Posted on 06/25/2008 9:26:20 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
HIDALGO -- In a sign of the times for a federal agency that routinely announces million-dollar cocaine and marijuana busts: Customs and Border Protection has issued a news release about a $400 fine because of an extra tank of fuel.
The fine was levied Sunday against a 22-year-old Edinburg man who crossed the border with an extra tank of diesel in the bed of his pickup.
Because of Mexican government subsidies, diesel fuel currently sells at about half the U.S. price across the border. Customs agents have noticed a sharp rise in the number of people trying to bring full containers back to the states.
While it’s not illegal to import fuel, anything that’s not hooked up to the vehicle’s fuel line must be declared and brought in through commercial lanes. In Hidalgo County, that would mean the Pharr International Bridge.
CBP spokesman Felix Garza said the man’s extra tank was not connected to the pickup truck’s fuel lines and was therefore determined to be “commercial,” which made the driver subject to the fine.
Garza said this was one of the first instances of someone being fined for fuel. But he said people were always asked what they were bringing in, and it was assumed they would know they are required to declar an extra, unattached tank of gasoline or diesel.
“Diesel fuel is a foreign commodity,” he said. “Anything you buy or acquire or obtain as a gift is a foreign commodity and must be declared.”
Mexican diesel: fueling the vehicles that American diesel won’t fuel.
Just another excuse for me to put a second tank on my truck.
“I’m, on a Mexican, whoa ho, a road-e-o” to mangle a tune.
Wow-I am glad the streets of America are safer now that we caught that guy.
So we can’t control people coming over the border, but we can control gas? Give me a break.
I think this has more to do with TAX DODGERS than anything else.
Taxes gotta be paid. Simple as that.
Simple fix. Tee that spare tank to the fill port of the main and put a check valve in. Now it is a second fuel tank for the vehicle and you dont have to worry about the commercial laws.
Aaaaaaahahahahahahahahaha!!!
The “War on (Some) Drugs” has evolved into the “War on (Some) Diesel”.
At least they won’t have to spend millions changing the acronym.
Wall of Voodoo. I thought it was Devo.
Wall of Voodoo does sound simular to Devo. Only they couldn’t afford the cool hats.
Could you just have one big gas tank and then a tanker truck waiting on the US side. Then just make a bunch of trips back and forth until you’ve filled your tanker truck.
The next time Customs finds a tunnel under the border, there probably be a diesel pipeline running in it.
Now there’s an idea!
Ping!
Yeah “ forget about the drugs,Amigo...they want gas”.
I’ve posted it before but right after 911 the BP were searching for Cipro. Terrorist might get by but the grandma with antibotics wasn’t bring it in.
If Customs catches you, you’ll wish you had paid the taxes on it. If the CHP catches you, you will really wish you had paid the taxes on it.
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