P.L. 1996, CHAPTER 119, approved October 30, 1996
Senate No. 304
An Act concerning farm vehicles and amending R.S.39:3-24 and 39:3-25.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.39:3-24 is amended to read as follows:
39:3-24. (a) The director shall register farm tractors and traction equipment used for farm operation to travel upon the public highways. The fee for such registration shall be $5 per annum, whether the registration is issued for the yearly period or only a portion thereof. Such traction equipment or farm tractors may draw farm machinery and implements while in transit from one farm to another without additional registration therefor.
(b) The director may register motor vehicles, not for hire, used exclusively as farm machinery or farm implements, to travel upon the public highways, from one farm, or portion thereof, to another farm, or portion thereof, both owned or managed by the registered owner of the vehicle or vehicles. The fee for such registration shall be $5 per annum, whether the registration is issued for a yearly period or only a portion thereof. Any vehicle so registered and any truck registered pursuant to the provisions of 39:3-25 of this Title may draw not more than one vehicle used exclusively on the farm and a vehicle so drawn need not be registered. A vehicle registered pursuant to this section or to R.S.39:3-25 may be used under contract with a municipality to remove snow upon a public highway.
(c) No vehicle registered pursuant to this section shall be operated on a public highway at any time from sunset to sunrise, except a vehicle being operated under contract with a municipality to remove snow. Every such vehicle when operated on a public highway shall have means adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle on any up or down grade and shall be operated in accordance with uniform rules and regulations prescribed by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles. Such rules and regulations shall specify the coverings that may be used on the wheels of such vehicles, the days, hours and conditions under which such vehicles can be operated, the circumstance under which escort vehicles shall be required, the distance that may be traveled upon the public highways and such vehicle equipment or other requirements or restrictions as may be necessary to protect the safety of the users of the public highways.
(cf: P.L.1994, c.60, s.16)
2. R.S.39:3-25 is amended to read as follows:
39:3-25. In addition to the motor vehicle licenses authorized to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the director shall issue, upon application therefor, a license plate for trucks marked "farmer," which shall be issued upon evidence satisfactory to the director that the applicant is a farmer and is actually engaged in the growing, raising and producing of farm products as an occupation. License plates issued under authority of this section shall be placed upon motor trucks engaged exclusively in the carrying or transportation of applicant's farm products, raised or produced on his farm,and farm supplies, and not engaged in hauling for hire, except for a truck being operated under contract with a municipality to remove snow.
Applicants for license plates herein authorized shall pay a registration fee of $25 plus $4.25 for each 1,000 pounds or portion thereof in excess of 5,000 pounds. If the registration cycle established by the director is for more or less than 11 months, applicants shall pay amounts proportionately less or greater than the fees established by law.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, every registration for a farm truck shall expire and the certificate thereof shall become void on the last day of the eleventh calendar month following the month in which the certificate was issued; except that the director may require registrations which shall expire, and issue certificates thereof which shall become void, on a date fixed by the director, which shall not be sooner than three months or later than 26 months after the date of issuance of such certificates, and the fees for such registrations, including any other fees or charges collected in connection with the registration fee, shall be fixed by the director in amounts proportionately less or greater than the fees established by law. The director may fix the expiration date for registration certificates at a date other than 11 months if the director determines that such change is necessary, appropriate or convenient in order to aid in implementing the vehicle inspection requirements of chapter 8 of Title 39 or for other good cause.
The term "farmer" as used in this section means any person engaged in the commercial raising, growing and producing of farm products on a farm not less than five acres in area, and who does not engage in the business of buying farm products for resale; and the term "farm products" means any crop, livestock or fur products.
(cf: P.L.1995, c.112, s.31)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Allows certain farm vehicles on roadways between sunset and sunrise.