Maine Trailer Registration

[JJZ 109]

Gentlemen,

Specifically you NY's. First of all don't shoot the messenger!!!!!!!!!! NY has made it illegal to register trailers in Maine. Unless you live in or operate Primarily out of Maine be ware. It stems from the lack of $ (go figure) that goes to DMV that is supposed to go back into road works etc..... Just like your driver's license it has to be changed over to your PRIMARY residence or place of operations. NOT looking to get anyone riled up more food for thought. I found this out as I was looking into a Maine reg myself...

Thanks for the information. No offense taken and I won't be taking any shots at the messenger. However, I'm going to take my chances with the Maine plates that I have on 2 of my 3 trailers until I find a cop with enough ambition to pull me over and write it up. I figured that the Soviet Socialist Republic of New York would catch up with those missed dollars sooner or later.

 

[clydesdale]

I too live in NY. I have had a Maine plate since 2006 on my dump trailer with a 13,800 gvwr. My question is, if ME requires an inspection for anything over 7K pounds, can I get a ticket for lack of inspection here in NY?

Also, does anybody know if they are cracking down on this ME trailer business? When I bought the trailer, it was over $100 per year to register. That is a terrible rip off and that is why us New Yorkers try to get around it.

 

[tractchores]

I know someone very well doing this in ma for the last few years, no issues tospeak of in terms of enforcement... That will vary state by state and maybe even town by town

 

[TimberXX]

I search Google news for anything about Maine plate enforcement on a yearly basis, and found nothing.

I have a trailer with Maine plates and am getting another.

 

[clydesdale]

I search Google news for anything about Maine plate enforcement on a yearly basis, and found nothing.

I have a trailer with Maine plates and am getting another.

Timber, I think I saw that you bought a dump, with a GVWR of over 7k. I too have a dump with a GVWR of 13,800. Maine requires inspection for trailers over 7K GVWR. Do you think that can cause us an issue in NY? Thanks

 

[JJZ 109]

I'm still going to take my chances. So far I've saved quite a bit of money on 2 trailer registrations in the last couple of years. Probably more than any potential fines would be. At worst I think they'd be "fix it" tickets. If cited, you could most likely get your trailer registered and inspected in NY and present the evidence to the judge. The ticket might be tossed or a minor fine/court fee assessed. $99 for five years is much better than $75 and more for one year in this miserable state.
Time will tell how it plays out. Both of my Maine registered trailers only get sporadic use. My business trailer on the other hand, is out every day during my season from early April to mid November. That trailer has large company graphics on it and is always towed by a bucket truck which also has graphics on it so I stick with the NY registration on it. But all trailer registrations in NY state expire in December, regardless of when they were registered. So I do not renew mine when December rolls around because the trailer sits idle all winter. I wait to renew until the end of March until I start using it again. The state then prorates the fee so it's lower.

 

[TimberXX]

I'm sure they could ticket you. But that would mean they need to know the Maine law. My registration doesn't say that a inspection is required.

I have a lot of miles on my trailer with no problems. If I get a ticket in a year, I would still break even cost wise.

 

[JJZ 109]

I'm sure they could ticket you. But that would mean they need to know the Maine law. My registration doesn't say that a inspection is required.

I have a lot of miles on my trailer with no problems. If I get a ticket in a year, I would still break even cost wise.

I don't think that NY law enforcement can do much of anything if I'm breaking a Maine law. But they could probably still nab me for not having a NY inspection and possibly no NY registration because I live in NY. Like you, I figure I've already saved enough to keep taking my chances.

 

[clydesdale]

JJZ 109,
I have the same dump as you, CAM 6X12 hd with 13,800 gvwr. I have towed with it many times over the last 7 years and never had a problem. I just wish our state would get competitive with the fees and charge a reasonable amount.

 

[JJZ 109]

JJZ 109,
I have the same dump as you, CAM 6X12 hd with 13,800 gvwr. I have towed with it many times over the last 7 years and never had a problem. I just wish our state would get competitive with the fees and charge a reasonable amount.

We can always hope. But as a lifelong resident and a retired 26 year employee of state government I don't hold out much hope of them ever giving back.
I see that you've got the HD model. Mine's just standard duty with a GVWR of 11,960. But it looks like we're still over that 7K Maine weight that you mentioned before.