Monday, October 13, 2008
Some tax on gas can be refunded
Tom Angleberger
The New River Valley-based reporter answers your questions Mondays in his column, What's on Your Mind?
Recent columns
Q: I resent paying road tax for gas I use in my lawn mower? Is there a way to buy it without paying the tax?
Harold Bowman, Roanoke County
A: You do have to pay the tax when you purchase the gas. But, yes, you can get the state's 17.5-cent-per-gallon tax refunded -- if you've been saving your receipts.
Apparently, our lawmakers agreed with your theory that if you're not using the gas to drive on the highway, you shouldn't have to pay the tax.
So in addition to lawn mowing, you may also get a refund for gas put into a boat, a race car, a public school bus or a manure spreader. Actually, it looks like the manure spreader only gets a 55 percent refund.
To tell you the truth, the law in question, Virginia Code Section 58.1-2259, is a little on the complicated side and it doesn't actually contain the word "lawnmower." Cement trucks, firetrucks and airplanes are all covered and there are all sorts of complications, restrictions and half cents off for this or a percentage of that. But no mention of lawn mowing.
So I checked with the state to make sure you could get a refund for your mower gas.
"Yes," replied Gail Foxwell, of the Department of Motor Vehicles, "he would be eligible if he purchases five gallons or more and submits the receipts/tickets within 12 months of the purchase date. Please tell your reader to refer to the instructions on the back of the application (TS-216) for detailed information." (By the way, if you're a boater, you'll want TS-217. Both can be downloaded from www.dmv.state.va.us.) Apparently, you need to buy your gas 5 gallons or more at a time to qualify. The law seems iffy about this, but the TS-216 form seems pretty firm. So if you have one of those little 2 ½-gallon cans like I do, you may want to upgrade. And save your receipts.
Q: I've recently moved into the Peters Creek area and I'd like to know where Peters Creek is?
Evelyn Kirk, Roanoke
A: Actually, Peters Creek the road and Peters Creek the creek run along next to each other for a fair distance, crossing each other's path now and again.
They first come near each other close to the road's intersection with Appleton Avenue. Peters Creek has rolled in from the north after following Green Ridge Road down from the Interstate 81 area.
Then the creek and road run along near each other heading roughly south until the creek goes under the road just before the intersection with Melrose Avenue.
On the other side of Melrose, the creek goes back under the road. (Or, because the creek was there first, perhaps I should say the road goes back over the creek.) They carry on like this until parting ways near Shenandoah Avenue. From here each rushes to its own end. The road meets up with Brandon Avenue. The creek joins the Roanoke River just downstream of the Steel Dynamics plant (formerly Roanoke Electric Steel).
Q: I saw an old movie once with a black man singing "Ol' Man River." Was this "Huckleberry Finn" or something else?
Reggie Wallace, Roanoke
A: The movie you saw was most probably the musical "Showboat."
The question is: Which version did you see, the 1936 or the 1951? To help you decide, here are a few more details culled from the ever-handy Internet Movie Database:
Both songs feature songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein. The first film was black and white, and featured Paul Robeson singing the song. The second movie was in color with William Warfield singing about the river that just keeps rolling, keeps on rolling along. Warfield's version also is featured in "That's Entertainment," a very enjoyable collection of highlights from MGM musicals.
One side note: When I was looking up the lyrics to the song online, I was greeted with an ad offering to "send complimentary Paul Robeson ringtones to my cell!" What a world!
Got a question? Got an answer? Call Tom Angleberger at 777-6476 or send an e-mail to tomangleberger@yahoo.com. Don't forget to provide your full name, its proper spelling and your hometown.
Look for Tom Angleberger's column on Mondays.
