NEW YORK- The New York State Assembly has passed a ban on the use of lead wheel weights by a 79-20 margin, according to Modern Tire Dealer.

Assembly Bill 8687-B amends New York's environmental conservation law by adding a section prohibiting both the use and sale of wheel weights containing lead. Specifically, the bill mandates the following beginning April 1, 2011:

1. "Any person (which can include a firm, association, partnership, corporation, organization or joint venture) replacing or balancing a tire on a motor vehicle required to be registered under article 14 of title four of the vehicle and traffic law, shall not use a wheel weight or other product for balancing motor vehicle wheels if the weight or other balancing product contains more than 0.1 percent lead by weight."

2. "A person shall not sell or offer to sell or distribute weights or other products for balancing motor vehicle wheels if the weight or other balancing product contains more than 0.1 percent lead by weight."

The bill also requires that beginning April 1, 2012, "a person may not sell a new motor vehicle that is equipped with a weight or other product for balancing motor vehicle wheels if the weight or other balancing product contains more than 0.1 percent lead by weight."

Upon passing in the senate, the bill will require Governor David Paterson's signature to become law.