IFTA BEST PRACTICES LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE BY IFTA LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE

IFTA IFTA BEST PRACTICES BEST PRACTICES

LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDELAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

BYBY

IFTA LAW ENFORCEMENT IFTA LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEECOMMITTEE

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

A.A. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

B.B. VEHICLE SCREENINGVEHICLE SCREENING

C.C. ENFORCEMENT ACTIONSENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

D.D. SUMMARYSUMMARY

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The purpose of this guide is to outline The purpose of this guide is to outline jurisdiction “best practices” this guide will jurisdiction “best practices” this guide will help generalize enforcement practices to help generalize enforcement practices to help create uniformity throughout the IFTA help create uniformity throughout the IFTA jurisdictions.jurisdictions.


It should be noted that this guide is a It should be noted that this guide is a recommendation for best practices and will not recommendation for best practices and will not necessarily be the best recommendation for all necessarily be the best recommendation for all jurisdictions. Key variables in determining if jurisdictions. Key variables in determining if the guide will apply to the jurisdictions include the guide will apply to the jurisdictions include but are not limited to:but are not limited to:

1. Legislation1. Legislation2. Resources2. Resources3. Authority3. Authority


The guide’s intent is:The guide’s intent is:

1. For law enforcement personnel.1. For law enforcement personnel.

2. To be a continuing guide with additional 2. To be a continuing guide with additional changes as information and changes as information and

technology changes.technology changes.

VEHICLE SCREENINGVEHICLE SCREENING

GeneralGeneral

a. a. Road side enforcement will access if a Road side enforcement will access if a vehicle is in need for a compliance or fuel vehicle is in need for a compliance or fuel inspection. Road side enforcement inspection. Road side enforcement officers officers should be trained through their should be trained through their agency on agency on how to screen vehicles and how to screen vehicles and determine if they determine if they are in need for inspection are in need for inspection and how to stop the and how to stop the vehicle in a safe manner vehicle in a safe manner according to the according to the jurisdictions laws, policy jurisdictions laws, policy and procedures.and procedures.


General continued:General continued:

b. Road side enforcement shall check the b. Road side enforcement shall check the vehicle for any IFTA identification and vehicle for any IFTA identification and decals. The road side enforcement decals. The road side enforcement officer shall determine if the vehicle officer shall determine if the vehicle they have qualifies for IFTA they have qualifies for IFTA

credentials.credentials.



c. Documentation received from the driver c. Documentation received from the driver of the vehicle needs to be validated of the vehicle needs to be validated and the vehicle in question needs to and the vehicle in question needs to

be be verified by checking the vehicles verified by checking the vehicles serial serial numbers and the GVWR against numbers and the GVWR against the the paperwork and credentials being paperwork and credentials being provided to the officer.provided to the officer.



d. Road side enforcement will conduct a fuel d. Road side enforcement will conduct a fuel inspection on the vehicles in question by inspection on the vehicles in question by conducting a specified test in conducting a specified test in

accordance accordance with each jurisdictions policy with each jurisdictions policy and procedures and procedures and statues for conducting and statues for conducting the fuel tests.the fuel tests.

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONSENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

Fuel Tanks:Fuel Tanks:

a. Road side inspector needs to locate the a. Road side inspector needs to locate the fuel tanks and search for any other fuel tanks and search for any other

type type of hidden reservoir that could contain of hidden reservoir that could contain dyed or alternate fuel.dyed or alternate fuel.

b. A fuel sample should be obtained from b. A fuel sample should be obtained from all tanks for testing. all tanks for testing.


Fuel tanks continued:Fuel tanks continued:

c. If a fuel sample contains red dye, or is c. If a fuel sample contains red dye, or is suspected to contain red dye, the suspected to contain red dye, the

sample needs to be clearly marked and sample needs to be clearly marked and contained as evidence according to the contained as evidence according to the jurisdictions laws, policy, and jurisdictions laws, policy, and procedure.procedure.


Document Identification and ValidationDocument Identification and Validationa.a. The enforcement officer shall determine if the The enforcement officer shall determine if the

vehicle is a qualified motor vehicle and check all vehicle is a qualified motor vehicle and check all supporting documentation provided by the driver for supporting documentation provided by the driver for legitimacy.legitimacy.

b.b. The enforcement officer shall check the IFTA The enforcement officer shall check the IFTA account through the Clearing House system if the account through the Clearing House system if the jurisdiction has the availability, or contact the base jurisdiction has the availability, or contact the base jurisdiction to verify if the account is in good jurisdiction to verify if the account is in good standing.standing.


Revoked Carriers or Fictitious DocumentsRevoked Carriers or Fictitious Documents

a. The enforcement officer shall determine if the a. The enforcement officer shall determine if the qualified motor carrier is suspended or revoked qualified motor carrier is suspended or revoked and take appropriate action according to the and take appropriate action according to the officer's jurisdiction laws, policy, and procedure.officer's jurisdiction laws, policy, and procedure.

b. Citations may be issued in accordance with b. Citations may be issued in accordance with the jurisdictions statutes.the jurisdictions statutes.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

This guide is a suggestion of practices from the IFTA Law This guide is a suggestion of practices from the IFTA Law Enforcement Committee.Enforcement Committee.

The committee understands that each jurisdiction has their The committee understands that each jurisdiction has their own unique legislation and is not attempting to alter own unique legislation and is not attempting to alter legislation.legislation.

The committee wants to stress that The committee wants to stress that SAFETYSAFETY is the top is the top priority for road side officers and caution must be adhered priority for road side officers and caution must be adhered to at all times.to at all times.

It is also important for the road side officer to give clear and It is also important for the road side officer to give clear and concise direction so that the driver can understand and concise direction so that the driver can understand and complete tasks that are asked.complete tasks that are asked.