Dougster
Veteran Member
Here in the People's Republic of Taxachusetts (or "PRT"), drivers of *anything* that needs to operate on or cross a public way needs to be registered... period. It's all about the sales tax and fees, but that's almost a side issue in this heavy-handed socialist state. This vehicle registration law poses an interesting problem for individual owners of Kubota-style compact utility tractors who occasionally need to cross public ways but do not qualify to register and get a license plate for their vehicle under one of the allowed categories. In the PRT, you would essentially need to be a farmer (farming at least 5 acres for profit), a logger (logging with at least 10 acres for profit), an owner/operator of multiple items of construction equipment or the owner of one item of equipment over 12,000 lb (They give the example of a full-size backhoe). There may be another obscure category or two, but no way for common Joe homeowner/landowner to register his Kubota, get a plate and legally be able to drive down or cross a public way.
Now folks may say I'm crazy for wanting to pay for registration and a license plate... and would say that I should just drive down the road when no cop is looking (as most sane folks would do without a second thought)... but this has become an issue as I may be doing work for others next year all through my neighborhood and I don't wish to drag my 20-foot, 5-ton equipment trailer down the road (which will be under reconstruction) 150 to 2,500 feet just to keep the cops and RMV idiots off my back.
Does anyone know any legal way around this problem here in the PRT? What are the laws in other states? While I know few of you want to pay to register your tractors... is it even possible to do so in your state for a non-farmer?
Dougster
Now folks may say I'm crazy for wanting to pay for registration and a license plate... and would say that I should just drive down the road when no cop is looking (as most sane folks would do without a second thought)... but this has become an issue as I may be doing work for others next year all through my neighborhood and I don't wish to drag my 20-foot, 5-ton equipment trailer down the road (which will be under reconstruction) 150 to 2,500 feet just to keep the cops and RMV idiots off my back.
Does anyone know any legal way around this problem here in the PRT? What are the laws in other states? While I know few of you want to pay to register your tractors... is it even possible to do so in your state for a non-farmer?
Dougster