You guys get a trailer tag when pulling your boat to Florida for fishing trip?
This has been talked about at length on this forum. About all I can say is I have made numerous trip to Steinhatchee, various Keys, and Fernandina and have never had a problem with the Fl. cops. It is possible to purchase a South Carolina life time trailer tag for about $50. Maybe some LEO’s can chime in but I don’t believe Fl. can require what our home state does not. Just my 2c’s worth.
ZX
I’ve never had a tag on a boat trailer, never had a problem any where I’ve been. I always run a tag on my commercial trailers, Have been stopped many times with them! I’ve pulled an 11 ’ wide boat to Keywest many times with no trouble!
Made the trip to the keys about 10 times and the Tampa area 4-5. Never had a tag, never had a problem.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Never had a tag or problems for my trips. They will ticket you for not having tie downs on the transom .
thanks all.
Flat lander is correct. They can ticket you for no tie down on transom.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THAT I have seen, down in the Keys (Monroe County).
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I haven’t had a problem without a trailer tag when I’ve towed to Florida. That being said – it IS required in SC to have a tag if you are pulling your trailer out of state, it just doesn’t seem to be enforced heavily.
I think the Florida cops are more concerned about safety (moving over for vehicles on the side of the road, transom straps, lights, etc).
1994 Hewes Redfisher 18, 2004 Yamaha 150 VMAX
Malibu X-Factor Kayak
same here
towed to the keys 15-20 times over the years
no plate, just make sure its strapped down and the lights are 100%
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
I think you have to have a bow safety strap too.
J Ford
I have towed my boat down there many times with no tags!, and no problems. However, I have been pulled for not having a tag in Naples. Or so she said. We had just drove from the Keys and just got into town. Was getting harassed by a female officer about a turn that I made (legal turn). And she changed her story about pulling me over for no tags on the trailer. After a few moments of arguing with her about being from S.C., she received a more important call over the radio. And dismissed us as she ran back to her car. We then drove straight to the ramp and launched the boat. And put the trailer in the back yard of the house we rented. Haven’t had any other problems the last couple times. It was a 17 ft flats boat.
We were just stopped by Flagler County Sheriff outside of Daytona for no tags. He was very nice and only gave us a warning, but it is required in FL…according to him. He was also shocked that we had made it all the way to Daytona from Boca without having been stopped already
I got a tag last year…I’ve pulled various boats to the Keys without a tag for the last 40 years and have never had a problem, but I really got one to avoid the hassle of being pulled over at the LEO’s discretion and having to waste my time trying to convince him as to whether or not I need a tag. I think I paid around 15$ for DMV to title the trailer and a few more bucks for a permanent tag. Wonder since one is required in Georgia, if they will pull you or not. The lady at DMV said you have to go with the tow vehicle’s states regulation. Since I was pulling it with a buddy’s diesel registered in NC (where one is required), I thought I should get one. Just my 2 cents.
John
Pathfinder 23 HPS
They will pull you over in GA if you don’t have a tag on the trailer too. You can explain it with your SC drivers license, but unless you have not had anything alcoholic to drink, no funky tobacco smoked and everything else is in order, it may cause a problem. It’s something they can and will use to look for other “somethings”. I’d spend the few bucks and avoid the possible hassle.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Tow boats in and out of Florida weekly commercially. Tags ARE required and although you will probably sneak through just fine, if you get pulled over for any other reason you will be cited - 100% certain of that. If they pull you over twice for the same violation they can impound the boat and trailer (worst case). Same goes with GA as previous post states.
Get the permanent trailer tag in SC and you’re good.
I have been going to the Keys annually for about 25 years. We were stopped last year for no tag. First time ever.
Since Maryland is expensive most here run Maine tags on our boat trailers. A 5 year plate is less than $100 and these folks are great to work with.
First ever workplace violence incident, Wounded Knee,SD.
I’m not sure if anybody is still watching this post but I bought my boat used and did not get a title for the trailer. I also can’t find a sticker or serial number stamped on it. How would you get a tag without one?
2005 Sea Hunt 212 Triton
“Head East”
IF I am not mistaken, a number can be assigned to it when you title it. Of my 2 trailers, only one has any kind of identifying number.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?