certified weighers, including the gross weight of each load, the weight of the vehicle, the net weight of the load, the license number of the vehicle, if any, the name of the dealer or owner, the name of the weigher, the name of the person for whom the weighing was done, and the date of weighing. The daily register shall be kept by the certified weigher and shall be open at all times to inspection by the supervisor of measurements standards and all other inspectors of the department and by any other person interested therein. Such daily registers shall be keptfor a period of two years.

(3) A weighing made of any vehicle or combination of vehicles to ascertain the gross, tare, or net weight for commercial purposes or certification by a certified weigher shall not be determined by any procedure denominated as a split-weighing or fore-and-aft draft. The gross, tare, or net weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles as a single unit shall be determined upon scales with platforms of sufficient size to accommodate the vehicle or combination of vehicles as one entire unit; except that the gross, tare, or net weight of a combination of vehicles may be determined upon a scale which will not accommodate the combination of vehicles as one entire unit if the same are separated and the weight of each member thereof can and is determined separately as an independent unit. In such cases, weight certificates shall be issued for each such separate weighing.

(4) The certified scales shall be available for use by the public each day of the year during all reasonable business hours. Sundays and other legal holidays are excepted.

(5) All persons, firms, and corporations which do public weighing for a fee shall keep a complete record of each such weighing for a period of two years, and at least one copy of each weighing certificate shall be retained on record at the place of weighing.

(6) (a) All commodities bought, sold, delivered, or in the process of changing ownership that use the weight of the content for final determination and settlement shall be weighed on a scale licensed in accordance with this article if neither the buyer nor the seller owns his or her own scale. The weigher shall issue a weight certificate containing all the information required by subsection (2) of this section to both the buyer and the seller. If the buyer or seller owns his or her own scale licensed by the department and uses such scale to determine the weight of such commodities, such party shall issue a ticket or invoice in duplicate to the other party. Said ticket or invoice shall contain all the information required by subsection (2) of this section.

(b) All commodities bought, sold, delivered, or in the process of changing ownership for which a weight certificate, ticket, or invoice has been issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (6) and which are being hauled or transported on the streets, roads, or highways of this state shall be accompanied with a weight certificate or a ticket or invoice containing the information required by subsection (2) of this section.