Relates to farm tractors and self propelled machines used primarily for agricultural purposes

BILL NUMBER:S2241

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to farm tractors and self propelled machines used primarily for agricultural purposes

Purpose

Address the definition of a motor vehicle as it relates to farm tractors and agricultural equipment to allow farmers to aid distressed motorists.

Summary of provisions

Section 125 and 311 of the Vehicle and Traffic law are amended to change the existing exemption for vehicles under titles four and five as they relate to farm tractors and self-propelled farm equipment from those tractors used exclusively for agricultural purposes to those that are used primarily for agricultural purposes.

Existing law

Under the existing law only tractors used exclusively fox agricultural purposes are exempt from the provisions of titles four and five of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Justification

Countless motorists across the state are regularly aided by farmers in times of distress. Particularly on rural roads in the wintertime, farmers Use tractors and self-propelled farm equipment to aid motorists by pulling cars out of snowbanks during poor weather. Unfortunately, utilizing a farm tractor to assist another citizen is not an agricultural use, meaning the equipment is no longer used exclusively for agricultural purposes. The result is that farmers using tractors in such a manner need to face costly registration requirements. Additionally, should they fail to register their farm tractors, farmers could be held liable under certain circumstances because the tractor was not registered.

Legislative history

2011,2012: S.792 Referred to Transportation 2009,2010: S.2436 Referred to Transportation 2008: S.5679A/A.8179A Referred to Transportation

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Effective immediately.