How big will the fine be?

[Pit Bull]

Friend at the gym added a 100 gallon fuel tank to the bed of his truck. It is the kind with a fuel nozzle and pump. It is not connected to his truck fuel tank and can be used to fill loaders and other off road equipment. I told him not to do it but he filled it up with off road diesel and has been using it to fill the tank in his truck. I think he has a target on him riding around with that nozzle on the top of the aux tank and he also delivers boat on occasion to different parts of the country. What will the fine be if they stop him and find the off road diesel in is CTD's tank? What are the chances he will be stopped?

 

[RBachant]

I've heard the fine can be as high as $10,000, but I don't know for sure. The $. 50 savings isn't enough for me to risk it, and I buy 20-25 gallons a day. The chances of him being stopped are actually pretty good. If a DOT officer sees the tank and there is some red die on the out side of the fill neck it now becomes suspicion for them to check the tank.

 

[Oasis-3]

I know a guy that has run red fuel for over 100,000 miles now and never stoped. Some say it's a $1,000 fine if you get stopped, I don't know.

 

[Chipstien]

It is the businesses that get slapped with the huge fines. For your average joe it is a MAX of a 1000 dollar fine for the first offense. Definately worth the risk untill the first time you get caught but after the first fine I wouldn't run it again. Your right that he is driving around with a bullseye on his truck though.

 

[illflem]

The fine varies from state to state. The federally suggested fine is $1,000 plus $100 for each gallon of tank capacity. Very few states charge the federally suggested fine, some charge more. Montana is a flat $1000 fine, Nevada is $100 plus 23¢/gallon capacity (The amount of NV state tax on diesel)

Not sure if the bed tank would be included in the vehicle tank capacity since it isn't plumbed in to the vehicle.

 

[jtisdale]

A friend of mine was stopped, not by the DOT, but an IRS vehicle. BIG letters on the side and back... IRS. He was stopped about a mile from a scale house. Now they are going back through all his records. BTW, he has a logging business and they are trying to determine if his skidder has burned as much off road fuel as he has bought. I think they are only going back as far as he has had a diesel truck. I think he is just plain screwed. He thinks he is gonna get out of it.

 

[csevers]

Having a tank it the bed is not a crime

and it shouldn't be looked at as a "target". I have a tank in my truck most of the time for fuel transfer to tractors and stuff, heck most farmers around here have tanks. The only time I have heard of the DOT checking is at cattle sales barns and auctions, where they have a better chance of catching some one. I can't afford to pay attention much less afford the big fine so I don't run died fuel it is not worth it to me.



Craig

 

[robobx]

Originally posted by illflem

The fine varies from state to state. The federally suggested fine is $1,000 plus $100 for each gallon of tank capacity. Very few states charge the federally suggested fine, some charge more. Montana is a flat $1000 fine, Nevada is $100 plus 23¢/gallon capacity (The amount of NV state tax on diesel)

Not sure if the bed tank would be included in the vehicle tank capacity since it isn't plumbed in to the vehicle.

Where do you look to find out this info state by state?

 

[C. Harlan]

I'm like you,

You're like me,

We both hate the DOT!



Maybe not hate, but dislike intensely!



Just a thought



-Chris-

 

[QRTRHRS]

Timely news.

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news_detail. asp?news_id=49890

 

[bmoeller]

I have had a off-road tank in either of my trucks for almost 5yrs. No one has ever bugged me about it.



I did put some off-road fuel in my Ford twice, but only about a couple of gallons both times. Just needed enough to get to the truck stop. My fuel gauge doesn't work right and don't have a trip odometer on it. Forgot how many miles (and idle time) I had on the fill. Happened during field work.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by robobx

Where do you look to find out this info state by state?

It's hard to find since it doesn't fall under the vehicle code but rather tax codes. Most fuel suppliers in your state can give you the particulars.

There has been a radio campaign in Montana recently reminding folks to not use red fuel, haven't noticed any increase in enforcement though. Last I heard there were two inspectors to cover the nation's third largest state...

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by robobx

Where do you look to find out this info state by state?

Here's a number to start with... "To report suspected Liquid Fuels tax evasion, call the Department's tip line at (800) 482-4382"

 

[jponder]

I saw them stopping people in La for awhile but they didnt stop me in a 2500. I saw them with numerous 3500 trucks pullin trailers pulled over. They did it for a couple of months and put the scare in everyone then stopped. I bet they wouldnt check a VW

I know I shouldnt do it but it has been one of my goals to get a trailer with a couple of hundred gallon tank in it and be able to go on a trip and never get diesel. I mean saving the tax would be cool but the sweet thing would be to never get goughed, 89Cent diesel the whole way

. With a 200 gallon tank AND driving slow I bet I could make California and back easy from La with no fillups

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by jponder



I bet they wouldnt check a VW

I bet your right. Get a New Beatle and take the TDI emblem off and they would never even know it was a diesel. Only way you would get caught is if the staked out the gas station and saw you fill it up. If you had your own tank in the back of your truck and used it to fill up the VW they would never know. Let's see 50 mpg on non taxed diesel

 

[fkovalski]

Why not just add some "oxy- clean" powder to the red dye stuff! Make that stuff look like normal diesel :-laf :-laf

 

[jponder]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

I bet your right. Get a New Beatle and take the TDI emblem off and they would never even know it was a diesel. Only way you would get caught is if the staked out the gas station and saw you fill it up. If you had your own tank in the back of your truck and used it to fill up the VW they would never know. Let's see 50 mpg on non taxed diesel

sweet huh. Take out the back seat and get you a 100 gallon tank and go NY to La and back to NY without stopping. 5000 mile range running illegal diesel. it cant get any better than that. Unless you get you one of those KLR 650 diesel motorcles and start red diseling it in that

 

[R.E. Miller]

This issue gets beat back and forth on this website all the time. Just remember that the reason for the fine is tax evasion, not running a lower grade fuel. The fuel is the same unless noted otherwise. The 50 cents that you save yourself on the fill-up everyone else eats for you.



Russell

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by R. E. Miller

This issue gets beat back and forth on this website all the time. Just remember that the reason for the fine is tax evasion, not running a lower grade fuel. The fuel is the same unless noted otherwise. The 50 cents that you save yourself on the fill-up everyone else eats for you.



Russell

I agree it's called stealing

 

[QRTRHRS]

Yes, but it's more than 50 cents. Highway is going for ~1. 48 around me. I got off road this morning for a buck/gal. Thou shalt not steal (but if you do, make it at least a million bucks or it is not worth while plus you do less jail time).