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2021 Delaware Code
Title 30 - State Taxes
Chapter 51. Motor Fuel Tax
Subchapter II. Special Fuel
§ 5139. Violations and penalties; enforcement.

Universal Citation:
30 DE Code § 5139. (2021)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
§ 5139. Violations and penalties; enforcement.

(a) Acts forbidden. — It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Refuse or knowingly and intentionally fail to make and file any statement required by this chapter in the manner or within the time required;

(2) Knowingly and with intent to evade or to aid in the evasion of the tax imposed herein to make any false statement or conceal any material fact in any record, report or affidavit provided for in this chapter;

(3) Knowingly and with intent to evade or to aid in the evasion of the tax imposed herein, or to withhold or fail to remit moneys due under this chapter;

(4) Assign or attempt to assign a license to act as a special fuel dealer or a special fuel user;

(5) Knowingly and with intent to evade or to aid in the evasion of the tax imposed herein to receive special fuel in this State into the supply tank or tanks of a motor vehicle from a person not holding a valid license as a special fuel dealer;

(6) Knowingly and with intent to evade or aid in the evasion of the tax imposed herein to deliver or place special fuel into the bulk supply tank or tanks of a person not licensed as a special fuel dealer or special fuel user or not a holder of a valid special fuel tax exemption marker without collecting the lawful tax imposed herein;

(7) Fail to keep and maintain the books and records required by this chapter;

(8) Knowingly and with intent to deceive, defraud or evade the tax imposed herein to permanently remove, replace, alter or render inoperable any volumetric measuring device or “totalizer” of any pump dispensing motor fuel subject to this chapter;

(9) Sign and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Motor Fuel Tax Administration any report required by this subchapter knowing that it contains false statements material to the computation of the tax imposed by this subchapter.

(b) Penalties and remedies. — Any person violating subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor; provided, however, that if the violation results in an evasion or wrongful withholding of special fuel tax amounting to more than $500, then the violation shall constitute a class E felony. Any person who has once been convicted of any violation of subsection (a) of this section and who thereafter is convicted of any subsequent violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class E felony. The Superior Court shall have the exclusive jurisdiction over those violations enumerated in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Penalties are cumulative. — The fine and imprisonment provided for in this section shall be in addition to any other penalty imposed by any other provision of this chapter.

(d) Enforcement. — The Delaware State Police is authorized and directed to assist in the enforcement of this section.

(e) License required. — It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct any activities requiring a license under this chapter without a license or after a license has been surrendered, cancelled or revoked. Whoever violates this subsection shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than $100 nor more than $300, and for each subsequent offense, not less than $300 nor more than $500. The Justice of the Peace Courts shall have jurisdiction over this subsection.

30 Del. C. 1953, § 5139;  54 Del. Laws, c. 107;  61 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 15;  64 Del. Laws, c. 397, §§ 1-4;  66 Del. Laws, c. 273, §§ 1-3;  68 Del. Laws, c. 290, § 185; 
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