Farmer finds himself in court using tractor ‘for social purposes’

Written by Agriland Team

A farmer in the UK who drove to a local public house in his tractor after work has been hit with a fine and given eight points on his licence.

The sentence was handed down to the farmer when it was discovered he wasn’t insured to drive it for social purposes.

According to an article published in the local UK publication Chard and Illminster News, a police officer was on duty in the area when he spotted Joe Hare driving his Massey Ferguson tractor to the Cotley Inn and then later drove it home after having a drink.

The publication reported that the farmer was only insured to drive the vehicle for agricultural purposes and was not covered in his policy to drive the tractor for social use and, so, he was charged.

It was outlined in the publication that Hare – who is from Wellings Close – pleaded not guilty by post to using a tractor on an unclassified road in Cotley, Chard, on March 14 without insurance.

However, the 26-year-old farmer was found guilty following a trial held before Somerset Magistrates in his absence.

Prosecutor Suzie Butler said that the defendant was observed by the police officer driving home at 7:30pm in his tractor.

The police officer had an in-depth knowledge of agricultural vehicles on the road and discovered that the defendant’s vehicle had never been permitted for social use on his insurance policy.

The publication noted that he was stopped on Palfreys Lane and told by a police officer that he was not permitted to use the vehicle for social use.

Concluding, the UK publication reported that Hare was fined £660 and given eight penalty points. He was also ordered to pay £620 costs and a £66 victim surcharge.

The post Farmer finds himself in court using tractor ‘for social purposes’ appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

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[Johnnyboxer]

Perhaps he was discussing supplying his Barley for malting & brewing purposes and thus on agricultural purposes

He may have been discussing a JV with the pub for a micro brewery..........?

 

[DrDunc]

What an utter utter utter shyte of a policeman! ?

 

[Tim G]

Probably got off lighter if he'd stolen the tractor first.......

 

[Roger Perry]

Geez, what a country.
Over 1300 pounds fine, surely worth contesting.

 

[PSQ]

Probably got off lighter if he'd stolen the tractor first.......

He should have told the copper he was looking for his 'missing Lurcher', the 'Magistrate' would have sent him home with no more than a pat on the back, like they do up here ?

 

[Dry Rot]

"A £66 victim surcharge"?

Who was the victim and what victimisation did he suffer?

 

[Johnnyboxer]

"A £66 victim surcharge"?

Who was the victim and what victimisation did he suffer?

The tractor, of course

£66 due, because the chap 'hurt' the tractor's feelings, by driving it not insured

 

[farmerm]

Oh FFS! Is there more to this story is the officer involved the biggest jobsworth going!

If "agricultural use" is the standard tractor policy most of us would frequently fall foul of this!! "Using your tractor during a farming protest Sir, that's not agricultural use, may I see your insurance", "driving your tractor on a road during a tractor rally or to a ploughing match Sir, that's not agricultural use, may I see your insurance", "rescuing a car out of the ditch/flood/snow Sir, that's not agricultural use, may I see your insurance", "delivering food and medical supplies to villages cut up by flood/snow Sir, that's not agricultural use, may I see your insurance" etc etc

however… The defendant should make sure to tell his insurance company exactly where they can shove their policy when it comes to renewal! The wording on our farm motor policy covers all vehicles in our fleet, be it tractor or farm 4x4, for both agricultural purposes and for social and domestic use.

 

[David.]

Well, the law is the law..
It is comforting to know that there is no more pressing crime requiring police time in Soms.
Of course we do not know if there is history between said "farmer" and wooden-top do we.

 

[DRC]

When they want farmers to help in floods or snow in Somerset, this should be remembered . Tell them to stuff it!

 

[br jones]

Did he break the law ?if yes guilty ,if no not guilty,a copper drives by a pub ,copper sees a tractor. Copper then sees tractor leave pub ,copper stops tractor driver and breathalysed tractor driver.passes test and is asked to produce documents ,its then found he is not insured ,guilty

 

[jimmer]

Surprised the copper didn't take the bottom off his car on palfreys lane
Or was he looking for the posh bird off love in the countryside

 

[Steevo]

"A £66 victim surcharge"?

Who was the victim and what victimisation did he suffer?

Yet another stealth tax...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_surcharge

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/who-victim-speeding-offence-victim-926132

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/what-really-happens-money-victim-2614974



Or my favourite quote:

"Until recently, the surcharge was no more than a minor irritation for the courts. It simply increased the level of every fine by £15. But, of course, ministers could not leave well alone. It was an irresistible opportunity to look tough and raise cash for services that, if really needed, should be state-funded."

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/victim-surcharge-unintended-consequences-/71546.article

 

[farmerm]

Well, the law is the law..
It is comforting to know that there is no more pressing crime requiring police time in Soms.
Of course we do not know if there is history between said "farmer" and wooden-top do we.

Love rivals perhaps

 

[lloyd]

Next time he needs to take a JD or Fendt.
The copper obviously saw red and wasn't happy.

 

[Muddyroads]

There’s a copper in the Somerset area with a reputation for targeting farmers. Last I heard he was stopping demountable livestock trailers saying that they weren’t allowed to do more than 20mph or to go on a motorway. No first hand experience of it, but I heard it from more than 1 source.

 

[tepapa]

Geez, what a country.
Over 1300 pounds fine, surely worth contesting.

Going by all the cop car chase shows on telly. If he'd stolen a car, went joyriding round town and tried to evade the cops when they tried to stop him he'd of got a £150 fine.

 

[bovrill]

"Using your tractor during a farming protest Sir, that's not agricultural use, may I see your insurance"

With what's going on in the continental countries at the moment, I can see this, and more, being used as a threat to stamp out protests before they start.
Who's going to take their tractor into town to protest here when there's a good chance that the authorities are going to step in, and you'll never see your tractor again!

I'm told that after the fuel protests of twenty years ago, laws were quietly changed so that situation could never happen again. A lot of our freedoms have apparently been subtly done away with, if we appear to be posing a threat to the establishment.

 

[Bury the Trash]

With what's going on in the continental countries at the moment, I can see this, and more, being used as a threat to stamp out protests before they start.
Who's going to take their tractor into town to protest here when there's a good chance that the authorities are going to step in, and you'll never see your tractor again!

I'm told that after the fuel protests of twenty years ago, laws were quietly changed so that situation could never happen again. A lot of our freedoms have apparently been subtly done away with, if we appear to be posing a threat to the establishment.

with regards to that the question is why do you actually need to use a tractor to protest ?