CHAPTER 660
H.P. 1904 - L.D. 2649
An Act to Allow Registration of Low-speed Vehicles on Certain Islands
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
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, Section 571.500 (1998).
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §501, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §501, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A. Island vehicles and low-speed vehicles. The following provisions apply to vehicles operating on islands that have no public ways maintained or supported by the State.
A. Notwithstanding subsection 1, an automobile may be registered for an annual fee of $2. A low-speed vehicle may be registered for an annual fee of $4. The registrant must show evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482. The municipality may collect an additional $4 fee annually to defray the cost of removing abandoned vehicles.
B. A low-speed vehicle may be operated on an island if the governing body of the municipality allows. A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on a road or street where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. A low-speed vehicle may cross, at an intersection, a road or street with a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
C. Any person operating a low-speed vehicle on an island must possess a valid driving license in any class.
Sec. 4. Low-speed vehicle issues. The Department of the Secretary of State and the Maine State Police shall review the potential issues that may arise from the use of low-speed vehicles in the State. This review must include an examination of the potential safety issues involved with low-speed vehicle use, the experience of the 24 other states that allow the use of these vehicles and the experience of any Maine islands that allow low-speed vehicles. The departments shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature with jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 16, 2001. The joint standing committee of the Legislature with jurisdiction over transportation matters may report out a bill to implement any recommendations after discussion of the report.
Effective August 11, 2000, unless otherwise indicated.
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