Re: dyed diesel in newer pickups

[baker5150]

RCW 82.38.170

(15) For the purposes of enforcement of this section, the Washington state patrol or other commercial vehicle safety alliance-certified officers may inspect, collect, and secure samples of special fuel used in the propulsion of a vehicle operated upon the highways of this state to detect the presence of dye or other chemical compounds

Looks like they can legally dip your tank.  Not sure how it would work if you have a locking gas cap or a fuel door with a cab operated latch.  I imagine they can threaten obstruction or something. 

[baker5150]

For those of you considering running red diesel on the highway you should know that Tank dipping is not done by local law enforcement.  It is done by IRS fuel tax compliance agents.  ( yes they really have those.) and they do set up check points usually on rural roads, in agricultural areas.   The check points I have Seen were assisted by WSP and all diesel trucks were stopped by the cops so the IRS could dip the tanks.   Fines start at $1000.00, so it probably isn't worth it to save a few cents per gallon. 


https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4941.pdf

Looks like it could be even worse if you have an in-bed aux tank...

Examples:
•If you have 3 registered vehicles, each with a 20-gallon capacity, you could face a fine of $3,000. (3 vehicles x $1,000 minimum fine = $3,000)
•If you fuel a licensed vehicle from your own 150-gallon dyed diesel slip tank or bulk storage tank, you could face a fine for both the tank and the vehicle: ◦$1,500 for the bulk storage tank ($10 x 150 gallons = $1,500), and:
◦$1,000 for the vehicle tank ($1,000 minimum fine)

[TheSkyBuster]

So both the state and the IRS can dip your tank.  I personally have only seen the IRS doing it,  and with the IRS whether you have a locking gas cap or not if you refuse a search it is an automatic $1,000 fine.

[j_h_nimrod]

I believe the blue diesel is govt. tax exempt fuel, not positive and not something I have seen available.

[birddogdad]

I'm curious how a LEO could dip your fuel tank without permission or a warrant?  If you have a fuel door latch that must be opened from the interior, how could they do it without permission?  Can they look under the hood?  I'd be curious to see where probable cause would come from. Other than an obvious leak or maybe a witness. 

Not condoning it in anyway,
Just plain old curious.

That's actually a great question.

I would guess it falls in the same category as weights n measure stops along the highway.

[baker5150]

I'm curious how a LEO could dip your fuel tank without permission or a warrant?  If you have a fuel door latch that must be opened from the interior, how could they do it without permission?  Can they look under the hood?  I'd be curious to see where probable cause would come from. Other than an obvious leak or maybe a witness. 

Not condoning it in anyway,
Just plain old curious.

That's actually a great question.

I would guess it falls in the same category as weights n measure stops along the highway.

From what I am gathering, it's a lot like having to show insurance coverage, or current registration.  It falls under the category of a requirement to use a public roadway.  Leo's, have the authority to make sure you and your vehicle are in compliance with the laws of operating a motor vehicle.  Not allowing them is like not showing proof of insurance, or failing to show ID, you aren't required to, but if you don't you get fined, etc.

This is not a factual statement, just what I am gathering from Google.

[Woodchuck]

Is probable cause needed to pull you over for a dip?

[Knocker of rocks]

Is probable cause needed to pull you over for a dip?

Probably for anything other than an in service commercial vehicle

[MisplacedAlaskan]

I have never heard of a tank getting dipped unless there was a external fuel tank in the bed. Does anyone have first hand experience with a tank getting dipped when external fuel tanks were not present?

As far as the fuel goes the red and green are exactly the same, you just don't pay taxes on the red.

They like to dip diesel pickups at cattle auctions etc.  The other person who posted is correct it is usually when the price of on road diesel gets pretty high.  I'd like to see how they feel when they dip a tank and it has Vegetable oil on it...  Definitely didn't pay the road tax for that.       As far as being the same, I'm not sure if the Red diesel is low sulfur like the current on-road diesel is???   

Also I know they check fuel vendors (tanker trucks) to see if they are fueling their trucks from their tanks when hauling off road diesel.

I had the low sulfur question also and I called Masco and asked them. They said that the sulfur in both on and off highway has been the same since 2011.

[huntandjeep]

Is probable cause needed to pull you over for a dip?

They stopped my buddy for speeding. Saw his auxiliary tank and asked if they could check his truck tank. He wasn't using dyed diesel that time 

[dontgetcrabs]

Is probable cause needed to pull you over for a dip?

I got stopped for expired tabs when WSP dipped my tank.

[Special T]

WSP and CVE   dip tanks all the time. The undercover CVE in the red f250 loves to dip.tanks in Skagit

[2labs]

No Big Tex on this?

[logger]

 years ago you were required to have a off road fuel permit

Joe Blow used to be able to buy it at a gas station in Kenmore from about 45 years ago till 1986.  So "years ago" was either before that, after that or never ever.

  It happened. , Gas staions called it stove oil to skirt the issue.

[JimmyHoffa]

 years ago you were required to have a off road fuel permit

Joe Blow used to be able to buy it at a gas station in Kenmore from about 45 years ago till 1986.  So "years ago" was either before that, after that or never ever.

  It happened. , Gas staions called it stove oil to skirt the issue.

I used to get it at marinas--called it boat diesel.  The owners claimed it had some extra oil added to it which would make it run a little better.  Hated having to drag the hoses from the docks up to the parking lot to fuel up.