Everybody Who Tows a Trailer Should Read This

JRyan · 08-28-2008, 10:31 PM

NO! We're NOT SCREWED. The Federal exemption, as Jeff Teuton has pointed out many times, allows for even COMMERCIAL VEHICLES to be used in non-commercial endeavors such as racing. The exemption basically states that INCOME must be declared as ORDINARY INCOME on your income tax, and you cannot claim EXPENSES to offset that income.

MOST HP's are mis-informed. We had a meeting at the State Capitol several years ago and covered this very thing. None of the HP's were aware of the exemption. We were getting nowhere until I got ahold of a State Senator who 12 years prior had been HEAD of the SD Highway Patrol. He laid it out for them, and that was the end of it. I've since been stopped several times while towing for other things here in SD, and all the patrolman have been more than polite and most even ask about the race car and racing.

Other States? Another story. In South Dakota, our dually pulling an enclosed is not required to have ANY tonnage stickers or plates. In fact, it is ILLEGAL for the State to sell us tonnage plates unless we ARE a commercial vehicle. We're lucky. In interstate travels, Federal laws apply, and we only have to meet OUR STATES licensing requirements. Unfortunately, most law officers don't like to be told that they don't know the law, so sometimes even if you're right, you're in for a long delay.

Jerry

08-28-2008, 10:31 PM	#21
JRyan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aberdeen SD Posts: 645 Likes: 30 Liked 112 Times in 31 Posts	Re: Everybody Who Tows a Trailer Should Read This NO! We're NOT SCREWED. The Federal exemption, as Jeff Teuton has pointed out many times, allows for even COMMERCIAL VEHICLES to be used in non-commercial endeavors such as racing. The exemption basically states that INCOME must be declared as ORDINARY INCOME on your income tax, and you cannot claim EXPENSES to offset that income. MOST HP's are mis-informed. We had a meeting at the State Capitol several years ago and covered this very thing. None of the HP's were aware of the exemption. We were getting nowhere until I got ahold of a State Senator who 12 years prior had been HEAD of the SD Highway Patrol. He laid it out for them, and that was the end of it. I've since been stopped several times while towing for other things here in SD, and all the patrolman have been more than polite and most even ask about the race car and racing. Other States? Another story. In South Dakota, our dually pulling an enclosed is not required to have ANY tonnage stickers or plates. In fact, it is ILLEGAL for the State to sell us tonnage plates unless we ARE a commercial vehicle. We're lucky. In interstate travels, Federal laws apply, and we only have to meet OUR STATES licensing requirements. Unfortunately, most law officers don't like to be told that they don't know the law, so sometimes even if you're right, you're in for a long delay. Jerry