HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT)- It's a familiar sound, filling up your tank.

"It cost 40 dollars to fill up my car, and it last maybe half a week." says Kelly Oliver.

Now a days when every penny counts, you want to make sure you're getting the most at the pump.

"Prices are rising, our salaries are not rising, we need to have all the money we can, to get around and live."

That's where Morris Bell, comes in. He's an inspector with the state weights and measurement department, and his job is to make sure gas stations are giving you the right amount of gas, for your dollar. Wednesday, Bell, performed a surprise inspection at the Pic-A-Pak Gas Station in hoover, off Lorna Road.

"They did not know I was coming so whatever I find rather it passes or not, they don't know when we're coming," says Morris Bell.

Bell regulates 16 counties, ranging from the Mississippi state line, to the Georgia state line.

"We're going all over the state."

In the process, inspectors verify the display on the gas pump is working correctly.  Inspectors use specially calibrated 5-gallon containers to make sure the pump dispenses the right amount, at the right price. Each pump must also clearly display the octane levels and amount of ethanol in the fuel.

"Usually if something is way off, a customer is going to call us and we'll go and check it out, if its a little off, no one ever notices."

Sometimes he randomly picks the stations, but half of the time, Bell, gets complaints from customers thinking they've been taken advantage of.

"It's going up so you want to make sure you're getting the bang for your buck," says Jerren Lewis.

As for customers, they don't seem to mind the inspections.

"Until we have cars that can run on helium, I would like to know."