39:3-25. In addition to the motor vehicle licenses authorized to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the chief administrator shall issue, upon application therefor, a license plate for trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles, or similar vehicles marked “farmer,” which shall be issued upon evidence satisfactory to the chief administrator 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, vans, sport utility vehicles, or similar vehicles engaged in the carrying or transportation of farm products, and farm supplies, and not engaged in hauling for hire, except for a truck, van, sport utility vehicle, or similar vehicle 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 chief administrator 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, van, sport utility vehicle, or similar vehicle shall expire and the certificate thereof shall become void on the last day of the 11th calendar month following the month in which the certificate was issued; except that the chief administrator may require registrations which shall expire, and issue certificates thereof which shall become void, on a date fixed by the chief administrator, 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 registrations, including any other fees or charges collected in connection with the registration fee, shall be fixed by the chief administrator in amounts proportionately less or greater than the fees established by law. The chief administrator may fix the expiration date for registration certificates at a date other than 11 months if the chief administrator determines that a 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; the term “farm products” means any crop, livestock, or fur products; and the term “farm supplies” means any farm-related supply or repair item.

As used in this section, the term “sport utility vehicle” means any vehicle that is designed to be used both on and off roadways and is equipped with available all wheel drive and raised ground clearance.

amended 1963, c.193; 1981, c.554, s.3; 1984, c.73, s.33; 1995, c.112, s.31, 1996, c.119, s.2; 2005, c.76; 2015, c.292, s.2.