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Red diesel is not street diesel

Red diesel is not street diesel

January 20, 2015

More information on red-dyed diesel fuel cab be found on our website.

Ever hear of something called red-dyed diesel fuel?

We wouldn’t be shocked if you haven’t. It’s a certain type of diesel fuel that’s exempt from federal and state fuel taxes and it is called red-dyed diesel fuel because of the type of dye that is added.

This fuel is designed for a non-highway-use vehicle that will not be driven on a public street or highway. Sometimes individuals and businesses violate the law by using red-dyed diesel fuel in a vehicle that is regularly driven on a public street or highway to avoid paying the required fuel taxes for diesel. This action is illegal according to state law and reduces the amount of revenue available to fund the state transportation system for roadway and bridge repair or replacement.

So, why are we telling you all this?

ADOT is trying to get the word out to ensure Arizona’s users of diesel are aware of how to comply with the federal and state regulations regarding fuel taxes. It’s important because fuel taxes collected from the sale of diesel fuel directly support the Highway User Revenue Fund, which helps to pay for the local and regional construction, improvement and maintenance projects that motorists rely upon. As you can imagine, illegal use of red-dyed diesel fuel negatively impacts the Highway User Revenue Fund and ADOT’s ability to deliver projects.

If you’re interested in learning more, we have a whole webpage devoted red-dyed diesel, where you can find additional details along with information on the investigation of diesel fuel tax compliance and penalties for improper use of red-dyed diesel fuel.

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