An Act To Strengthen and Clarify Maine's Motor Vehicle Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1817
Committee Amendment CA_A_S200 (Senate)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1759, 29-A MRSA §1916, 29-A MRSA §1917, 29-A MRSA §2054

COMMITIEE AMENDMENT '/4 " to S.P. 646, L.D. 1817, Bill, "An Act To 
Strengthen and Clarify Maine's Motor Vehicle Laws" 
Amend the biH by striking out a11 of section 7 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §1759, sub-§I, as amended by PL 1999, c. 41, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
1. 
Issuance. 
A law enforcement officer, an employee of a municipal police 
department designated by the chief, an employee of a sheriffs department designated by 
the sheriff, an employee of the State PeUse Department of Public Safety designated by 
the Chief of the State Police or an employee of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles designated 
by the Secretary of State may issue a permit allowing operation of an uninspected vehicle 
to an inspection station for inspection.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 15. 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 17, 18 and 19 and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 17. 29-A MRSA §1916, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
3. Light transmittance certificate. The owner or operator of a motor vehicle with 
tinted windows that are not replaced in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 205 or windows covered by or treated with tinting material must acquire a light 
transmittance certificate and must show the certificate to the inspection mechanic at the 
time of inspection. 
The Chief of the State Police may authorize a person to examine window glazing and tint 
material to determine compliance with this subsection. A person ¥lite, fer eempeasatiea, 
iBstalls tiBted replaeemeAt wiBde· ... 's er wiBde'''' tiBtiag materials authorized under this 
subsection may issue a certificate for a motor vehicle that complies with the light 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.,. 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 646, L.D. 1817 
transmittance standards 8Bd shall eRSl:IFe eempliaBee aBd issue a eeftifieate fer a 'lehiele 
eR ' ..... hieh that perseR has iRstalled the timed wiRdew er tiHtiRg material. 
Upon request, the Bureau of State Police shall provide light transmittance certificates to 
perseRS whe, fef eempeasatieR, iRstall tiHtea replaeemem '.viHae"'/s er "NiRaew tiHtiHg 
materials a person authorized to issue a certificate under this subsection. 
Light 
transmittance certificates provided by the Bureau of State Police te installers in 
accordance with this subsection remain the property of the State. 
An iRstalief A person authorized to issue a certificate under this subsection who is 
adjudicated of a violation of this section or files an answer of "not contested" to a 
summons for a violation of this section shall return all unissued light transmittance 
certificates to the Bureau of State Police within 10 days of adjudication or of filing the 
answer. The Bureau of State Police may not provide that iHstalier person with light 
transmittance certificates for a period of 6 months after the date of adjudication or filing 
an answer of "not contested." 
Sec. 18. 29-A MRSA §1917, sub-§4,~, as enacted by PL 1993. c. 683, Pt. A, 
§2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
B. 
Readings must be taken in 2 aejaeem all major tread grooves and must include at 
least 2 points iR eaeh efthe groe'les not closer than 15 inches. 
Sec. 19. 29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§l, ~, as amended by PL 2005, c. 14, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
B. "Authorized emergency vehicle" means anyone of the following vehicles: 
(1) An ambulance; 
(2) A Baxter State Park Authority vehicle operated by a Baxter State Park 
ranger; 
(3) A Bureau of Marine Patrol vehicle operated by a coastal warden; 
(4) A Department of Conservation vehicle operated by a forest ranger; 
(5) A Department of Conservation vehicle used for forest fire control; 
(6) A Department of Corrections vehicle used for responding to the escape of or 
performing the high-security transfer of a prisoner, juvenile client or juvenile 
detainee; 
(7) 
A Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife vehicle operated by a 
warden; 
(8) A Department of Public Safety vehicle operated by a capital security officer 
appointed pursuant to Title 25, section 2908, a state fire investigator or a Maine 
Drug Enforcement Agency officer; 
(9) An emergency medical service vehicle; 
(10) A fire department vehicle; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
'" ·,. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to S.P. 646, L.D.IS17 
(11) A hazardous material response vehicle, including a vehicle designed to 
respond to a weapon of mass destruction; 
(12) A railroad police vehicle; 
(13) A sheriffs department vehicle; 
(14) A State Police or municipal police department vehicle; 
(15) A vehicle operated by a chief of police, a sheriff or a deputy sheriff when 
authorized by the sheriff; 
(16) A vehicle operated by a municipal fire inspector, a municipal fire chief, an 
assistant or deputy chief or a town forest fire warden; 
(17) 
A vehicle operated by a qualified deputy sheriff or other qualified 
individual to perform court security-related functions and services as authorized 
by the State Court Administrator pursuant to Title 4, section 17, subsection 15; 
(18) A Federal Government vehicle operated by a federal law enforcement 
officer; ftBd 
(19) A vehicle operated by a municipal rescue chief, deputy chief or assistant 
chief,:, ~ 
(20) 
An Office of the Attorney General vehicle operated by a detective 
appointed pursuant to Title 5, section 202; and 
(21) A Department of the Secretary of State vehicle operated by a motor vehicle 
investigator. ' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 20 the following: 
'Sec. 21. 29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2003, c. 97, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
9. Stationary vehicles. The operator of a vehicle passing a stationary authorized 
emergency vehicle using an emergency light or a stationary wrecker using its authorized 
lights, with due regard to the safety and traffic conditions, shall: 
A. 
Pass in a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle or 
wrecker, if possible; or 
B. 
If passing in a nonadjacent lane is impossible or unsafe, pass the emergency 
vehicle or wrecker at a careful and prudent speed reasonable for passing the 
authorized emergency vehicle or wrecker safely. 
A violation of this subsection is a traffic infraction for which a minimum fine of $250 
must be adjudged: 
. Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 646, LD. 1817 
SUMMARY 
This amendment: 
1. 
Removes the provision of the bill that would have repealed a law requiring 
inspection rejection for certain malfunctioning equipment; 
2. Removes the provision of the bill establishing a 35% net light transmittance 
standard for side and rear windows. 
This provision has been addressed in other 
legislation; 
3. Clarifies language in the provision of the bill relating to the persons authorized by 
the Chief of the State Police to examine window glazing and tint material for compliance 
with laws governing light transmittance; 
4. Replaces the provision of the bill relating to readings for tire tread wear. The bill 
required readings to be taken in at least one major tread groove; the amendment requires 
the readings to be in all major tread grooves; 
S. Removes the provision of the bill repealing the provision of law dealing with 
vehicle frame height; 
6. 
Clarifies that the Chief of State Police may designate employees of the 
Department of Public Safety who may not be employees of the State Police to issue 
permits allowing operation of an uninspected vehicle to an inspection station for an 
inspection; 
7. Adds stationary wreckers using authorized lights to the law requiring motorists to 
use caution when passing stationary emergency vehicles; and 
8. Adds provisions allowing a detective employed by the Attorney General or motor 
vehicle investigator to use emergency lights. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/30/07 
~ac:.. 
LD 1817 
. LR499(02) 
An Act To Strengthen and Clarify Maine's Motor Vehicle Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" A " 
. Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No net fiscal impact 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
This bill establishes and eliminates certain traffic infractions. 
LR0499(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1