I sent the following email to FMCA for a little help in this situation:
Recently, it was posted in an RV Forum (RV.Net) that Arizona is starting to actively enforce a little known rule regarding the difference between the passenger car fuel tax and truck tax. Here is the story :
http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=113059
Before anyone got exited, the rules were checked:
http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/professional-services/FuelTaxInfo/fuel-tax-evasion-unit
Apparently, RV's are not exempt from the truck taxes and will be fined for violation of the law. I emailed the AZ DOT questioning the rule and if RV's were exempt. They responded with the following:
Thank you for contacting the Arizona Department of Transportation. Please contact Fuel Tax Reporting at 602-712-8473
I called the number and was advised that private RV's are not exempt and they are stepping up enforcement. This basically means that an RV over 26000 GVW or two axles must only buy fuel at a truck stop in the truck lanes. If not, you'll be fined.
This is a little known rule and will catch many unsuspecting fuel buyers. The only notice is a small sticker on the pump. The difference in taxes is .18 cents for cars and .26 cents for trucks.
This presents some issues, one, it would require almost all diesel pushers to buy only at truck stops and be forced to use the truck islands. Secondly, what happens if you run low on fuel and there are no truck stops near by.
I'm hoping you can look into this issue and use your clout to help amend the rule to exempt private RV's. I doubt the rule was implemented to gather more road tax from Snowbirds, families and retirees.
