SubTitle16a-15-1_16a-15-10. Signs — Retail Gasoline Outlets, Title16a Planning and Energy Policy, Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies

Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Last Updated: June 14,2023)

Title16a Planning and Energy Policy

SubTitle16a-15-1_16a-15-10. Signs — Retail Gasoline Outlets

Sec. 16a-15-1—16a-15-6. [Repealed]

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Repealed May 21, 1981.

Sec. 16a-15-7. Definitions

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For the purposes of sections 16a-15-7 to 16a-15-10 inclusive:

(a) "Price" shall mean the total retail price per gallon, taxes included, at which the covered product being dispensed from a particular covered product dispenser is being offered for sale;

(b) For the purposes of price posting or oxygenate posting "Covered Product(s)" means diesel fuel, gasoline, alcohol, compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane or other products intended as a fuel for aircraft, motor boats or motor vehicles;

(d) For the purposes of oxygenate posting

(1) "Co-solvent" means an alcohol or any other chemical with higher molecular weight than methanol or ethanol - which is blended with either or both to prevent phase separation in gasoline;

(2) "Ethanol" means ethyl alcohol, a flammable liquid having the formula CH3CH20H, used or sold for the purpose of blending or mixing with gasoline for use in motor vehicles and commonly or commercially known or sold as ethanol or ethyl alcohol;

(3) "Methanol" means methyl alcohol, a flammable liquid having the formula CH3OH, used or sold for the purpose of blending or mixing with gasoline for use in motor vehicles, and commonly or commercially known or sold as methanol or methyl alcohol; and

(4) "Maximum percentage" means the highest amount by volume of ethanol, methanol, or co-solvent permitted to be blended or mixed with gasoline in conformity with the specifications established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to section 211 of the clean air act, 42 U.S.C. section 7515;

(e) "Dispenser" means any self-contained suction pump or remote pedestal motor-fuel dispensing system;

(f) "Full serve" means that service which is offered at any service station where a retail purchaser shall expect to have an employee of the service station perform services and checks associated with the routine maintenance of vehicles in addition to his facilitating the transfer of fuel from the dispenser of the service station to the purchaser's vehicle;

(g) "Mini serve" means that service which is offered at any service station where a retail purchaser shall only expect to have an employee of the service station facilitate the transfer of fuel from the dispenser of the service station to the purchaser's vehicle; and

(h) "Self serve" means that service which is offered at any service station where a retail purchaser shall expect to personally facilitate the transfer of fuel from the dispenser of the service station to his vehicle.

(Effective December 6, 1995)

Sec. 16a-15-8. Type, number and display of signs

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(a) No one shall place on any dispenser any sign, notice, decal or other device that affects the visibility to the public of the required signs and notices listed in this section.

(b) Price posting.

There shall be a double-faced sign or two reversed single-faced signs on each fixed-location covered product dispenser displayed in a manner that shall be clearly visible to the members of the public from either side of the dispenser. The price of each grade of covered product dispensed from an individual dispenser shall be displayed individually.

(1) Retailers shall post the octane rating for all covered products sold to consumers.

Retailers shall do this by putting at least one label on each face of each covered products dispenser through which covered products are sold. If retailers sell two or more kinds of covered products with different octane ratings from a single dispenser, separate labels for each kind of covered product shall be placed on each dispenser face.

(2) The label, or labels, shall be placed conspicuously on the dispenser so as to be in full view of consumers and as near as reasonably practical to the price per gallon of the covered product.

(3) The octane rating shall be shown as a whole or half number equal to or less than the octane rating certified on transfer or determined by the retailer.

(4) The retailer shall maintain and replace labels as needed so that the consumers can easily see and read them. If the labels the retailer possesses are destroyed or are unusable or unreadable for some unexpected reason, the regulation may be satisfied by posting similar temporary labels. The required label shall be obtained and posted without delay.

(5) Certification of the octane rating of the covered product, either by letter or on the delivery ticket or other paper shall be received by the retailer upon transfer of covered product from a common carrier.

(d) Gasoline oxygenate blend posting.

(1) Retailers shall identify the oxygenate or combination of oxygenates by specific type, if above one percent by volume, for all covered products sold to consumers.

