CHAPTER 31

 

An Act exempting certain farm tractors from motor vehicle registration and amending R.S.39:3-24.


    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:


Farm tractors, traction equipment; registration; operation; fee.

    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.

    (c) No vehicle registered pursuant to this section shall be operated on a public highway at any time from sunset to sunrise. 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.

    Motor vehicles, not for hire, which are used exclusively as farm tractors, traction equipment, farm machinery or farm implements which cannot be operated at a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour shall not be required to be registered under this section.


    2. This act shall take effect immediately.


    Approved June 6, 1996.