I am wondering what everyone has done for license plates on their portable mills. I understand every state will be different but here in Colorado they aren't going to let me register it as a trailer so i have to register it as equipment which is going to cost around $300 for plates.
Ouch, mine is considered farm equipment (same as a hay bailer) and has no license plate.
I thought it should be something like that. I am going to the county office again tomorrow and see if i can make that happen too.
I was told by Motor Vehicles the same as MM, considered farm equipment no need for registration, but that was 15 years ago.
Same as Lynn said!
No plate required, because IT IS NOT a trailer, it is a piece of equipment!
I was told my mill is considered what they called an implemant of husbandry. Same as like a wood splitter. As long as you don't haul anything on it it's not considered a trailer. At least that's what I was told PA does. Not sure for you're state but I'd ask about implemants of husbandry.
Thanks for the replies guys! I was also wondering why i would need plates when i see log splitters all the time that dont have plates.
My state does not require a license for my mill - they consider it a piece of mobile equipment. I do know when I bought my mill WM provided me a separate title to the trailer and to the mill just in case I ever had to get a license. Good luck finding the best option in your state.
Slap a orange triangle on it and claim farm equipment. Easier to beg forgiveness.
Oregon told me that my mill is a fixed weight trailer and wanted to charge me $75 for plates. I told them if my fixed weight trailer needed plates than so did all the other fixed weight trailers that people use for hey balers. They said I had a point that just might stand up in court but in the meantime I needed to buy plates. I decided to take my chance in court if I ever get stopped. I've been followed by more than one state trooper and never got stopped so I think I did the right thing.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/DSCN1723.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1385850181)
When I am traveling mine looks like this.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/1.gif?easyrotate_cache=1330388705)
An older picture before I made the rectangular sign.
Quote from: irvi00 on October 31, 2017, 10:06:16 PM
Slap a orange triangle on it and claim farm equipment. Easier to beg forgiveness.
The problem with a triangle farm equipment "plate" is you are limited to how fast you can go, IIRC, like 15 or 20 mph. That is a sign of an always slow moving vehicle, like a tractor.
Although considered "agricultural" for property tax purposes (exempt), Kansas does require tags on sawmills. If you fall under USDOT, it also requires a permanent tag on a sawmill (I am considered an interstate, private, motor carrier subject to USDOT regulation). What other states require is anecdotal, you need to verify what Colorado requires.
It takes a bit more work but, if you are under an exemption, it is a good idea to make a photocopy of the regulatory exemption and carry it with you. If you travel in more than one state, as I do, it is a good idea to carry that type of information with you for reciprocity considerations. If it is something uncommon, as sawmills on the roadway seem to be, some officers/deputies/troopers will write a citation (especially you appear deceptive or feign ignorance) and let the prosecutor or judge figure it out - which costs you time and money to challenge.
ljohnsaw has same observation I do. I am very certain the triangle sets you up for a ticket if driving anywhere close to highway speeds. Tom is right - doesn't matter what other states require or allow. You have to comply with yours.
Quote from: ljohnsaw on October 31, 2017, 10:37:13 PM
Quote from: irvi00 on October 31, 2017, 10:06:16 PM
Slap a orange triangle on it and claim farm equipment. Easier to beg forgiveness.
The problem with a triangle farm equipment "plate" is you are limited to how fast you can go, IIRC, like 15 or 20 mph. That is a sign of an always slow moving vehicle, like a tractor.
Had a friend of mine get a ticket for driving too fast while displaying a slow moving sign (wasn't speeding).
I don't know how MO handles it as neither of mine have wheels. I would be okay with the $50 permanent plate. It's the sales tax they charge to get the title to get the tag that would bite.
I've had County Sherriff Deputy tell me that the max speed in NY with a SMV sign posted is 25MPH.
In Florida, the DMV says if it's towed behind a vehicle it's a trailer and needs a tag. Trailer tags are rated/priced by weight. An LT50 makes for a pretty heavy "trailer."
Alaska DMV told me that our 185CFM Sullair compressor was in the Mobile Equipment category.
I'd never heard of that before but was all too happy to NOT pay for more licensing and fees.
Sawmill would be in this same category, but it's mounted semi-permanent now.
Quote from: nomad on November 01, 2017, 09:41:30 AM
In Florida, the DMV says if it's towed behind a vehicle it's a trailer and needs a tag. Trailer tags are rated/priced by weight. An LT50 makes for a pretty heavy "trailer."
I had a CHP officer tell me if it has wheels that touch the road in California, it needs plate...
Don't tell MN that I can't pull my grain wagon at 40 MPH . I use it to deliver wood it the buyer has a tractor to dump it .
Quote from: ljohnsaw on November 01, 2017, 11:08:18 PM
Quote from: nomad on November 01, 2017, 09:41:30 AM
In Florida, the DMV says if it's towed behind a vehicle it's a trailer and needs a tag. Trailer tags are rated/priced by weight. An LT50 makes for a pretty heavy "trailer."
I had a CHP officer tell me if it has wheels that touch the road in California, it needs plate...
I find this interesting because when I lived in California I was riding with a friend while towing his mill. He got stopped for a taillight and was told that buying plates was a waste of money on implements of husbandry. He took the plates off and quit paying fees.
A case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/2410/DSCN0254.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1267041242)
I actually had the Mississippi Highway Patrol "Fatality Investigator" to tell me to put a Triangle on my sawmill.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/DSCN0753S.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1330367594)
I did and ran if for several years and then added the flasher.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/DSCN1723.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1385850181)
The present setup is a rectangle and the flasher. My idea was/is to eliminate any possible depth perception between the uneven tail/stop lights.
not needed in Texas 8)
Virginia law says:
Exemptions for Sawmill Operators and Farmers Transporting Wood Products
Tractors, trailers, log carts or similar vehicles owned by a sawmill operator are exempt from registration when the vehicle is operated along a highway from one sawmill or sawmill site to another, to or from a repair shop for repairs or across a highway from one adjoining tract of land to another. (Va. Code ยง 46.2-669)
So I'm assuming no tag required...
Rather than start a new thread, I figured I'd tag along with this one.
Anybody have any insight about license plate requirements for a portable mill in MA? Looks like there's a lot of ambiguity on this topic, even with the gov't people that should know. If MA requires a plate, I'll get one from Maine. There you can get "semi-permanent" plates that are good for 10 years.
Every state and province is different. Mine is a piece of dedicated equipment. Ontario's description is if the machine is lifted off the axle or base is it a Trailer capable of carrying another piece of equipment. A WM is dedicated frame. A generator on a trailer is not dedicated, anything can go on that frame.
WM Canada told me Ontario was the only province that did not require a plate, l also confirmed with Service Ontario.
The issue with wood splitters is none of the retail units l have seen have axles rated for more than 50 kph
Might be a cheaper route. I register my equipment trailers in Maine thru an online service and they mail me Maine plates and registration. Somewhere in the area of $15/year for a 10 year plate. I'm in NY where it would be ~$250-$300\year.