Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §1770, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

1. General penalty. Notwithstanding Title 17-A, and unless otherwise specified, a violation of this chapter is a Class E crime, punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or by both. A violation of section 1768, subsection 7 is a traffic infraction punishable by a forfeiture of:

A.__Twenty-five dollars if the inspection sticker or certificate of inspection has been invalid for 2 months or less;

B.__Fifty dollars if the inspection sticker or certificate of inspection has been invalid for more than 2 months but no more than 3 months; or

C.__Seventy-five dollars if the inspection sticker or certificate of inspection has been invalid for more than 3 months.

The Secretary of State may not assess points against a violator's motor vehicle operator's license issued pursuant to section 1251 for a first-time violation of section 1768, subsection 7, but the Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall keep a record of that violation.__ The Secretary of State may assess points against a violator's motor vehicle operator's license issued pursuant to section 1251 if the violator violates section 1768, subsection 7 twice within a 2-year period.__Three or more violations of section 1768, subsection 7 within a 10-year period constitute a Class E crime punishable by a 30-day loss of license.

SUMMARY

This bill makes operating a motor vehicle with an invalid inspection sticker and operating a motor vehicle with an expired registration traffic infractions with a graduated schedule of forfeitures of:

1. Twenty-five dollars if the inspection sticker has been invalid or the registration has been expired for 2 months or less;

2. Fifty dollars if the inspection sticker has been invalid or the registration has been expired for more than 2 months but no more than 3 months; or