(2) Retailers shall display the content label on the front skirt of each dispenser or on the skirts of both sides of each dual dispenser or other dispensing device. For example, the label may read "contains ethanol" or "with MTBE/ETBE." Said label shall be displayed on the upper fifty (50) percent of the dispenser front panel in a location clear and conspicuous from the driver's position, in a type at least 127mm (1/2 in) in height, 15mm (1/16 in) stroke (width of type).

(3) The retailer shall be provided, at the time of delivery of the fuel, on an invoice, bill of lading, shipping paper, or other documentation, a declaration of any oxygenate or combination of oxygenates present in concentrations of at least one percent by volume in the fuel. This documentation is only for dispenser labeling purposes; it is the responsibility of any potential blender to determine the total oxygen content of the engine fuel before blending.

(e) Required signs.

Retailers shall display any other sign or notice that may be required by any other state or federal statute or regulation in a manner prescribed by such state or federal statute or regulation.

(Effective December 6, 1996; Amended November 10, 2015)

Sec. 16a-15-9. Signs, dimensions—information

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(a) Price

(1) The price display for each grade of covered product shall be 7¼″ high and 9½″ wide.

(2) The numbers on such sign shall be 4½″ high and ⅝″ wide. The price shall be displayed to three decimal places. The third decimal place number shall be half-sized and placed on the sign as shown in the examples at the end of this section.

(3) The numbers and letters shall be displayed in one of the following manners: (A) black numbers and the background shall be white; (B) white numbers and the background shall be black; or (C) illuminated white, red, green or yellow numbers viewed on an electronic display, using light-emitting diode (“LED”) technology for example, where the background behind the illuminated numbers shall be black, and the body of the sign shall be either black with white letters, or white with black letters. The statement "TAX INCLUDED," or “TAXES INCLUDED,” or “ALL TAXES INCLUDED” shall be displayed on the price sign, in letters ½″ high and ⅛″ wide in black for signs with a white background, and in white for signs with a black background. All price display colors and display methods, namely electronic or non-electronic, shall be consistent throughout the retail premises.

(4) The price on the sign on the top of the dispenser shall indicate price per gallon and shall be the same price as that displayed on the face of the dispenser.

(5) Dispensers shall compute the price for the sale of gasoline on a per gallon basis. Computing the price for such sale by the fraction of a gallon shall be prohibited.

(6) Illustration of price. Price signs, including the color combinations for numbers, characters and sign backgrounds, shall meet the specifications of this section and shall look like these examples, except that electronic displays may vary to accommodate multiple grades on one sign:

Sample display with white background and black letters:

Sample display with black background and white letters:

Sample electronic display:

(b) Octane labels.

(1) Layout. The label is 3″ wide x 2½″ long. The illustrations appearing at the end of this section are prototype labels that demonstrate the proper layout. Helvetica type is used throughout except for the octane rating number which is in Franklin Gothic type. Spacing of the label is ¼″ between the top border and the first line of text, ⅛″ between the first and second line of text, ¼″ between the octane rating and the line of text above it. All text and numerals are centered within the interior borders.

(2) Type size and setting. The Helvetica series is used for all numbers and letters with the exception of the octane rating number. Helvetica is available in a variety of phototypesetting systems and by linotype. The line "Minimum Octane Rating" is set in 12 point Helvetica Bold, all capitals, with letterspace set at 12½ points. The line "(R + M)/2 Method" is set in 10 point Helvetica Bold, all capitals with letterspace set at 10½ points. The octane number is set in 96 point Franklin Gothic Condensed with ⅛″ space between the numbers.

(3) Colors. The basic color on all labels is process yellow. All type is process black. All borders are process black. Both colors must be non-fade.

(4) Contents. The contents are shown in the illustration. The proper octane rating for each covered product must be shown. No marks or information other than that called for by this section may appear on the label.

(5) Special label protection. All labels must be capable of withstanding extremes of weather conditions for a period of at least one year. They must be resistant to gasoline, oil, grease, solvents, detergents, and water.

(6) Illustrations of labels. Labels should meet the specification in this section and should look like these examples, except the black print should be on a yellow background.

Repealed, December 6, 1995.

(Effective May 21, 1981; Amended November 10, 2015)

Sec. 16a-15-10. Record keeping

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Retailers of covered product (octane posting) shall maintain for one year any delivery tickets or letters of certification on which the posting of octane ratings was based. Also retailers of covered products must keep for one year records of any octane rating determinations made. These records may be kept at the retail station or at another, reasonably close location.

(Effective May 21, 1981)