Source: Maxpress - São Paulo / SP - 27/11/2009

The São Paulo State Finance Department, through the operation “De Olho na Bomba”, closed this Friday (27/11/) the Auto Posto Phoenix Guarujá Ltda, a gas station located on Avenida D. Pedro I, Jardim Três Marias, in the city of Guarujá, south coast of São Paulo, due to the sale of adulterated fuel. Since the beginning of the operation in 2005, fifty-three posts had their state registration canceled in the region served by the Regional Tax Office of the Coast, which covers twenty-three municipalities, among which are the cities of Bertioga, Guarujá, Itanhaém, Praia Grande and Santos.

The tax authorities have the authority to cancel the effectiveness of the State Registration of these establishments in order to inhibit the sale of adulterated fuel and tax evasion. This permission is supported by Law 11.929, of April 12, 2005, regulated by Ordinances CAT 28, 32, 61 and 74/05.

Inspection consists of checking pumps, checking the establishment's registration data and collecting samples of the commercialized fuel, which are sent to the Technological Research Institute (IPT) for analysis. Fuel stations, distributors and carriers are subject to inspection.

In the event of an infraction, the stations are prevented from functioning and have sealed tanks containing fuel, in addition to their respective supply pumps. According to the law, the partners (individuals or legal entities) of the establishment are prevented from exercising the same line of activity for a period of five years, counting from the date of termination.

The new state legislation provides for the cancellation of the state registration of stations, distributors and transporters caught with fuel out of specifications, in addition to fines from the Treasury Department, for tax evasion, and Procon, for injury to the Consumer Protection Code, and opening police investigation, in which the owners respond to civil and criminal cases.

The citizen can consult the complete list of canceled gas stations on the website of the Secretariat of Finance (www.fazenda.sp.gov.br). Just access the option “Consultation of canceled stations”. To report a post suspected of selling adulterated fuel, the taxpayer can call the Secretariat's Ombudsman at (11) 3243-3676 and (11) 3243-3683 or send an email to ombudsman@fazenda.sp.gov.br.