Article 1 Definitions
Article 3 Imposition of User Fees
Article 5 Measurement of User Fees
Article 7 Exemptions and Refunds
Article 9 Payments; Liability; Eligibility; Collections
Article 11 Licenses
Article 13 Reports
Article 15 Shipping Requirements
Article 17 Penalties
Article 19 Enforcement Powers
Article 21 Specialized Compensating Fuel User Fees
Article 23 Petroleum and Petroleum Product
Article 25 Reports and Bond Requirements
Article 27 Deposits and Distributions
Article 29 Economic Development

Terms Used In South Carolina Code > Title 12 > Chapter 28 - Motor Fuels Subject to User Fees

  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Alternative fuel: means a liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas product, or a combination of liquefied petroleum gas and a compressed natural gas product used in an internal combustion engine or motor to propel any form of vehicle, machine, or mechanical contrivance. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Biodiesel: means a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids generally derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, commonly known as B100, that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Biodiesel blend: means a blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum based diesel fuel, commonly designated Bxx where xx represents the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend (for example B20 is 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petro diesel), and that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Blend stock: includes any petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene, that can be blended for use in a motor fuel. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Blended fuel: means a mixture composed of gasoline or diesel fuel and another liquid, other than a de minimis amount of a product such as carburetor detergent or oxidation inhibitor, that can be used as a fuel in a highway vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Blender: includes a person who produces blended motor fuel outside the bulk transfer/terminal system. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Blending: means the mixing of one or more petroleum products, with or without another product, regardless of the original character of the product blended, if the product obtained by the blending is capable of use or otherwise sold for use in the generation of power for the propulsion of a motor vehicle, an airplane, or a motorboat. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Bulk end user: means a person who receives into the person's own storage facilities in transport truck lots of motor fuel subject to the user fee for the person's consumption. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Bulk plant: means a motor fuel storage and distribution facility that is not a terminal and from which motor fuel may be removed at a rack. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Bulk transfer: means a transfer of motor fuel from one location to another by pipeline tender or marine delivery within bulk transfer/terminal system. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • clerk: as used in this title , signifies the clerk of the court where the action is pending and, in the Supreme Court or court of appeals, the clerk of the county mentioned in the title of the complaint or in another county to which the court may have changed the place of trial, unless otherwise specified. See South Carolina Code 14-1-40
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Delivery: means the placing of motor fuel subject to the user fee or any liquid into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Department: means the South Carolina Department of Revenue. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Destination state: means the state, territory, or foreign country to which motor fuel is directed for delivery into a storage facility, a receptacle, a container, or a type of transportation equipment for the purpose of resale or use. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • DGE: means the amount of liquefied natural gas containing the same energy content as one gallon of diesel. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Diesel fuel: means a liquid, including biodiesel and a biodiesel blend that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a diesel-powered highway vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Diesel-powered highway vehicle: means a motor vehicle operated on a highway that is propelled by a diesel-powered engine. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Director: means the administrative head of the Department of Revenue or his designee. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Distributor: means a person who acquires motor fuel from a supplier or from another distributor for subsequent sale or use. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Dyed diesel fuel: means diesel fuel that is required to be dyed under United States Environmental Protection Agency and Internal Revenue Service rules or pursuant to other requirements subsequently set by the agency or service including any invisible marker requirements. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
  • Eligible purchaser: means a person who has been authorized by the department pursuant to § 12-28-930 to make the election under § 12-28-925. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • En banc: In the bench or "full bench." Refers to court sessions with the entire membership of a court participating rather than the usual quorum. U.S. courts of appeals usually sit in panels of three judges, but may expand to a larger number in certain cases. They are then said to be sitting en banc.
  • Enterer: includes a person who is the importer of record under federal customs law with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Ethanol: means "fuel grade ethanol". See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Export: means to obtain motor fuel in this State for sale or other distribution in another state. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Exporter: means a person, other than a supplier, who purchases motor fuel subject to the user fee in this State for the purpose of transporting or delivering the fuel to another state or country. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • For its own use: means for its own consumption or in the manufacture of products other than motor fuel. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Fuel transportation vehicle: means a vehicle designed for highway use which also is designed or used to transport motor fuels subject to the user fee and includes transport trucks and tank wagons. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Gasohol: means blended fuel composed of gasoline and fuel alcohol. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Gasoline: means all products commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline that are suitable for use as a motor fuel. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • GGE: means the amount of compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas containing the same energy content as one gallon of gasoline. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • governing body: shall mean , in the case of incorporated cities or towns, the city council or town council and in other instances the commission, group, board or body to whom is delegated the administrative duties of the issuer. See South Carolina Code 11-15-430
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Gross gallons: means the total, measured product, exclusive of temperature or pressure adjustments, considerations or deductions, in United States gallons. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Heating oil: means a motor fuel subject to the user fee that is burned in a boiler, furnace, or stove for heating or industrial processing purposes. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Highway vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle that is designed for use on a highway. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Import: means to bring motor fuel into this State for sale, use, or storage by any means of conveyance other than in the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Import verification number: means the number assigned by the department or its delegate or appointee with respect to a single transport truck delivery into this State from another state upon request for an assigned number by an importer or the transporter carrying motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State for the account of an importer. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • individual: means a human being. See South Carolina Code 12-2-20
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Invoiced gallons: means the gallons actually billed on an invoice in payment to a supplier. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • issuer: as used in this article , shall mean any incorporated city or town, school district, county, or other political division or subdivision of the State which shall have outstanding and unpaid, whether matured or unmatured, bonds for whose payment the full faith, credit, taxing power and resources of such political division or subdivision have been pledged, whether or not such general obligation bonds be additionally secured by pledge of other revenues. See South Carolina Code 11-15-430
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Liquid: means a substance that is liquid in excess of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch absolute. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Motor fuel: means gasoline, diesel fuel, substitute fuel, renewable fuel, alternative fuel, and blended fuel. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Motor fuel subject to the user fee: means gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, blended fuel, substitute fuel, alternative fuel and blends of them and any other substance blended with them. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Motor fuel transporter: means a person who transports motor fuel by transport truck or railroad tank car. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Motor vehicle: means a vehicle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine or motor and is designed to permit the vehicle's mobile use on highways. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Net gallons: means the remaining product, after all considerations and deductions have been made, measured in United States gallons, corrected to a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit, thirteen degrees Celsius, and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch, the ultimate end amount. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Permissive supplier: means a person who does not meet the geographic jurisdictional connections to this State required of a supplier as defined in § 12-28-920(A), but who:

