78.21 Seizure and sale.

(1) The department may seize, the department of transportation may seize and the department of transportation may request any police officer to seize, any motor vehicle fuel and the vehicle or other means of transporting it if the person who possesses the motor vehicle fuel does any of the following:

(a) Imports, sells, uses, delivers or stores in this state motor vehicle fuel if the tax on the motor vehicle fuel has not been paid, dye has been added to the motor vehicle fuel or liability for the tax has not been incurred by the holder of an unrevoked supplier license, unless a supplier possesses the motor vehicle fuel and the motor vehicle fuel is manufactured in this state or imported by pipeline or barge and stored in this state and unless an alcohol supplier possesses the motor vehicle fuel and has imported it by barge, railcar or transport truck into a terminal in this state or unless an agricultural user possesses the motor vehicle fuel and that motor vehicle fuel is dyed.

(b) Exports motor vehicle fuel unless the person has an export license or a supplier's license or has paid the motor vehicle fuel tax of the destination state to the supplier and has a bill of lading that proves the export.

(c) Operates or maintains a motor vehicle on any highway in this state with dyed fuel, unless the vehicle is a truck that is used principally for agricultural purposes and is marked with an agricultural use plate or tag or unless the motor vehicle is a truck that has received the fuel in a jurisdiction that permits the introduction of dyed fuel of that color and type into the motor vehicle fuel tank of highway vehicles.

(d) Engages in a business for which a license is required under s. 78.09 and does not have that license.

(e) Operates a transport truck to ship diesel fuel on the highways of the state, destined for delivery in this state, as shown on the shipping papers and does not have on board a shipping paper that sets out on its face a notation that the load is exempt if it is exempt or taxable if it is taxable.

(2) The department of transportation may promulgate rules to interpret sub. (1).

History: 1993 a. 16.