Tag for Woodmizer

[Esaw]

Does anyone know if I will be required to buy a tag for my Woodmizer in alabama?
Thanks 

[Southside]

@YellowHammer 

[WV Sawmiller]

   I'd call the Ala DMV and ask them. I don't have to have one in WV but each state has their own rules. WV treats it as piece of mobile equipment.

[YellowHammer]

I believe Alabama treats it the same as portable towed equipment, same as a cement mixer or chipper, and so doesn't require a tag.  

[Tom the Sawyer]

A point in favor of tagging your mill is that it makes it more easily traceable in the rare cases where a mill gets stolen.  Law enforcement officers are able to check the validity of a tag within a few seconds, if they run the tag.  Some enforcement vehicles are equipped with tag scanners which run tags automatically and inform the officer if there is a problem or stolen status for the tag.  Some intersection cameras and all toll booths also auto scan license plates.  An untagged, orangish red sawmill description isn't that helpful, and many officers might not know where to find the VIN on a sawmill if they stopped one.  Noted: obviously a very rare occurrence but we do hear on FF about one being stolen once in awhile.

FYI - Kansas does require license plates on sawmills over 2000 lbs. GVWR  

[KenMac]

I believe Alabama treats it the same as portable towed equipment, same as a cement mixer or chipper, and so doesn't require a tag.  

I was told by Cook's Saw Mfg. that it is considered farm equipment and no tag required. Now, if you load the bed down with lumber to haul home, then it's a trailer and you're on your own.

[Walnut Beast]

That's what TK says to

[YellowHammer]

I believe they are both correct that a tag is not required in Alabama, but they are also both wrong in the justification.

From the Alabama DOT:

Utility trailers that are designed for pulling behind an automobile or pickup truck remain subject to State Law requirements for registration by the payment of license fees and ad valorem taxes. (Code of Alabama, 1975, 40-12-252). Exemptions for title and tag requirements are limited to the following: (I didn't list them all)

Equipment trailers: defined as "Trailers with permanent mounted equipment such as a crane or well-drilling equipment. Trailer is not equipped for hauling supplies."  So, a sawmill permanently mounted on a trailer would fall under this category, and it would not need a tag.  Same with the cement mixer and wood chipper.

Farm trailers: defined "Trailers used exclusively for transporting farm products to and from market or for transporting the personal property of the farmer for his own use on the farm."  This mean if the sawmill is used for business off the farm property, and on someone else's, such as doing off site custom sawing, then it is considered commercial and will require a plate.  The use of the farm tag exemption is very strict and narrow.  The example used by DOT was of a high fine penalty levied on a farmer who was stopped by troopers hauling his farm backhoe on a farm trailer after doing a paying off site digging for a pay job.  Since the equipment was not used on his farm or farm lease property, and was not hauling farm product, it was considered commercial, and he was fined significantly.  If a farm trailer is used to haul the personal property of other farmer, such as lumber, to be used on his farm, or to or from market, then he is legal, such as if he towed his sawmill to a farm property, milled up logs, and was bringing them back to his other farm to build a chicken house, then he is legal.  Of course, as a trooper once explained to me, if something was going to be used on a farm, and have a farm tag exemption, then there better be a farm somewhere.

Anyway, the way I read it, no tag required for a towed sawmill.

[Magicman]

 

 
And then he hauled a knotty Cypress log to another location on his what??  :

[Old Greenhorn]

And then he hauled a knotty Cypress log to another location on his what??  :

At least you cut the stump off.

[YellowHammer]

 
And then he hauled a knotty Cypress log to another location on his what??  :

Equipment Trailer with Auxiliary Frame Stiffener.   ;D