| B.__A person who violates this subsection after having been | adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations | under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a | Class E crime. |
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| | 4.__Operating watercraft without proper safety equipment.__ | Except as provided in paragraph B, a person may not operate a | watercraft without proper safety equipment as described in | paragraph A. |
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| A.__A person operates a watercraft without proper safety | equipment if the person operates a watercraft and: |
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| (1)__Fails to comply with the same requirements | pertaining to lights, life-saving devices, fire | extinguishers and other safety equipment as required by | federal laws and regulations on federal navigable | waters, as promulgated under the Federal Boat Safety | Act of 1971, Public Law 92-75, as amended; |
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| (2)__Fails to comply with requirements pertaining to | additional equipment not in conflict with federal | navigation laws, which the commissioner may prescribe | if there is a demonstrated need; |
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| (3)__Fails to wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, Type | II or Type III personal flotation device while canoeing | or kayaking on the Saco River between Hiram Dam and the | Atlantic Ocean between January 1st and June 1st; or |
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| (4)__Fails to wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, Type | II, Type III or Type V personal flotation device while | operating a watercraft on: |
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| (a)__The Penobscot River, between the gorge and | the head of Big Eddy; or |
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| (b)__The Kennebec River, between Harris Station | and Turtle Island, at the foot of Black Brook | Rapids. |
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| B.__Notwithstanding paragraph A: |
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| | | (1)__Canoes, owned by a boys or girls summer camp located | upon internal waters in the State and duly licensed by the | Department of Human Services and utilized by campers under the | direction and supervision of a camp counselor at least 18 years | of age or older during training and instruction periods on waters | adjacent to the main camp within a distance of 500 feet |
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