Terrible way to end school year

[slowrev]

I guess the real question is , was this an event sanctioned by the school or just something the kids did ?

Laws on AG equipment on the roads vary from state to state. I also wonder about insurance coverage in this case ? on both the tractor rider and the ATV rider.

Just a mess.

Ben

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Operate a tractor with a "licensed passenger"..... )</font>

I noticed that, Mike, but with many years experience in dealing with the news media, I also know that errors are common. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Of course, I don't know whether this quote was an error or not, but suspect that it was.

 

[slowrev]

Bird,
I noticed that too, but they said the driver of the tractor had a learners permit, with a learners permit a liscensced driver is required to be along in most states. Well in the 6 or 8 I have lived in anyway. Maybe where he was a DL is required to operate a tractor on public roads. Not sure, any NY folks know ?
Ben

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I guess the real question is , was this an event sanctioned by the school or just something the kids did )</font>

Ditto.. that would be a defining issue.. if it was a school sanctioned event.. then i think the ag classification for educational purposes would/should qualify. If it was student organized.. then it becomes very grey legally i would think.

soundguy

 

[slowrev]

Soundguy,
That is my thoughts on it as well.
Of course I do not know the law in that state/locality regarding ag equipment on the roads. And does the operator require a liscense, etc...
Ben

 

[BRIGUY]

slowrev,

Here is a little background, Wife has been in insurance for 21 years, my brother-in-law is an attorney, and we all live in Upstate NY.

I wanted to do some work with my BX-23 and needed to drive it a mile or two in order to get there (suburban area). I asked NY State DMV if it was legal to drive my tractor on local public roads for short distances (I have flashers, lights, directionals, reflective slowmoving vehicle triangle Etc.) They said it was not legal to operate a tractor on public roads for any reason. I have done this many times before with larger machines and police have seen me do it (no problem). Well even though my wife was unhappy I did it any way. I guess it is not inforced unless something bad happens.

 

[Junkman]

The local police ignore a lot of things that are not allowed by the books, but they turn a blind eye because they realize that it is in the rural areas that it doesn't do any harm. There are a lot of police officers that don't do this also, and they are not wrong, but they are also not liked as much by the community. You, as an adult are less likely to be stopped driving a tractor down the road, than a teenager that the officer doesn't know. In farm country, it happens all the time and no one enforces the rule. I just heard on the MA news last night about a guy on a riding lawn mower was arrested for DWI while on his way to the liquor store to pick up a 6 pack. He was also charged with obstructing traffic since the lawn mower wouldn't go very fast. I have also heard of people being arrested for DWI on horses and bicycles. I wonder if anyone has ever been arrested for DWI on crutches???? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[mboulais]

<font color="blue"> (Operate a tractor with a "licensed passenger".....

Hello? No one else caught this?)
</font>
Yeah, That's a good one. Last summer I heard about a incident where a guy up here had his three kids follow him in a pickup when he drove his tractor from one property to another. The oldest kid (the one driving) was about 12. When they crossed the four lane highway (Rte 37, not very busy) A trooper happened to be coming by and stopped the truck. The father eventually noticed they weren't behind him and doubled back. The tropper told him it would have been better and legal to have the 12 year drive the tractor. I don't know what tickets were issued.

 

[bczoom]

Does anyone remember the story a couple years ago about the guy that drove is JD lawn mower a great distance (across a few states) to attend his brother's funeral? (or something like that). I remember JD gave him a new tractor as well.

If it isn't legal to drive a tractor on the road, why is it this guy was able to do so, and if I recall had a police escort for several parts of the trip?

I couldn't find anything in the NYS DMV but these links for PA make it sound like it's legal for driving a tractor when it's related to farming (with certain guidelines). I couldn't find anything about driver licensing or age requirements.
Farm equip fact sheet
Vehicle Code
MV-190 Implement of Husbandry

 

[Cactus]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> MikePA: Cleaned up long URL. Please review your message before posting it. It's simple not to do this. Just insert a descriptive word or two between the {url=http://whatever}Enter words here{/url} instead of the entire URL. Replace parentheses with brackets in previous example. </font> )</font>

Nice way of handling and informing us Mike. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif