An Act To Amend Motor Vehicle Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2075
Committee Amendment CA_A_H913 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §455, 29-A MRSA §456, 29-A MRSA §456-B, 29-A MRSA §456-C, 29-A MRSA §456-E, 29-A MRSA §558

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,~ " to H.P. 1459, L.D. 2075, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend Motor Vehicle Laws" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the enacting clause and before section I the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §455, as amended by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §45 and 
affected by Pt. D, §7 and c. 614, §9, is further amended to read: 
§455. Environmental registration plates 
The Secretary of State shall issue Maine Environmental Trust Fund registration plates 
beginning April 1, 1994 in accordance with this section. 
Environmental registration 
plates are not required for registration of a motor vehicle but are to allow citizens to 
participate voluntarily in the Maine Environmental Trust Fund program. A citizen may 
apply for environmental registration plates and contribute to the Maine Environmental 
Trust Fund as provided in this section. 
1. Issuance of environmental registration plates. The Secretary of State, upon 
receiving an application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, 
the registration fee required by this Title and the contribution to the Maine Environmental 
Trust Fund provided for in subsection 4, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of 
environmental registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. The 
Secretary of State may issue environmental registration plates to a vehicle in any 
registration class if the designated registration plate for that class does not preclude its use 
in conjunction with the environmental registration plate design. The Secretary of State 
may issue environmental registration plates to certain state-owned vehicles in accordance 
with section 517. 
2. Plate design; optional environmental vanity plates. The Secretary of State, the 
Commissioner of Conservation, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in consultation with the joint standing 
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committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters shall 
determine the plate design. 
The design must accommodate the use of numbers and letters as provided in section 453. 
Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue 
environmental plates that are also vanity plates. Environmental vanity plates are issued in 
accordance with this section and section 453. The Secretary of State may modify class 
codes and create unique identifiers for the purpose of expanding the program. The annual 
service fee of $15 for vanity plates is credited to the Highway Fund. Rules adopted 
pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter II-A 2-A. 
3. Temporary facsimile plate. The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate 
for temporary use up to a 60-day period until the permanent plate is received. The 
facsimile plate must be attached to the rear plate bracket. 
4. Initial contribution to Maine Environmental Trust Fund. In addition to the 
regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law for the particular class of vehicle 
registered, the initial contribution for environmental registration plates is $20, which must 
be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited to the Maine Environmental Trust 
Fund established in Title 12, section 10255. as follows: 
A. Thirteen dollars to the Maine Environmental Trust Fund established in Title 12, 
section 10255; 
B. Six dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law for tHe 
particular class of veHicle registered, tHe annual renewal contribution for environmental 
registration plates is $15, WHich must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and 
credited to tHe Maine Environmental Trust Fund established in Title 12, section 10255. 
4-A. 
Renewal fee. 
In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee 
prescribed by law for the particular class of vehicle registered, the annual renewal 
contribution for environmental registration plates is $15, which must be deposited with 
the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Thirteen dollars to the Maine Environmental Trust Fund established in Title 12, 
section 10255; 
B. One dollar to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
S. Reimbursement fot' flroduetion Rnd issuRnce costs. The Treasurer of State shall 
transfer annually from the Maine Environmental Trust Fund to the HigHway Fund $6 for 
each initial set of environmental registration plates issl:led and $1 for each rene)'lal of 
environmental registration plates. THis transfer is to reimburse the Secretary of State for 
costs associated with production and issl:lance of the plates. 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1459, L.D. 2075 
5-A. Transfer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the environmental registration plates to the 
Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 4 and 4-A. 
6. Proceeds from sale of products using the environmental plate design. All 
proceeds from the sale of products using the environmental registration plate design must 
be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited to the Maine Environmental Trust 
Fund. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §456, as amended by PL 2005, c. 109, §§4 and 5, is further 
amended to read: 
§456. University of Maine System; special registration plates 
1. University of Maine System plate. The Secretary of State, upon receiving an 
application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, 
the registration fee required by section SOl and the administrative fee and voluntary 
contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of 
University of Maine System registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration 
plates. These plates must bear identification numbers and letters. 
2. 
Administrative fee and contribution to University of Maine System 
Scholarship Fund. 
University of Maine System special registration plates are not 
required for registration of a motor vehicle. A person may contribute to the University of 
Maine System Scholarship Fund by applying for the special registration plates and 
submitting, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, a sum of $20. •. which 
must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Fourteen Thirteen dollars to the University of Maine System Scholarship Fund 
established in Title 20-A, section 10909; and 
B. Six dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs.,.; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3. Design. The Secretary of State shall determine a design for the special University 
of Maine System plates. If the design accommodates the use of numbers and letters as 
provided in section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue upon request University of 
Maine System plates that are also vanity plates. University of Maine System vanity 
plates are issued in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 453. 
5. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for University of Maine System registration 
plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as 
follows: 
A. Fourteen Thirteen dollars to the University of Maine System Scholarship Fund 
established in Title 20-A, section 10909; and 
B. One dollar to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs.,.; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
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(t. Reimbursement fflF pFadHetiaD aDd issuanee easts. The Treasurer of State shall 
transfer annually from the University of Maine S),stem Scholarship Fund to the Highway 
Fund $a for eaah initial set of University of Maine System registration plates issued and 
$1 foF each rene't't'al of University of Maine S,'stem registration plates. This transfer is to 
reimburse the Secretary of State for costs associated with produation and issliance of 
plates. 
6-A. Transfer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the University of Maine System registration 
plates to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 5. 
Sec. 3. 29-A MRS A §456-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 383, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
§456-A. Lobster registration plates 
1. Lobster plates. 
The Secretary of State, upon recelVlng an application and 
evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the annual 
motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501 and the contribution provided for in 
subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of lobster special registration 
plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. 
These plates must bear 
identification numbers and letters. 
2. Contribution to Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund. In 
addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law for the particular 
class of vehicle registered, the initial contribution for lobster plates is $20, which must be 
deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Ten Nine dollars to the Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund 
established in Title 12, section 6465; aH:d 
B. Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production COStS7; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3. Design. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Lobster Promotion 
Council under Title 12, section 6455, shall determine a design for the lobster special 
registration plates. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over transportation matters shalI review the final design prior to manufacture of the 
plates. The Secretary of State shall issue upon request lobster plates that are also vanity 
plates. Lobster plates are issued in accordance with the provisions of this section and 
section 453. 
4. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for lobster special registration plates is $15, 
which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Ten Nine dollars to the Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund 
established in Title 12, section 6465; aH:d 
B. Five dolIars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production COstS7; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
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to H.P. 1459, L.D. 2075 
5. ReimbuFsement fer praduetian and issuanee easts faF fiFst 1,000 plates. THe 
spoHsor of tHe lobster plate plirSliaf}t to seetiof} 468, sliaseetiof} 1 shall provide $20,000 to 
the Seeretary of State Of} or aefore Deeemaer 1, 2002 for eosts assoeiated with the 
prodlietioR af}d issliaHee of plates. The Seeretary of State shall deposit tHese fUHds if} tHe 
Speeialty Lieef}se Plate FliHd if} aeeordaf}ee 'NitH seetion 469, slibseetioR 2. 
The 
Seeretal)' of State shall theH deposit fees eolleeted throligh tHe sale of the first 2,000 
plates in the Lobster Researeh, Edueation aRd DeyelopmeHt FUHd estaalished iH Title 12, 
seetioH 6465. Suaseqliently, tHe Treaslirer of State shall reimaurse the spoHsor for the 
iHitial paymeHt of $20,000 from the Loaster Researeh, EdueatioH and De't'elopmeHt FliHd. 
(). Reimbursement feF praduetian and issuanee casts fuF plates pFadueed afteF 
first 1,000 plates. 
The Seeretal)' of State shall deposit to the Loaster Researeh, 
EdueatioH aHd Deyelopment FUHd estaalished iH Title 12, seetioH 6465 $20 for eaeh 
initial set of lobster registratioH plates aHd $15 for eaeh ref}ewal of loaster registratioH 
plates. 
The TreaSlirer of State shall transfer aHHlially from the boaster Researeh, 
EdueatioH and DevelopmeHt FliHd to the Highway FliRd $10 for eaeh iHitial set of loaster 
registratioH plates isslied aHd $5 for eaeh reHevl'al of loaster registratioH plates. This 
traHsfer is to reimaurse the Seeretal)' of State for eosts assoeiated 'Nith produetion and 
issuanee of plates. 
6-A. TransCer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the lobster registration plates to the Treasurer 
of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 4. 
7. Duplicate plates. The Secretary of State shall issue a lobster plate in a 3-number 
and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity plates issued 
in another class of plate. 
8. Weight limit. A lobster plate may be issued for a motor vehicle that does not 
exceed 10,000 pounds. A motor vehicle that exceeds 6,000 pounds is subject to the fees 
in section 504. 
9. Date of first issue. The Secretary of State shall issue the first lobster plate on or 
after May 1, 2003. 
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §456-B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 383, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
§456-B. Maine :Black Bears registration plates 
1. Maine Black Bears plates. The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application 
and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the annual 
motor vehicle registration fee required by section SOland the contribution provided for in 
subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of Maine Black Bears special 
registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must bear 
identification numbers and letters. 
2. Contribution to Maine Black Bears Scholarship Fund. In addition to the 
regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law for the particular class of vehicle 
registered, the in itial contribution for Maine Black Bears plates is $20, which must be 
deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
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H.P. 1459. L.D. 2075 
A. +eft Nine dollars to the Maine Black Bears Scholarship Fund established in Title 
20-A, section 10971; ami 
B. Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs~; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3. Design. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the alumni association of the 
University of Maine, shall determine a design for the Maine Black Bears special 
registration plates. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over transportation matters shall review the final design prior to manufacture of the 
plates. The Secretary of State shall issue upon request Maine Black Bears plates that are 
also vanity plates. Maine Black Bears plates are issued in accordance with the provisions 
of this section and section 453. 
4. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for Maine Black Bears special registration plates 
is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. +eft Nine dollars to the Maine Black Bears Scholarship Fund established in Title 
20-A, section 10971; afld 
B. Five dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs~; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
5. Reimbursement foF produetion and issuonee eosts for first 2,000 plates. The 
sponsor of the Maine Black Bears plate pHrsHant to section 468, sHbsection 1 shall 
provide $20,000 to the Secretary of State on or before JHne 1, 2003 for costs associated 
with the prodHction and issuance of plates. The Secreta!)' of State shall deposit these 
funds in the Specialty License Plate Fund in accordance with section 469, sHbsection 2. 
The Secreta!)' of State shall then deposit fees collected throHgh the sale of the first 2,000 
plates in the Maine Black Bears Scholarship FHnd established in Title 20 A, section 
10971. SubseqHently, the TreasHrer of State shall reimburse the sponsor for the initial 
payment of $20,000 from the Maine Black Bears Scholarship FHnd. 
(t. Reimbursement foF produetion and issuonee eosts for plates produeed after 
first 2,000 plates. 
The Secreta!)' of State shall deposit to the Maine Black Bears 
Scholarship FHnd established in Title 20 /\, section 10971 $20 for each initial set of 
Maine Blacl. Bears registration plates and $15 for each renewal of Maine Blael. Bears 
registration plates. The Treasurer of State shall transfer ann Hally from the Maine Black 
Bears Scholarship FHnd to the High'tvay Fund $10 for each initial set of Maine Black 
Bears registration plates issued and $5 for each rene' .... al of Maine Black Bears 
registration plates. This transfer is to reimburse the Secretary of State for costs associated 
with production and issuance of plates. 
