Terrible way to end school year

btolle · Jun 8, 2005

"Neugebauer was thrown off his 1985 Ford tractor moments after he had passed a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle at a high rate of speed several hundred yards down a steep hill on Dennison Road, said state police Capt. Jeffrey D. Raub."

Sounds like the kid was going downhill at a high rate of speed and passed a four wheeler. Appears to be kids who wee excited about taking the tractor to school and, as kids are prone to do, forgot about safety in the midst of the excitement.

I can (faintly) remember a time when I was a teenager and speed was a thrill. Doesn't help his parents at this point, but we all took risks at that age. Most of us survived, but a few don't.

Bill Tolle

slowrev · Jun 8, 2005

Thanks Brian for the info. Down here in KY it is legal to drive ag equip on the highway as long as it is for AG purposes. Not on interstate though !! If you try to use a tractor as a car because you lost your DL and they catch you it is trouble though. Always keep a roll of hay on the back /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I am not sure if a DL is required for tractors in KY though.
Ben

Jagmandave · Jun 8, 2005

Alvin Straight, "The Straight Story" was the movie made about it. Drove 300 miles to see his ailing brother because they took his driver's license away. Towed a trailer behind his JD lawn tractor, took what, three weeks?

SwampKing · Jun 8, 2005

I have to disagree with you Soundguy, the article from the link said that the "tradition" of tractor day was started as a way to celebrate the end of school not as any type of agricultural learning.

Also at least in my state the law limits driving an unregistered tractor on public roads to moving between fields (i.e. going across the road to get to the other side) for short distances.

The "agricultural" uses you mention would definitely not qualify as legal operation on a public roadway. Every state is different, but in the same ballpark I would think. Sorry for being the wet blanket...

SwampKing · Jun 8, 2005

bczoom,

About that guy driving the tractor cross-country-like somebody else said police don't always enforce the laws relating to things like this. Just because he was able to do it, doesn't imply it was legal.

As for tractor operators needing a license to drive on the road-I believe that they do in PA. You'll find that tractors fall under the definition of "motor vehicles" per the PA vehicle code as related to licensing. The operator of ANY motor vehicle must be licensed to operate on a highway(what the state calls a public road).

Somebody else mentioned about the guy getting a DUI on his riding mower-the reason this is possible is because the law defines motor vehicles very broadly to encompass EVERYTHING that's moved on a highway. Just because you're driving something other than the usual mode of transport does not give you an exemption from all the laws regulating the use of the highways. You might get the exemption by the police looking the other way however, it all depends.

Dutch445 · Jun 8, 2005

Wow, quite a response....

From what I understand, it's probably student organized,, as is Senior Skip day.. and therefore not sanctioned by the school. Events like this happen all around this part of the State, on mostly very rural roads. It is very common to see
young boys driving large farm tractors all over on the roads, between fields or farms.. it's what they do to help on the farm. And, unfortunately, it is common for accidents, sometimes involving serious injury or death. I can't say as I have ever seen a tractor pulled over by any law enforcement, and like most have commented, they probably wouldn't get involved until something happened.
One article mentioned the rate of speed the old Ford was doing.. and the fact it passed the gator... doesn't take much
imagination to think what could have been happening. Much like anything you or I would do... seems fun at the time, but quickly turns dangerous.
I haven't heard any talk from my son in school around here that this type of activity is forbidden yet.. but I don't know when they normally do this stuff. I know at homecoming they do a similar event, with the tractors pulling hay wagons full of screaming cheering students from each grade around the bus circle. And yes,, something similar could happen if somebody fell off etc. Nobody plans for an accident, guess that's why it's called an accident. Could they be prevented? of course... and so could every automobile accident if we all had to walk to work. With everything, there is a risk factor, some acceptable, and some not. Unfortunately it's accidents like this that define what's not in the future.

SwampKing · Jun 8, 2005

Some more food for thought:
Mention was made about the "Licensed passenger" comment by the NYSP. It sounds crazy right? I don't think the Trooper was misquoted or out of his mind, he was stating the law as it reads. That's an important fact.
A permit holder requires a licensed passenger to be legal, but that's not possible in a tractor since they aren't made for passengers. Ergo, there can be no legal operation of a tractor on a public road by someone who holds only a permit unless there was a specific exemption in the law which there appears not to be.

Soundguy · Jun 8, 2005

( I have to disagree with you Soundguy, the article from the link said that the "tradition" of tractor day was started as a way to celebrate the end of school not as any type of agricultural learning.
)

I wasn't saying it was or wasn't.. I was merely speculating that IF it was authorized.. then it should be legal.. common sense wise.

I'm glad i still live in a place where they farm. Once all the tight collar politicians make farming illegal.. we will eventually ALL pay the price. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Getting rid of farmers.. or making it harder for them to work is not in the best interests of this country.

Soundguy

LBrown59 · Jun 8, 2005

( ( I have to disagree with you Soundguy, the article from the link said that the "tradition" of tractor day was started as a way to celebrate the end of school not as any type of agricultural learning.
)

I wasn't saying it was or wasn't.. I was merely speculating that IF it was authorized.. then it should be legal.. common sense wise.

I'm glad i still live in a place where they farm. Once all the tight collar politicians make farming illegal.. we will eventually ALL pay the price. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Getting rid of farmers.. or making it harder for them to work is not in the best interests of this country.
 Getting rid of farmers.. or making it harder for them to work is not in the best interests of this country.

Soundguy )
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
 Unless you're on a permanent hunger strike.

SwampKing · Jun 8, 2005

Speaking of splitting hairs...

I guess I didn't make myself clear. I was disagreeing with what Soundguy stated he considered bona-fide agricultural uses, (getting fuel, going to agricultural classes etc) not with whether or not he thought the tractor day was school sanctioned.
Lets hope they never make farming illegal...