Cops and "off road diesel?"

[Marty]

I was driving down 301 in MD today on the way down to the farm and I noticed a few diesels pulled over... Thought nothing of it but when I got to the farm the vet told me she was pulled over and the cops were checking for "off road diesel." They were taking fuel samples she said and if they found anything other then regular diesel they were handing out $5,000 fines for the first offense. Of course she wasn't running anything other then regular stuff so she went about her way. That's when I recalled this forum and reading about alot of people running veggie oil, and bxx in their trucks and was wondering if it is illegal since I have no idea. I saw Stacey on the show "Trucks" on TNN with a kit you can buy to make the diesel and I was thinking why would they show that if it was illegal!? Any help...?

I know it is a federal offense to manufacture diesel and then sell it, since fuel is imported and therefore makes it interstate commerce and therefore federal in nature. Thanks in advance!

[mschn99]

the government can only tax fuel you purchase at the pump, so as long as it isnt dyed....your safe. Purchased or home made bio, and veggie is ok, but if you run actual off road fuel (red dyed), the penalties can be VERY stiff.......Marc

[Marty]

I also heard that if you run that snake oil stuff w/ kerosene there are big fines...

[Brian]

i think one of the big concerns in using the farm diesel is that taxes are not the same on it as highway fuel. the farm fuel is sold cheaper for a reason (offroad equipment such as tractors and construction equipment dont use the hiways, so no need to pay to fix the roads they dont use. the taxes from hiway fuel help maintain the roads, so they want their money.
i have never heard of a "sting operation" as described, but it does not suprise me now that fuel costs are higher. they probally figure people are more apt to use offroad fuel now.
i always keep my reciepts from fuel in my truck for that reason, as well as a logbook to track my vechicle maintaince and fuel usage.

[fordnut85]

Originally Posted by Marc

the government can only tax fuel you purchase at the pump, so as long as it isnt dyed....your safe. Purchased or home made bio, and veggie is ok, but if you run actual off road fuel (red dyed), the penalties can be VERY stiff.......Marc

I have o disagree Marc, as I researched making my own bio i found that you are to report and pay tax on any fuel you produce if you make more than 400gal/yr

[mschn99]

Originally Posted by fordnut85

I have o disagree Marc, as I researched making my own bio i found that you are to report and pay tax on any fuel you produce if you make more than 400gal/yr

thats funny...cause i think you can only physically produce 399 gallons a year.........let the government prove me wrong.....

[ndurbin]

Originally Posted by fordnut85

I have o disagree Marc, as I researched making my own bio i found that you are to report and pay tax on any fuel you produce if you make more than 400gal/yr

400 gal?.........wow........last I saw it was quite a bit more than that. 400 gal. can go along way in a blend and still save ya some money.

Around here the cost in fines and time isn't worth the $10 I would save per tank to "run red".

[mschn99]

not to run red nate, i think guys who run red are just being foolish myself......but prove its homemade bio...and more importantly, prove how much you make a year....

[fordnut85]

Don't quote me but I was pretty sure it was 400gal/yr. I have slept since then lol. Proving it would be hard I was just sayin what the boys in Washington want you to do For me it wouldn't be too hard for them to prove, once I send in my IFTA reports they would want to know how I made it from cali to FL and only bought 15 gal of fuel

[ndurbin]

a tail wind?