An Act Authorizing the Operation of Low-speed Vehicles on Certain Roads
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0393
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: MARLEY, ROTUNDO, HALL, COWGER, GERZOFSKY, KOFFMAN, O'NEIL, RINES, SULLIVAN
Amends: 29-A MRSA §501, 29-A MRSA §1752, 29-A MRSA §1925

Legislative Document 
No. 393 
H.P.313 
House of Representatives, January 30, 2003 
An Act Authorizing the Operation of Low-speed Vehicles on Certain 
Roads 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative MARLEY of Portland. 
7il~ 
frJ.11!dI:~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, Senator HALL of Lincoln and 
Representatives: COWGER of Hallowell, GERZOFSKY of Brunswick, KOFFMAN of Bar 
Harbor, McKENNEY of Cumberland, O'NEIL of Saco, RINES of Wiscasset, SULLIVAN of 
Biddeford. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas. Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, recent 
advances 
in technology 
have 
allowed 
the 
development of certain low-speed vehicles; and 
Whereas, these 
low-speed vehicles are 
important as 
they 
represent the cutting edge of transportation technology that does 
not 
rely solely 
on gasoline 
or 
diesel 
fuel, 
reducing 
both 
pollution and the State's reliance on oil-based fuel; and 
Whereas, the advancement of this technology relies on public 
relations efforts and competition in the form of rallies and 
races, which take place primarily during the summer; and 
Whereas, the effective date of this legislation would fall 
after the season for low-speed vehicle rallies and races; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §501. sub-§2-A. as amended by PL 2001, c. 
197, §4, is further amended to read: 
2-A. 
Isl.and 
vehicl.es 
and 
gol.f 
carts. 
prov~s~ons apply to vehicles operating on islands 
public ways maintained or supported by the State. 
The 
following 
that have no 
A. 
Notwithstanding 
subsection 
1, 
an 
automobile 
may 
be 
registered for an annual fee of $4. 
A ±9w-&peee-veaie±e-9F 
golf cart 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 or golf carts. 
B. 
A 
±eW-6peeQ--.s.reh-i-G-~-eF golf cart may be operated on an 
island if the governing body of the municipality allows. 
A 
±ew-speeEl-~..(!-;t..e--eF golf cart may be operated only on a 
road or street where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per 
hour or less. 
A ±eW-6peeQ-~i-G-~-eF golf cart may cross, 
at an intersection, 
a road or street with a posted speed 
limit of more than 35 miles per hour. 
Page l-LR0883(1) 
C. 
Any person operating a-~~~~~~-9F a golf cart 
on an island must possess a valid driving license in any 
class. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §501, sub-§l1 is enacted to read: 
11. 
Low-speed vehicles. 
Notwithstanding subsection It a 
low-speed vehicle may be registered for an annual fee of $4. 
The 
registrant must 
provide 
a 
certificate of title reguired 
by 
section 
551, 
proof 
of 
financial 
responsibility 
reguired 
by 
section 1501 and evidence of payment of the excise tax required 
by Title 35, section 1482. 
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§8, 1[C, 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; aaa 
of 
running 
system 
and 
gear, 
tires 
Sec. 4. 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; and 
Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§lO is enacted to read: 
10. 
Low-speed vehicle. 
A 
low-speed vehicle 
registered 
pursuant to section 501, subsection 11. 
Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §1925 is enacted to read: 
§1925. 
Low-speed vehicles 
1. 
E~ipment required. 
A 
low-speed vehicle 
registered 
pursuant to section 501, subsection 11 must be equipped with: 
A. 
Brakes for each wheel: 
B. 
Headlights: 
C. 
Odometer; 
D. 
One exterior rearview mirror; 
E. 
One interior rearview mirror; 
F. 
Parking brake; 
G. 
Rear reflectors; 
H. 
Safety glass windshield; 
I. 
Speedometer; 
J. 
Stop lamps; 
K. 
Rear lights; 
L. 
Three-point safety belts; 
M. 
Turn signal lamps; 
N. 
Windshield wipers; and 
O. 
Vehicle identification numbers. 
Sec. 7. 29-A MRS A §2089 is enacted to read: 
§2089. 
Low-speed vehicles 
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. 
A 
person 
operating 
a 
low-speed 
vehicle 
must 
possess 
a 
valid 
driver's license in any class. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited 1n the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows for the registration and use of low-speed 
vehicles on roads with speed limits up to 35 miles per hour, 
exempts low-speed vehicles from inspection requirements and lists 
the equipment required for low-speed vehicles.