On Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:28:01 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:



The markers are detectable in the tested fuel long after the illegal
fuel was used.

I wonder what HMR&C would do if they tested a vehicle and it was positive
and the current owner denied ever using red in it. But a previous owner
had... Should people buying second hand diesels get the fuel system
tested?

There must be precedents for this as during one of the fuel shortages
,possibly the delivery drivers strike in 2000* HMRC allowed some
haulers to use stocks of red diesel in place of DERV. This did not
mean they could avoid paying the higher duty as users were required to
declare what they had used and pay it. A reasonable no of vehicles
must have had some red put through them.
For an individual a risk which may be difficult to talk your way out
of is using a fuel can normally used to get red home from a pump is
pressed into service for to carry some Derv instead. You need to check
the can was really empty and dry before using it.

G.Harman