Cross- border gas buyers raise transport concerns

Re: Van explosion sends one to hospital, July 6

While the exact cause of this explosion has not been determined, the existence of a “five- gallon gas tank” in the back of the van reminds me of a scenario I see many times during the fuelling of my vehicle.

Living very close to the border and possessing a Nexus card, I take advantage of the 35- cent- per- litre difference by filling up near Blaine. I save about $ 23; certainly worth the trip.

On most visits to the gas station, I observe other Canadian motorists fill one, two or three five- gallon containers and place them in the trunk or covered area in the back of their vehicle.

In some cases, they overfill the containers, wipe the spill off with a rag and place the rag in the same compartment.

They then line up to cross the border into Canada with other drivers unaware of the potential danger in the vehicle ahead or beside them.

This practice is a dangerous one, not only to the individuals in the vehicle carrying the fuel, but to those unknowing individuals in the vehicles around them.

I have been unable to find any reference on the Canada Border Services site regarding the importing of auto fuel outside of the fuel tank of an automobile which is designed to store and transport it safely. WAYNE MERCER Surrey