March 2008
Colorado: A prime example of a bad bill is HB08-1230, a bill that imposes fees and fines on "mobile machinery" that uses diesel. That's right, fees and fines on tractors and construction equipment. A tractor tax. First, the bill requires an annual $25 registration fee on tractors and other diesel machinery, but that's just the beginning. Most alarming, the bill places a fine on diesel equipment if the engine does not meet Tier 2 or Tier 3 standards set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. In layman's terms, if you own a tractor or other piece of diesel "mobile machinery" that is more than eight years old (manufactured prior to 2000), you will most likely face fines of $25 per horsepower until you overhaul the engine and bring it up to Tier 2 or (by 2013) Tier 3 standards. A 200 horsepower tractor manufactured in 1999 will cost you $5,000 per year in fines. PER YEAR! Of course you could try to have the engine replaced, if possible.but that could cost up to $25,000 on larger pieces of equipment. Forget using the Farmall "M", IH 1086 or the 4020 John Deere, they're taxed, too! I hope common sense prevails and the bill gets plowed under. Representative Cory Gardner