Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §101, sub-§32-A is enacted to read:

32-A.__Low-speed vehicle.__"Low-speed vehicle" means a 4- wheeled automobile that is able to attain a speed of at least 20 miles per hour but not more than 25 miles per hour and does not exceed 1800 pounds in unloaded weight.__"Low-speed vehicle" does not include an ATV as defined in Title 12, section 7851.__A low- speed vehicle must be originally manufactured and maintained in accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as a low-speed vehicle pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations, 571.500 (1998).

Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §501, sub-§11 is enacted to read:

11.__Low-speed vehicle.__Notwithstanding subsection 1, the Secretary of State, on application and upon payment of excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of plates to a low-speed vehicle.__The annual registration fee for a low-speed vehicle is $19.__A low- speed vehicle must be issued a special plate with the words "low speed" instead of "Vacationland."

Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §2089 is enacted to read:

§2089.__Low-speed vehicles

1.__Operation.__Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a low-speed vehicle may be operated on a public way only if the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.__A low- speed vehicle may cross a public way at an intersection where the posted speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour.

2.__Municipal control.__In accordance with section 102, a municipality may prohibit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on any public way under its jurisdiction if the governing body of the municipality determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.

3.__State control.__The department may prohibit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on any public way under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.

SUMMARY

This bill creates a new registration for motor vehicles called "low-speed vehicles," which are motor vehicles that can not exceed 25 miles per hour or be operated on a public way with a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.