Fillin' the car up North

pajor

This has probably been asked before but couldn't find it.

Been wondering something for past couple of days. If you went up North, filled the car with RED diesel and was then dipped down South, what would happen if anything?

Don't have a car at the mo, so don't worry I won't be trying it..

Terrontress

I think the offense is having Marked Gas Oil. The colour of the mark is not the issue. I think that if, in a moment of insanity, you bunged a load of blue dye in your tank, it would be the same offense as driving on reduced duty diesel on the road.

andyseadog

another person considering spending money outside our economy great!

biko

It seems it's a known practice alright.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/press/archive/2004/pr_0304oil.html

Green diesel, which is available in the Republic of Ireland, and red diesel, which is available in Northern Ireland, cannot be used in road vehicles.

Antiquo

andyseadog wrote: »

another person considering spending money outside our economy great!

We have an economy??

I hope you have proof to substantiate this wild and reckless claim?

L1011

You'd be done for it. They can detect the marker used in the UK also.

FREDNISMO

A fuel merchant in my area got caught selling diesel/agri diesel mixture this week and only got a 10K fine I think he got off lightly considering all the people that would have bought of him in good faith.

Seth Brundle

pajor wrote: »

If you went up North, filled the car with RED diesel and was then dipped down South, what would happen if anything?

If I filled up with any form of diesel, I'd be in trouble!

Seth Brundle

FREDNISMO wrote: »

A fuel merchant in my area got caught selling diesel/agri diesel mixture this week and only got a 10K fine I think he got off lightly considering all the people that would have bought of him in good faith.

Not sure where you are but Prime Time did a story a year or so ago about dodgy fuel being sold up North (~30% of all fuel IIRC). Up there the safest place to buy is from the supermarkets.

mickdw

How much is petrol and diesel now up north?

Seth Brundle

Country Currency Unleaded Diesel Unleaded Diesel
Northern Ireland Pound Sterling 135.0 138.0 159.44 162.98
http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Motoring-advice/Petrol-Prices.aspx

pajor

My thinking was that you would be 'robbing' HM Revenue of fuel duty not our own, so would Revenue/ the Gardai be bothered?

Stinicker

pajor wrote: »

My thinking was that you would be 'robbing' HM Revenue of fuel duty not our own, so would Revenue/ the Gardai be bothered?

They probably would still, as they might mistake the Red Diesel for Kerosene (which is marked red in the ROI) which is also an offence to use in a Diesel engine. Although the Kerosene would wreck your Diesel engine so you'd have a double whammy that way!

Now to throw the cat amongst the pigeons:

What would happen if a Northern Ireland registered car was found running on Red Diesel whilst being driven by a NI person in the ROI?

And Vice a Versa a ROI car running on Green getting caught in NI?

I'm not sure but I'd still think they could do you irregardless?

scoobymunster

They wouldn't treat a NI car different from a RoI. Using agri diesel is illegal in Northern Ireland. The Guards (IN THEORY) operate on the principle that if the vehicle is not legal in its origin country (either for no tax/farmer fuel/no MOT-NCT etc) then it's not legal to be on southern roads so the car will be taken until usual fees are paid. However, there's always the chance the guy on the ground won't bother dipping a NI car/letting them off with a warning if they did. The PSNI/HM Customs operate on the same principle with foreign reg cars. Only they have been more proactive at enforcing the rules than Garda have IMO.