Actually you be wrong.
Boat sales tax near nothing for non resident owners.
There’s a reason trailer registration has huge bennies. I was registering and boat and trailer for a lot less than the trailer on its own would cost in MA then add in being able to buy “stuff” not available down here is a bonus.
The situation we're discussing here had nothing to do with buying or registering a boat or trailer, and these guys were NOT property owners, they were renters, so they personally didn't pay property tax to Maine either.
Yes, I know it's cheaper to register and insure vehicles in Maine than in many other places, that's why so many people register trailers in Maine, even though other states have gotten wise to the practice and wrote their own laws to crack down it, to preserve their own revenue.
These guys would have actually saved money by complying with the 30 day rule because the rates are much cheaper than in NJ.
You DO realize it’s possible to live someplace without establishing residency, right? And that it’s something people do for work all the time?
The article says they’re there for a construction job, which means they likely plan to head back to their permanent residences once the job is done.
What about college students ???
They come for 2-4 years, almost all planning on going back home when they graduate, but they're not exempt from the 30 Day rule, which they widely ignore.
And most of them want to vote like a local too, even though they have no skin in the game.
OK, lot's of people ignore the laws, and get away with, I get it, but it doesn't make it right, and there are penalties to pay if they do get caught.
When I moved out-of-state to attend tech school for two years, even though I knew I'd be leaving when I was done, I did make the DL and registration switchover because it was the law.
So you guys go do what you want to do, I'll just keep walking the straight and narrow.