Dear Concerned in New York-
You raise several valid areas of concern regarding Switch the Kit's and
Hurricane Lily's operation of our 1966 John Deere Model 1020 tractor
with hydraulically operated blade. Let me reassure you as best I can.
1: This "Unlicensed" Issue- A farm tractor, unlike a registered vehicle,
does not require a plate. Not even a transferable agricultural or
so-called "Farm" plate, that may legally be attached to any vehicle owned
by the plate holder. More or less. (Want to drive your 1949 Hudson
Hornet with no muffler, horn, rear-view mirror or working headlights
legally? Attach your farm plate to it. Best keep the relevant State
Agricultural Statutes handy in the glove-box.)
Heck, here in Massachusetts, you can run a vehicle no more than one mile
beyond your farthest marked field barway without even that 'farm' plate.
With nothin'. No plate, registration or inspection on the vehicle. The
local cops in Sterling, MA, were righteously pissed to discover that my
neighbor, Farmer Calcia, was not making this little piece of trivia up.
Because a tractor does not require a plate, THE OPERATOR IS NOT REQUIRED
TO BE LICENSED IN THE STATE IN WHICH HE OR SHE RESIDES. And Neither
Switch nor Lily are.
2: The "Age" Issue- Laws vary from state to state, but in many there is
NO age restriction upon the operation of farm tractors. Without
exception, the law is silent upon the matter of weasels, and any age
restrictions relevant to their operation of farm equipment of ANY kind.
Further, any such discussion would have to take into account the issue of
"Ferret Years" VS "Human Years." At the ripe old age of three, Hurricane
Lily is unquestionable a mature ferret. She steers. Switch just shifts.
Again, because a tractor does not require a plate, THE OPERATOR IS NOT
REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED IN THE STATE IN WHICH HE OR SHE RESIDES. Age is
thus a moot point.
Have a Nice Day,
Alexandra in Massachusetts
Switch the Kit: "Sucks to be you, hooman!"
Hurricane Lily: "VROOOM! HEE-Hee-Hee-HEE!!"
[Posted in FML issue 4083]
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