A. Any person who commits any of the following acts shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor:

Attorney's Note

Under the Virginia Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 1 misdemeanorup to 12 monthsup to $2,500
For details, see Va. Code § 18.2-11

Terms Used In Virginia Code 58.1-2272

  • Alternative fuel: means a combustible gas, liquid or other energy source that can be used to generate power to operate a highway vehicle and that is neither a motor fuel nor electricity used to recharge an electric motor vehicle or a hybrid electric motor vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Aviation fuel: means aviation gasoline or aviation jet fuel. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Bulk user: means a person who maintains storage facilities for motor fuel and uses part or all of the stored fuel to operate a highway vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Commissioner: means the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • 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 Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Distributor: means a person who acquires motor fuel from a supplier or from another distributor for subsequent sale. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Exporter: means a person who obtains motor fuel in Virginia for sale or distribution in another state, territory, or foreign country. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Fuel: includes motor fuel and alternative fuel. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Highway: means every way or place of whatever nature open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel in the Commonwealth, including the streets and alleys in towns and cities. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Highway vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle designed for use on a highway. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Importer: means a person who obtains motor fuel outside of Virginia and brings that motor fuel into Virginia by any means of conveyance other than in the fuel tank of a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Person: means any individual; firm; cooperative; association; corporation; limited liability company; trust; business trust; syndicate; partnership; limited liability partnership; joint venture; receiver; trustee in bankruptcy; club, society or other group or combination acting as a unit; or public body, including but not limited to the Commonwealth, any other state, and any agency, department, institution, political subdivision or instrumentality of the Commonwealth or any other state. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Provider of alternative fuel: means a person who (i) acquires alternative fuel for sale or delivery to a bulk user or a retailer; (ii) maintains storage facilities for alternative fuel, part or all of which the person sells to someone other than a bulk user or a retailer to operate a highway vehicle; (iii) sells alternative fuel and uses part of the fuel acquired for sale to operate a highway vehicle by means of a fuel supply line from the cargo tank of the vehicle to the engine of the vehicle; or (iv) imports alternative fuel into Virginia, by a means other than the usual tank or receptacle connected with the engine of a highway vehicle, for sale or use by that person to operate a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Retailer: means a person who (i) maintains storage facilities for motor fuel and (ii) sells the fuel at retail or dispenses the fuel at a retail location. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Retailer of alternative fuel: means a person who (i) maintains storage facilities for alternative fuel and (ii) sells or dispenses the fuel at retail, to be used to generate power to operate a highway vehicle. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245
  • Supplier: means (i) a position holder, or (ii) a person who receives motor fuel pursuant to a two-party exchange. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Tank wagon: means a straight truck or straight truck/trailer combination designed or used to carry fuel and having a capacity of less than 6,000 gallons. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Transport truck: means a tractor truck/semitrailer combination designed or used to transport cargoes of motor fuel over a highway. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Use: means the actual consumption or receipt of motor fuel by any person into a highway vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201
  • Watercraft: means any vehicle used on waterways. See Virginia Code 58.1-2201

1. Failing to obtain a license required by this chapter;

2. Failing to file a return required by this chapter;

3. Failing to pay a tax when due under this chapter;

4. Failing to pay a tax collected on behalf of a destination state to that state when it is due;

5. Making a false statement in an application, return, ticket, invoice, statement, or any other document required under this chapter;

6. Making a false statement in an application for a refund;

7. Failing to keep records as required under this chapter;

8. Refusing to allow the Commissioner or a representative of the Commissioner to examine the person’s books and records concerning fuel;

9. Failing to make a required disclosure of the correct amount of fuel sold or used in the Commonwealth;

10. Failing to file a replacement or additional bond or certificate of deposit as required under this chapter;

11. Failing to show or give a shipping document as required under this chapter;

12. Refusing to allow a licensed distributor, licensed exporter, or licensed importer to defer payment of tax to the supplier, as required by § 58.1-2231;

13. Refusing to allow a bulk user of alternative fuel or a retailer of alternative fuel who has posted a bond in accordance with § 58.1-2246 to defer payment of tax to the provider of alternative fuel, as required by § 58.1-2252;

14. Refusing to allow a licensed distributor or a licensed importer to take a deduction or discount allowed by § 58.1-2233 when remitting the tax to the supplier, or to allow a licensed retailer of alternative fuel to take a deduction or discount allowed by § 58.1-2254 when remitting the tax to the provider of alternative fuel;

15. Using, delivering, or selling any aviation fuel for use or intended for use in highway vehicles or watercraft;

16. Violating the provisions of § 58.1-2278;

17. Interfering with or refusing to permit seizures authorized under § 58.1-2274; or

18. Delivering fuel from a transport truck or tank wagon to the fuel tank of a highway vehicle, except in an emergency.

B. A person who knowingly commits any of the following acts shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor:

1. Dispenses any fuel on which tax levied pursuant to this chapter has not been paid into the supply tank of a highway vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft; or

2. Allows any fuel on which tax levied pursuant to this chapter has not been paid to be dispensed into the supply tank of a highway vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft.

2000, cc. 729, 758; 2006, c. 594.