Author Topic: Driver ticketed for using biofuel (Read 764 times)

Sundowner · « **on:** June 13, 2007, 05:17:18 AM »

All I can say is....

WTH?!?!?

Just when you think gov. can't get anymore retarded, a jewel like this story pops up.

My favorite quote:

....said Reggie Little, assistant director of the motor fuel taxes division. "We're not here to hurt the small guy, we're just trying to make sure that the playing field is level."'

Regards,
Sun

Bruce Henderson, The Charlotte Observer
Bob Teixeira decided it was time to take a stand against U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

So last fall the Charlotte musician and guitar instructor spent $1,200 to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He bought soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, spending about 30 percent more than diesel would cost.

His reward, from a state that heavily promotes alternative fuels: a $1,000 fine last month for not paying motor fuel taxes. He has been told to expect another $1,000 fine from the federal government.

To legally use veggie oil, state officials told him, he would have to first post a $2,500 bond.......

Full article:
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/599471.html
Props to http://slashdot.org/

Xargos · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2007, 05:25:56 AM »

I bet Al Gore is laughing his butt off, saying haha, since he doesn't practice what he preaches.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2007, 06:54:05 AM »

Its simple.
The government didnt get their cut.

The mafia used to call it "protection money"

Same principle. Different group of organised crime (legalised extorionists).

Nilsen · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2007, 06:58:54 AM »

DOes this mean you can get a ticket for sailing, and not using a motorboat?

windtax perhaps?

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2007, 07:03:13 AM »

Not yet. But its comming LOL

lazs2 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:22:23 AM »

serves the wussie right.

Why should I have to pay gas tax and him not? isn't he using the same roads I am?

lazs

Curval · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:26:57 AM »

Is it a road tax or a gas tax? If it is a gas tax he shouldn't have to pay.

lazs2 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:39:03 AM »

It is a tax on fuel that is supposed to be used to pay for roads.

Farmers here use a diesel that is dyed red and has no road tax on it. There is a huge fine for using it in any vehicle that is caught using public roads.

Some exceptions... they can use public roads to get to one field from another.

lazs

Curval · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:41:32 AM »

They should change the name to road tax then

I thought you guys had toll booths to collect for road maintenance?

lazs2 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:48:03 AM »

I believe that they do call it a road tax.

most roads in the US are not toll roads.

lazs

Airscrew · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:56:16 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
I believe that they do call it a road tax.

most roads in the US are not toll roads.

lazs

give'em about 20 years, they'll fix that too...

Engine · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2007, 09:14:54 AM »

I keep wondering whether Lazs would be ok with being taxed on a new highly-pollutant fuel that increased global warming.

Maverick · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2007, 09:46:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval
They should change the name to road tax then

I thought you guys had toll booths to collect for road maintenance?

To do what you so flippanntly suggest would require a toll booth on every corner. The roads are not just the highways, it's all roads. The tax is leavied on fuel sales as the most fair way to divide the cost of providing the roads. Those that use them for vehicular transportation pay for it through taxes levied on the fuel they use in the motor vehicles they use ON the roads.

Secondarily, since the cost of transporting goods and materials on the roads is passed on to the customer, anyone who buys products also pay's a share in the cost of the roads used to translport them.

I really don't understand your problem with this particular method of taxing. In effect it's a user tax primarily for the benefit of the service (roads) the user received.

If the individual had paid the road taxes on the oil he intended to use on the road eh wouldn't have had this problem. This is not a penalty on the use of bio fuels it's a case of tax evasion.

-CodyC · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2007, 09:54:26 AM »

$1200 to convert and paying 30 percent more just to fill up his car with vegetable oil.

Well i drive a 92 Chevy 350 14mpg truck that i love and have had since i got my DL. I still commend this guy for being one of the few who are doing something different that doesn't involve using fuel that is better fit for my truck

(sarcasm) In reality, the guy is being punished for doing something that benefits everyone around him. As far as the road tax goes, he should be exempt from it. If it takes an increased gas tax(increased because there are less people driving gasoline powered cars or cars that use less gas) to make me realize that i need to switch to a better fuel efficient car, then i will do that when the time comes.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2007, 09:59:29 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ferndale
Technically, that's correct! I would have to buy bio-diesel from a garage forecourt (and pay road fuel taxation) or face a heavy fine if caught out. It's not a new situation. At the local boat yard they have marine diesel (known as red diesel) at less than half what I have to pay for road diesel (white diesel). My car would run just as well on red, or even on heating oil.

I know it is.
Thats why I call it "Legalised Extortion." LOL