BRNDL Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Ok, Does anyone know what the law is on being caught using red diesel on the public highway for non agricultural purposes. Specifically your first offence, being caught and fines plus points on your licence? I have been told on your first offence you pay VAT on the remaining fuel in the tank and also incur a £500 fine plus 3 points? Can anyone shed any facts on the topic or experiences of their own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Up to 5 years inside I've heard.... :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksheep Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 They find out the date you bought your vehicle and assume that you have used red diesel all the time you have owned it then work out how many miles it has done and bill you for the missing tax , pay up or they crush your vehicle . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddywack12 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Up to 5 years inside I've heard.... :yp: sharing a cell with Bubba and his gang, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 I'm pretty sure they don't do that black sheep. £500 fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 (edited) wrong its a 500 pound fine on the spot fine iv bin with a kid who "S bin done twice with me in car both times and he still saves money and is still on it and you dont get points Edited December 9, 2012 by swiss.tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 They find out the date you bought your vehicle and assume that you have used red diesel all the time you have owned it then work out how many miles it has done and bill you for the missing tax , pay up or they crush your vehicle . This is also how I understand it works Why do you ask? Caught you have they!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 I used to run on the strawberry years ago.the price of diesel now little wonder anyone is on it.i keep it legal now without fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 I'm not certain on the rules, check them carefully as people often get them wrong. I know of an HGV driver who has been using red for a vast number of years. He carries round the money for the fine (£500?) and can therefore pay it on the spot when he gets caught, this avoids it getting expensive or having the vehicle seized. I think he's been caught twice, and by carrying the money on him he's never had any problems, he just pays up and goes. Doing it this way I think that the saving on each tankful covers the fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muggins. Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 I'm not certain on the rules, check them carefully as people often get them wrong. I know of an HGV driver who has been using red for a vast number of years. He carries round the money for the fine (£500?) and can therefore pay it on the spot when he gets caught, this avoids it getting expensive or having the vehicle seized. I think he's been caught twice, and by carrying the money on him he's never had any problems, he just pays up and goes. Doing it this way I think that the saving on each tankful covers the fine! So after an on the spot fine of £500 they let him carry on his merry way with any thing up to a full tank of red? Surely they would be pulling every couple of miles and issueing a fine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 half my village is on red not exactly biggest crime in world its too expensive now bring price down and it would cut fuel theft by half and red wood not be worth using its not rocket science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 So after an on the spot fine of £500 they let him carry on his merry way with any thing up to a full tank of red? Surely they would be pulling every couple of miles and issueing a fine? they give you paper work and 7 days too get the tank empty like i said i was with a lad who got caught twice in 5 months at road side checks both times 500 pound fine paid it there and then drove away laughing still 10 grand a year saving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 half my village is on red not exactly biggest crime in world its too expensive now bring price down and it would cut fuel theft by half and red wood not be worth using its not rocket science oh thats all right then just let the muppets pay the tax eh! KW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 i know some one who was caught, and he had two have his tank cleaned out, and new pipes on it,he did not put it in, he bought the range rover and did not know it had red in it.he did not get fined.he then had two take it back and show them all been changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peejay Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 wrong its a 500 pound fine on the spot fine iv bin with a kid who "S bin done twice with me in car both times and he still saves money and is still on it and you dont get points Thats correct Tony.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 so what if you dont have £500 on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 So after an on the spot fine of £500 they let him carry on his merry way with any thing up to a full tank of red? Surely they would be pulling every couple of miles and issueing a fine? Fortunately this kind of thing usually leaves you time to rectify the fault, as with many motoring offences, before you can be punished again. oh thats all right then just let the muppets pay the tax eh! KW. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to do this (I don't run red on the road), but some people are struggling to pay for fuel and couldn't keep going if they paid even more tax, the government is so greedy. I can understand why some people are happy to minimize the tax they pay. so what if you dont have £500 on you. I think that's when they confiscate your vehicle, and end up giving you a bigger fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapid rich Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Apparently if you're caught on red the first question they ask you is 'are you VAT registered.' If you are you're in bigger trouble than if you're just a private user Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddywack12 Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Apparently if you're caught on red the first question they ask you is 'are you VAT registered.' If you are you're in bigger trouble than if you're just a private user Why is that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 "Not the biggest crime in the world" Just the same as selling smuggled ciggs or booze or snydey clothes and a lot of the red on the " no questions asked market" is stolen from farms plant etc so you are also buying stolen goods. And of course non of them are real crimes are they ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Oval Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 so what if you dont have £500 on you. They are not legally allowed to take money from you on the roadside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Probably because you will have claimed the VAT back too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Probably as the vat man is one of the few who can padlock the gates of a business and shut you down till they are satisfied far more power than many other agencies, HSE can do the same IIRC the haulage firm I worked at had red and white tanks and were always getting inspected in the end they changed to LPG fork lifts and sold the red tank..... A waggon belonging to another firm got dipped and they were going to go after the whole fleet until the driver fessed up and with 30+ waggons the fines are huge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted December 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 A friend of mine has a red diesel tank in the boot of his discovery, boxed in and covered in carpet. The main tank has White diesel in and the vehicle runs off the red... He has been dipped once...all is well. I have been offered some red diesel as and when I want it...I will be honest, I am considering it. I drive an Audi A6 so can't really see me being pulled for a dip, at least that's my theory on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapid rich Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 Why is that ? Probably as the vat man is one of the few who can padlock the gates of a business and shut you down till they are satisfied far more power than many other agencies, HSE can do the same IIRC the haulage firm I worked at had red and white tanks and were always getting inspected in the end they changed to LPG fork lifts and sold the red tank..... A waggon belonging to another firm got dipped and they were going to go after the whole fleet until the driver fessed up and with 30+ waggons the fines are huge! HMRC will ask of proof of purchase for fuel, if you've been on the red then you're not going to be able to produce clear diesel receipts. You will be liable for a hefty fine and have to pay duty on red diesel.......the duty will depend on how far they can back date until you have receipts for your clear diesel, all will be dependant on mileage too. Customs and Excise can also check your property and dip other vehicles there and others belonging to you. As said above by HDAV Customs and Excise have more power than many other agencies. Remember running on red diesel is tax avasion/ fraud. If prosecuted maybe wouldn't look good on FAC?? Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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