Civil penalty for operation of vehicle with certain dyed special fuels--Request for hearing--Criminal penalty for failure to pay civil assessment--Exempted vehicles

A person who operates or maintains a motor vehicle in this state with special fuel that contains dye as provided under § 10-47B-20 in the engine fuel supply tank is subject to a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars if the violation occurs in a motor vehicle which is not a qualified vehicle. If the violation occurs in a qualified vehicle, the person is subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars. The person is subject to a five hundred dollar civil penalty on all subsequent violations which occur in any motor vehicle other than a qualified vehicle and subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars on all subsequent violations which occur in any qualified vehicle. If the person believes that the assessment arose from a mistake of fact or error of law, the person may request a hearing in accordance with § 10-59-9 . Failure to pay the civil assessment within ninety days after the date of the assessment or ninety days after the civil assessment becomes final pursuant to an administrative appeal, is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any motor vehicle owned by the state, a county, or municipal corporation for the construction, repair, and maintenance of the public highways on any public highway is not subject to this section. Any intercity bus as defined by 26 U.S.C. § 6427(b) is not subject to this section with regards to any dyed diesel fuel purchased in another state and imported in the engine fuel supply tank of the bus. Any fuel purchased in this state for use in an intercity bus shall be taxed and undyed. Any motor vehicle owned by the federal government is not subject to this section.