Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1968 NO. 25 >

(1) A tractor designed for agricultural use, when towing a trailer which is carrying farm produce from one farm to another, is required to have either a vehicle license under RCW 46.16.010, or, in the alternative, a "farm vehicle" decal under § 3, chapter 202, Laws of 1967 (RCW 46.16.025).  (2) Such a tractor when towing a trailer carrying farm produce to a processing plant or place of storage, is required both to have a vehicle license under RCW 46.16.010 and to pay the statutory gross weight fees related to its cargo in order to operate on a public highway.  (3) A trailer having a "farm vehicle" decal under § 3, chapter 202, Laws of 1967 (RCW 46.16.025), may be operated upon a public highway by a person other than its owner, such as another farmer to whom the trailer has been loaned by its owner. (4) The 15-mile radius limitation contained in § 2, chapter 202, Laws of 1967 (RCW 46.16.010, as amended) applies to the operation of a "farm vehicle" regardless of whether it is being operated by its owner or some other person. (5) A "farm vehicle" when being operated on a public highway under authority of chapter 202, Laws of 1967, is not thereby excused from compliance with the motor vehicle lighting and equipment requirements of chapter 46.37 RCW; instead such a vehicle continues to be governed by the exemption provisions of RCW 46.37.010 (3). (6) A "farm vehicle" when being operated on a public highway under authority of chapter 202, Laws of 1967, must be operated by a person having a valid operator's vehicle license under chapter 46.20 RCW, unless such person is exempt under RCW 46.20.025.

AGO 1966 NO. 119 >

The exemption from the motor vehicle licensing requirement of RCW 46.16.010 of farm tractors, certain farm implements, and certain trailers used exclusively to transport farm implements, does not extend to any of the following: (1) A self-propelled motor vehicle owned by a farmer and used solely for the purpose of transporting gasoline, diesel oil, grease and motor oil which the farmer uses for maintenance of his farm equipment;  (2) A trailer owned by a farmer and used exclusively for hauling gasoline, diesel oil, grease and motor oil in the maintenance of his farm equipment; or  (3) A weed-burning device mounted on a trailer owned by a propane gas company used by a farmer the majority of the time for the purpose of burning weeds and stubble.