§ 67-3-809 — Unlawful sale and use of dyed fuel

(a) No person shall sell or deliver dyed diesel fuel or diesel fuel contaminated with dye when such person knows or has reason to know that the fuel will be used in a motor vehicle on the public highways. (b) No person shall introduce dyed diesel fuel or diesel fuel contaminated with dye into the supply tank of any motor vehicle licensed for highway use. (c) No person shall use dyed diesel fuel or diesel fuel contaminated with dye in a licensed motor vehicle or in a motor vehicle actually used on the public highways. (d) The prohibitions contained in this section do not pertain to: (1) Persons operating motor vehicles that have received fuel into their fuel tanks outside of this state in a jurisdiction that permits introduction of dyed diesel fuel of that color and type into the fuel supply tank of highway vehicles; (2) Uses of dyed fuel on the highway that are lawful under the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.), and regulations, including state and local government vehicles, and buses, unless otherwise prohibited by this chapter; and (3) Agricultural vehicles used solely for the purpose of transferring a person's harvested crops from the field to the person's storage facility for the harvested crops; provided, that the distance traveled on the public highways does not exceed five (5) miles. (e) (1) The commissioner may assess a civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or ten dollars ($10.00) per gallon of dyed fuel involved, whichever is greater, against a person who violates this section. The capacity of the tank determines the amount of dyed fuel involved, unless otherwise shown by the violator. For subsequent violations, the penalty shall be multiplied by the total number of separate violations by that person. (2) The commissioner may waive in whole or in part the civil penalty provided for in subdivision (e)(1), upon the commissioner's determination that such penalty did not result from negligence or willful disregard of the law; provided, that such authority to waive the penalty shall be subject to § 67-1-803(b) and (e) .

Legislative History

Acts 1997 , ch. 316, § 1; T.C.A., § 67-3-1909; Acts 2004, ch. 948, § 1; 2009 , ch. 530, § 99.