commander bill":1yx6xgr8 said:
I had heard that some stated did alloy you to use dyed fuel in boats but was shocked to learn that Florida restricted use. .................. Do any those living in Florida know how this is enforced?
Here's the link to the relevant information:
https://taxlaw.state.fl.us/view.asp...ther Fuel Taxes - Tax Information Publication
and here's the part that concerns marine use:
***********************************************************************************************************
"
Commercial Fishermen
Commercial fishermen should use dyed diesel fuel to operate boats, vessels, or equipment used exclusively for the taking of fish, crayfish, oysters, shrimp, or sponges from salt or fres waters under the jurisdiction of this state, for resale to the public. Use tax is not due on this dyed diesel when the fuel is consumed in the territorial waters of this state or when totally consumed in the waters outside the territorial limits of this state. (Fuel consumed traveling to the off-shore waters of this state from a Florida port is considered to have been consumed in off-shore waters.)
If Undyed Diesel is purchased and consumed by commercial fishermen for any of the purposes discussed in the paragraph above, the commercial fishermen may apply for a refund of the "on-road" taxes already included in the price of the undyed diesel.
Commercial Vessel
If you are not currently authorized to pro-rate your payment of sales and use tax (SUT) on purchases of equipment, parts, and mrepairs for your vessel(s), you must be registered for SUT purposes. You must also remit the use tax on dyed diesel fuel directly to DOR (as discussed under What Does This Mean to Me?).
If you are currently pro-rating your sales and use tax on purchases of equipment, parts, repairs, and fuel, your tax payment method for dyed diesel fuel has not changed.
[NOTE: The law requires pleasure boats to use Undyed Diesel fuel.] "
***********************************************************************************************************
The most common places to be checked for dyed fuel in a vehicle, including privately owned, is in the surrounding area of a construction site (where offroad diesel is usually readily available), and at horse shows and competitions as the farms from which the vehicles usually originate often have offroad fuel available for farm use.
I don't know about marine checks, but here in FL as elsewhere, the attitude of the Coastguard and the Marine Patrol has dramatically changed from the relatively 'civilian friendly' one of the days before 9/11.
The Coastguard DO have quotas to meet in terms of boats checked, and if 25 boats need to checked over and there are only 20 boats on the water in their patch, then 5 boats WILL get check over twice, no matter how stupid it seems.
I haven't heard of tanks being dipped, but I have heard of filter bowls being sampled. I'm told that although there's no quota for tickets, it's frowned on if a check is made and something hasn't been spotted to write up, as it's rare for a boat to be 100% in compliance.
This isn't a rant, but a heads up that everything needs to be correct, from the paperwork, to the Marpol plaques, to the flare dates, and always have you fenders readily available for deployment.
😉
