An Act To Create a Registration Plate for Experimental Automobiles LR0594(02)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0690
Committee Amendment CA_A_H137 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1752

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f}:, to 
Act To Create a Registration Plate 
H.P. 507, L.D. 690, Bill, "An 
for Experimental Automobiles" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'An 
Act 
To 
Create 
Experimental 
Motor 
Vehicle 
Plates 
and 
Reqistration' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
enacting clause and before the summary and inserting in its place 
the following: 
'Sec. 1. 29·A MRSA §470 is enacted to read: 
§470. 
E~rimental motor vehicle plates and registration 
1. 
Definition. 
"Experimental motor vehicle" 
means 
any 
motor vehicle in the developmental stage that has not yet reached 
production. 
2. 
Inspection and eqgiument. 
An experimental motor vehicle 
is exempt from inspection requirements under section 1751 but 
must comply with the equipment standards of chapter 17 to include 
at a minimum: 
body components. 
an exhaust system. reflectors. 
running gear. tires. a horn. lights. directional signals. brakes. 
a steering mechanism. windshield wipers. safety seat belts and 
rearview mirrors. 
Page l-LR0594(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,~, to H.P. 507, L.D. 690 
3. 
Emeri.mental motor vehicle inventor registration. 
A 
person in the business of developing experimental motor vehicles 
shall register with the Secretary of State as an experimental 
motor vehicle inventor. The Secretary of State shall develop and 
implement an application process, including but not limited to 
name, address and description and photographs of the experimental 
motor vehicle in development. 
4. 
Emeri.mental motor vehicle plate. 
The 
Secretary of 
State shall issue a registration plate for an experimental motor 
vehicle to a registered experimental motor vehicle inventor. This 
plate may be used for one or more experimental motor vehicles 
during the term of the registration provided that those vehicles 
are 
owned by the 
person issued the registration plate. 
The 
Secretary of State may issue no more than 2 plates per registered 
experimental motor vehicle inventor. 
The registration for 
an 
experimental motor vehicle must be renewed annually. 
5. 
Fee. 
The Secretary of State shall charge an annual fee 
of $20 for each plate issued under this section. 
6. 
Insurance. 
The Secretary of State may not issue an 
experimental motor vehicle registration plate until the applicant 
has procured and filed with the Secretary of State a certificate 
showing that the applicant is covered by an automobile bodily 
injury and property damage liability insurance policy providing 
coverage against any legal liability when injury, death or damage 
results from or has been caused by the operation of any vehicle 
bearing an experimental motor vehicle registration plate. 
7. 
Ljmitations on use. 
A person 
may 
not operate 
an 
experimental motor vehicle on a public way with a posted speed 
limit that exceeds the capability of that vehicle to achieve and 
safely maintain that speed. 
Experimental 
motor vehicles 
are 
prohibited from operation on the interstate highway system and 
Maine Turnpike at all times. A person may operate an experimental 
motor vehicle only in daylight hours. 
8. 
Rulemaking_ 
The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to 
establish the application criteria and process by which a person 
may qualify to receive an experimental motor vehicle registration 
plate. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine 
technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 37 5, subchapter 
2-A. 
9. 
ViolatiON_ 
The 
operation 
of 
any 
motor 
vehicle 
registered under this section that is not in compliance with this 
section is a traffic infraction. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "frO to H.P. 507, L.D. 690 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§8, 1fC, as repealed and replaced 
by PL 1997, c. 437, §42, is amended to read: 
C. 
Has 
a 
partial 
annual 
inspection 
steering mechanism, 
brakes 
and exhaust 
under section 1917, subsection 3; aBe 
of 
running 
system and 
gear, 
tires 
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 
683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
9. 
Registered in this State. 
A motor vehicle registered in 
this State displaying a valid certificate of inspection from 
another 
state 
or 
a 
federally 
approved 
commercial 
vehicle 
inspection program until its normal expirationT~ 
Sec. 4. 29-A MRS A §1752, sub-§10 is enacted to read: 
10. 
E~rimental motor vehicle. 
A vehicle registered as an 
experimental 
motor 
vehicle 
pursuant 
to 
section 
470. 
An 
experimental motor vehicle must meet minimum equipment standards 
pursuant to section 470, subsection 2.0 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
establishes 
registration 
plates 
for 
experimental motor vehicles. The amendment requires experimental 
motor vehicle inventors to register with the Secretary of State 
in order 
to 
obtain experimental 
motor 
vehicle plates. 
The 
amendment requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules to 
establish the application criteria and process by which a person 
may obtain an experimental motor vehicle plate. The amendment 
also establishes equipment, operation and insurance standards for 
experimental motor vehicle registration. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 04/14/03 ~ae 
I2lst Maine Legislature 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD690 
An Act To Create a Registration Plate for Experimental Automobiles 
LR0594(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" " 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Highway Fund 
LROS94(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1