ATLANTA, GA — Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday doubled down on his recent state of emergency by temporarily suspending the penalties for use of off-road dyed diesel fuel.
The measure, aimed at offering relief for the farmers and truckers who utilize commercial vehicles, comes after Kemp paused Georgia's gas tax and issued a state of emergency on Sept. 29. Kemp additionally waived the weight limits on commercial vehicles.
The state of emergency was initially set to expire on Oct. 29, but Kemp extended it to Nov. 5.
RELATED: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Suspends State Gas Tax For 30 Days
Under the order, truckers and farmers will not face consequences for selling, delivering or using dyed fuel oil for on-road vehicle use, the governor's office stated.
"With our farmers and truckers under heavy pressure, we're leaving no stone unturned when it comes to giving them relief, along with the hardworking Georgians who rely on the goods they produce and deliver," Kemp said in a news release. "I'm thankful for the support of our partners in the legislature on these measures as we continue to put Georgia workers and families first."
Last week, Kemp cited global market volatility in declaring the state of emergency and said the temporary gas tax suspension is intended to provide relief to residents and businesses dealing with higher fuel costs.
The change is intended to reduce transportation costs that can contribute to prices for everyday goods, including groceries.
The order also invokes Georgia's price-gouging law for goods and services considered necessary to respond to the state of emergency, including gasoline and diesel fuel.
The suspension comes as Georgia farmers contend with particularly high diesel costs during the fall agricultural season, State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper previously said.
On Wednesday, consumers were paying an average of $5.81 for diesel. Regular fuel was priced at $3.86, according to AAA.
Patch manager Ryan Phillips contributed to this report.
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