ACQUISITION AND USE OF PUBLIC PLATFORM TONNAGE SCALES

(a) The commissioners court of a county may, on the presentation of a suitable written petition signed by 500 or more inhabitants of the county, purchase and install one or more public platform tonnage scales suitable and adapted for the weighing of livestock, produce, agricultural products, or other goods to facilitate the development of truck farming, cattle raising, or other trade or business in which the availability of a public scale is necessary or desirable. (b) The commissioners court may operate a public scale. It may provide adequate personnel for this purpose or it may lease or rent, under terms and conditions it may set, the scale to a responsible private person. (c) The commissioners court may prescribe rules concerning the use of a public scale, including the fee to be charged. (d) A public scale provided for under this section must at all times be available for use by the public. (e) The money that may be collected or received from the use or operation of a public scale or through a contract executed under this section shall be deposited in the general fund of the county.