    (a) is a position holder in a federally qualified terminal located outside this State; or

    (b) acquires a product in out-of-state terminals from a position holder in a transaction that otherwise qualifies as a two-party exchange under § 12-28-110(63); and under this subitem and subitem (a);

    (c) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Person: means a natural person, a partnership, a firm, an association, a corporation, a representative appointed by a court, the State, a political subdivision or any other entity, group, or syndicate. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • petroleum product: as used in this article means gasoline, gasohol, kerosene, diesel fuels, jet fuels, fuel oil No. See South Carolina Code 12-28-2310
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Position holder: means the person who holds the inventory position in motor fuel in a terminal, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • property: as used in this Title , includes property, real and personal. See South Carolina Code 14-1-10
  • Public highway: means the entire width between boundary lines of each publicly maintained way in this State, including streets and alleys in municipalities, when any part of the way is open to the public use for vehicle travel. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Qualified terminal: means a qualified terminal as defined under Internal Revenue Code, regulation, and practices and which has been assigned a terminal control number by the Internal Revenue Service. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Rack: means a mechanism for delivering motor fuel from a refinery, a terminal, or a bulk plant into a railroad tank car, a transport truck, or another means of bulk transfer outside of the bulk transfer/terminal system. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • real estate: as used in this Title , are coextensive with lands, tenements and hereditaments. See South Carolina Code 14-1-20
  • Refiner: means a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a refinery within the United States. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Refinery: means a facility used to produce motor fuel subject to the user fee from crude oil, unfinished oils, natural gas liquids, or other hydrocarbons and from which motor fuel subject to the user fee may be removed by pipeline, by vessel, or at a rack. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Removal: means a physical transfer other than by evaporation, loss, or destruction of motor fuel subject to the user fee from a terminal, manufacturing plant, customs custody, pipeline, marine vessel including barges and tankers, refinery, or any receptacle that stores motor fuel subject to the user fee. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Renewable fuel: means liquid nonpetroleum based fuels that can be placed in vehicle fuel tanks and used as a fuel in a highway vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Retailer: means a person who engages in the business of selling or distributing to the end user within this State. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Substitute fuel: means a liquid that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Supplier: means a person who meets all the following conditions:

    (i) is subject to the general taxing jurisdiction of this State;

    (ii) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system; and

    (iii) is one of the following:

    1. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Tank wagon: means a straight truck having multiple compartments designed or used to carry liquid motor fuel. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Terminal: is a storage and distribution facility for motor fuel subject to the user fee, supplied by pipeline or marine vessel, which has been registered as a qualified terminal by the Internal Revenue Service. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Terminal operator: is a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a terminal and does not use a substantial portion of the motor fuel subject to the user fee that is transferred through or stored in the terminal for its own use. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Transmix: means the buffer or interface between two different products in a pipeline shipment or a mix of two different products within a refinery or terminal that results in an off-grade mixture. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Transport truck: means a semitrailer or trailer combination rig designed or used to transport liquid motor fuel over the highways. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Transporter: means a person engaged in the business of transporting motor fuels subject to the user fee. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Two-party exchange: means a transaction in which a product is transferred from one licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier to another pursuant to an exchange agreement. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Ultimate purchaser: means a person who uses motor fuel subject to the user fee. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Ultimate vendor: means a person who sells motor fuel subject to the user fee to the user of the fuel, the ultimate purchaser. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
  • Wholesaler: means a person who acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a supplier or from another wholesaler for subsequent sale and distribution at wholesale by tank cars, motor vehicles, or both. See South Carolina Code 12-28-110