Legislation passed allowing use of farm vehicles

SUSSEX COUNTY — Legislation Assemblyman John DiMaio and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose sponsored, that allows 16-year-olds with agricultural driver’s licenses to operate farm vehicles without adult supervision, won approval from the General Assembly this week.

“Farming is very much a family business and often, in this economy, everyone needs to help,” DiMaio, R-Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset, said in a news release. “These limited use driver’s licenses allow teenaged family members to provide assistance that is vital to the farm’s operations.”

The graduated driver license program, established in 2001, significantly changed the driving privileges of permit holders and new licensees. The changes undermine the purpose and value of an agricultural driver’s license by requiring 16-year-old permit holders to be supervised by a licensed driver over the age of 21.

The DiMaio-McHose bill, A-535, exempts teens with agricultural driver’s licenses from the restriction, but requires they complete an approved minimum six-hour, behind-the-wheel driver training course and display a special lerner’s permit decal on their license plate.

“This restriction makes the agricultural driver’s license for teens virtually useless,” said McHose, R-Sussex, Warren and Morris. “Many of our farmers rely on their family members to help work their farms. Lifting this restriction for this very specific population will help ease an undue burden on our farmers.”