I was stopped once on the way to test cows at a farm, and the state cop was being an %%%, because he said I was not doing MY farm business... BUT, I was in the right because I had several bags of feed that I had gotten for MY farm, and went to the other farm on the way home... Yeah, I went to court over the "ticket" he wrote me... he was splitting hairs and got his come uppance over it.
That said, I heard about 2 different LEGITIMATE farmers that were both ticketed by a sheriff's deputy when they stopped at a convenience store for drinks, while out checking cattle at different pastures... another harassment thing, but it showed where the farm use thing was being abused by people that did not have legitimate farm use on their vehicles.
There's been talk for a bit that they were going to require that a farmer go get plates at DMV and have to show a "farm schedule" on their taxes..... that would have taken care of 90% of the ones "that think they are priviledged" to put farm use on their nice pickups to take the trash to the dumpster, and the ones driving their falling apart trashy cars to get their next "fix" from their dope supplier...
I think this is the best compromise they came up with. I don't mind paying the $15 plate fee to drive my no titled old 4x4 ranger a couple miles to the feed store and down the road to a pasture to check cows... or even to the store in the winter while I am out doing stuff. This also allows those of us that have an SUV.... like my subaru forester.... that I carry grain in the back to go feed, because this keeps the cows from getting their heads into the buckets like they do with the feed in the back of the little pickup... and is better on gas than to constantly drive a bigger vehicle.
And yes, I carry insurance on my vehicles that are just "farm use"... only smart to do so with the other idiots on the road nowadays.
I printed off and carried the statutes as they used to be, in my truck years ago... just to be on the safe side.
I am glad they did not go with the plate requirement on every trailer... lord, that would have been something of a nighmare with the trailers we have that get used a couple times a year...or the big trucks that get used to haul cattle to town or crops to the co-op for a week in the fall...
And upping the mileage to 75 miles was nice... it has bounced around over the years and the last 30 or 35, miles was not enough with so many farming or pasturing land farther and farther away...
Technically yes, you can go to the store for groceries and such... but the way it is written it SHOULD be done on a trip back to the farm from doing other legitimate business for the farm. Even to go to the hospital for emergency care etc.
The thing that I think they should have done, is include the requirement for a farmer to show his "legitimate farm tax form"... to get the permanent farm plates.... then if you claim farm income of any sort, you are a legit farmer by law... thus afforded the right to legit farm use on a vehicle...
Be glad that you don't have the laws they have where my folks were in NH and VT... My dad had a liscense plate on his BACKHOE, and farmers have to have a license on their farm tractors to CROSS the road from one field to another... maybe that is why there are not the groups of Mennonites and Amish in those states...
