September 2003 

Printed Receipts at Retail Service Stations

By: Tina Butcher 

WMD periodically receives inquiries about the NIST Handbook 44 requirements for 

printed receipts issued at retail service stations. There are several paragraphs in the 

Liquid-Measuring Devices (LMD) Code of Handbook 44 that address printed receipts in 

this application. 

- Paragraph S.1.1. General, which addresses general requirements for indicating 

and recording elements. 

- Paragraph S.1.6.7. Recorded Representations, which addresses requirements for 

retail transactions conducted with retail liquid-measuring devices activated by debit 

cards, credit cards, and/or cash or with point-of-sale systems interfaced with retail 

liquid-measuring devices. 

- Paragraph UR.3.4. Printed Ticket, which addresses required information on 

printed tickets issued by liquid-measuring devices. 

Outlined below is an interpretation of each paragraph. 

Indicating and Recording Elements, Paragraph S.1.1. General 

A liquid-measuring device is required to be equipped with a primary indicating element. 

While it is permissible for a liquid-measuring device to be equipped with a recording 

element such as a ticket or receipt printer, a recording element is not generally required. 

Note, however, that there are some instances (such as those addressed in LMD Code 

Paragraph S.1.6.7.) in which a printed receipt is required. 

If a liquid-measuring device is equipped with a recording element, there are other LMD 

Code and General Code requirements in the Handbook that apply regarding clarity, 

legibility, and content of the printed information. 

Operating Requirements, Retail Devices, S.1.6.7. Recorded Representations 

Paragraph S.1.6.7. requires that a printed receipt be provided for retail liquid-measuring 

device transactions (for example, gasoline dispensers at retail service stations) conducted 

with point-of-sale systems or with retail liquid-measuring devices activated by debit 

cards, credit cards, and/or cash. The receipt may be provided through a printing device 

built into the liquid-measuring device, for example, a receipt issued by a card reader and 

receipt printer built into the dispenser. Alternatively, a separate recording element 

interfaced with the measuring system may be used to generate the receipt, for example, a 

receipt printer interfaced to a control console or a point-of-sale electronic cash register 

that receives transaction information transmitted from the gasoline dispenser. In either 
case, the printing element is interfaced with and is considered to be part of the liquidmeasuring device system. 

Paragraph S.1.6.7. requires that the following information be included on the receipt: 

- the total volume of the delivery, 

- the unit price, 

- the total computed price, and 

- the product identity by name, symbol, abbreviation or code number. 

An exception to this requirement is made for fleet sales and other price contract sales (see 

Handbook 44 Appendix D, Definitions for a definition of contract sales). 

Use of Device, UR.3.4. Printed Ticket 

This paragraph specifies the information that must be included on a printed ticket that is 

issued by a measuring device and contains some transaction information. Paragraph 

UR.3.4. requires that the printed ticket include the total price, the total volume of the 

delivery, and the price per gallon or liter. In some cases, a liquid-measuring device may 

print only one or two of these values. In such cases, the remaining value or values may 

be written on the receipt by the user in hand script. 

This paragraph alone does not require a liquid-measuring device to be equipped with a 

printer nor does it require the user to provide a printed ticket. This paragraph simply 

specifies the information that must be included on a printed ticket if the liquid-measuring 

device issues a printed ticket. 

Note that this paragraph does not apply does not apply to bankcard readers or other 

recording elements that are separate from the dispenser (i.e., that are not interfaced with a 

retail motor-fuel dispenser, console, or other portion of the measuring system). 

For questions about the requirements for printed receipts at retail service stations, contact 

Tina Butcher by e-mail at tbutcher@nist.gov or by telephone at 301-975-2196.