The latest on Belgi*n diesel...

[thalassa]

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/130705_red_diesel_checks

It was even on the radio this morning! The result of an open protest letter by the coastal harbourmasters.

 

[NormanS]

Power to the people.

 

[Stork_III]

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/130705_red_diesel_checks

It was even on the radio this morning! The result of an open protest letter by the coastal harbourmasters.

And Belgium Customs reply was?

 

[macd]

Power to the people.

...or power to the people's wallets.

 

[lustyd]

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/130705_red_diesel_checks

It was even on the radio this morning! The result of an open protest letter by the coastal harbourmasters.

Very poorly written or researched article. No mention that fuel for propulsion is duty paid in the UK or that a fine should still apply on fuel purchased in Britain where duty wasn't paid (100% heating guvnor honest!)

 

[vyv_cox]

And Belgium Customs reply was?

I read elsewhere that they have fired up the EU to such an extent that there is a plan to prosecute UK under some existing legislation. It seems that it is stated somewhere that red diesel is exclusively for fishing boats, which apparently overrules the fact that UK owners pay the full rate of duty on it. There may well be further activity, which from the sound of things will lead to white fuel only for yachts.

 

[tillergirl]

It is a typical EU Bureaucrats view of legislation. Under EU regs marked diesel (which indicates a reduced level of taxation) may only be used by those entitled to to the reduction. There is no provision in EU regs for applying a non-discounted tax rate to marked diesel, therefore we break the EU regs! This is the danger of a State regulated by a fixed constitution. You can only do those things permitted by law rather than the common law system which you can do anything provided it is not regulated by law.

 

[NormanS]

We fought wars for centuries to avoid being ruled by these people. (No smiley required).

 

[Twister_Ken]

We fought wars for centuries to avoid being ruled by these people. (No smiley required).

If you're prepared to die in the cause of diesel dye, go ahead, but don't expect me to join the recruitment queue. No smiley required.

 

[Supine Being]

Anyone here been fined by the Beligians for having red diesel in their tank?


No, thought not.

 

[vyv_cox]

Anyone here been fined by the Beligians for having red diesel in their tank?

Whether they are here or not, several have been fined. Widely reported in yachting press. Some inland on canals, some in sea ports.

 

[Supine Being]

Whether they are here or not, several have been fined. Widely reported in yachting press. Some inland on canals, some in sea ports.

I dunno, it just seems strange that we never get a concise report of this happening and the circumstances under which it happened. I got boarded in Ostend last year. The police asked a ton of questions on everything, but they completely avoided asking about the colour of my diesel.

My feeling is that that may fine you for that on top of a bunch of other offences if you've been naughty, or just downright rude, but they're not out to drive away UK boaters. They might be annoyed with us at a governmental level, but business is business and they know the situation with us as individuals.

 

[Tranona]

I dunno, it just seems strange that we never get a concise report of this happening and the circumstances under which it happened. I got boarded in Ostend last year. The police asked a ton of questions on everything, but they completely avoided asking about the colour of my diesel.

My feeling is that that may fine you for that on top of a bunch of other offences if you've been naughty, or just downright rude, but they're not out to drive away UK boaters. They might be annoyed with us at a governmental level, but business is business and they know the situation with us as individuals.

If you go back into the history of this there were indeed documented cases of people being fined AND an official statement from the Belgian government confirming that it was policy to levy fines.

Since then much lobbying by parties on both sides has led to backtracking on this policy, first to wait the outcome of the EUs challenge to the UK government, and now this latest policy where the Belgians are coming into line with their neighbours and not fining British yachtsmen if they can show receipts..

The EU challenge is still not resolved and the UK government is sticking to its guns.

 

[Searush]

Keep voting with your keels & spend your money in France or Holland instead, that's what is hurting them.

 

[thalassa]

Very poorly written or researched article. No mention that fuel for propulsion is duty paid in the UK or that a fine should still apply on fuel purchased in Britain where duty wasn't paid (100% heating guvnor honest!)

This is an abstract of the original article on Dutch-speaking national radio, and gives more detail. And, for good measure, ends with 'he will request the EU to have white diesel available in UK marinas'. ROLF.

 

[thalassa]

Keep voting with your keels & spend your money in France or Holland instead, that's what is hurting them.

As well as the Brits. Equal complaints in the UK marinas, as numbers of visiting continentals are down.

 

[Searush]

As well as the Brits. Equal complaints in the UK marinas, as numbers of visiting continentals are down.

Well yes, they can't refuel over here without getting fined, can they?

 

[lustyd]

ROLF.

I'm not usually a spelling and grammar nazi but this just tickled me (if your name is Rolf I appologise now...). Rolling On the Laughing Floor?

 

[sailorman]

as I understand it some influential Belgians have launched a court case over that issue

 

[oldgit]

We fought wars for centuries to avoid being ruled by these people. (No smiley required).

and many gave their lives to help defend us !