6-A. Transfer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the Maine Black Bears special registration 
plates to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 4. 
7. Duplicate plates. The Secretary of State shall issue a Maine Black Bears plate in 
a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity 
plates issued in another class of plate. 
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8. Weight limit. A Maine Black Bears plate may be issued for a motor vehicle that 
does not exceed 10,000 pounds. A motor vehicle that exceeds 6,000 pounds is subject to 
the fees in section 504. 
9. Date of first issue. The Secretary of State shall issue the first Maine Black Bears 
plate on or after November 1,2003. 
Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §456-C, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. LLLL, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
§456-C. Sportsman registration plates 
1. 
Sportsman registration plates. The Secretary of State, upon receiving an 
application and evidence of payment of the registration fee required by section 50 I and 
the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue a registration certificate and a 
set of sportsman plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must 
bear identification numbers and letters. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity plates 
issued in another class of plate. The Secretary of State shall begin issuing sportsmen 
registration plates by April I, 2008. 
2. Initial registration fee. l·, person may appl), for the special registration plates by 
paying a sum of $20 credited to the Boat Lauflch Facilities FUfld established in Title 12, 
sectiofl 10261. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law, 
the initial contribution for the sportsman registration plate is $20, which must be 
deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Nine dollars to the Boat Launch Facilities Fund established in Title 12, section 
10261 ; 
B. Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for sportsman registration plates is $20. Fift)' 
perceflt of that sum is credited to the fish hatchery mainteflaflce fUfld established in Title 
12, sectiofl 10252, 15% is credited to the Boat Launch Facilities FUfld established in Title 
12, section 10261, 10% is credited to the Maifle Efldaflgered and }>loflgame Wildlife Fund 
established in Title 12, sectiofl 10253 and 25% is credited to the Support Landowflers 
Program ifl Title 12, sectiofl 10108, subsection 4, paragraph A., which must be deposited 
with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Fourteen dollars credited as follows: 
(1) Fifty percent to the fish hatchery maintenance fund established in Title 12, 
section 10252; 
(2) Fifteen percent to the Boat Launch Facilities Fund established in Title 12, 
section 10261; 
(3) Ten percent to the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund 
established in Title 12, section 10253; and 
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to H.P. 1459, L.D. 2075 
(4) Twenty-five percent to the Support Landowners Program in Title 12, section 
10108, subsection 4, paragraph A; 
B. Five dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
4. Issuance. The Secretary of State shall issue a sportsman registration plate in a 
number or letter sequence or a combination of a number and letter sequence. 
5. 
Design and approval. 
Notwithstanding section 468, subsection 5, the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall submit a new proposed design for 
the sportsman registration plate every 6 years for approval or modification by the 
Secretary of State. 
6. Transfer of fees. +fie On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shaII transfer 
the revenue from the issuance and renewal of the sportsman registration plates as 
provided in to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 
and 3 en a quarterly basis. 
Sec. 6. 29-A MRS A §456-D, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 229, §2 and c. 456, §3 
and amended by RR 2007, c. 1, § 13, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
§4S6-D. We Support Our Troops registration plates 
The Secretary of State shall issue registration plates, referred to in this section as "We 
Support Our Troops plates," to support Maine troops and their families in accordance 
with this section and section 468, except that the provisions of section 468, subsection 7 
do not apply. 
1. We Support Our Troops plates. The Secretary of State, upon receiving an 
application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, 
the registration fee required by section 501 and the administrative fee and contribution 
provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of We Support 
Our Troops plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must bear 
identification numbers and letters. 
2. 
Administrative fee and contribution to special programs. A person may 
contribute funds for the purposes of providing financial assistance to members of the 
Maine National Guard and their families or residents of the State who are members ofthe 
Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and their families for emergencies and 
other special needs by applying for the We Support Our Troops plates and submitting, in 
addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee required under section 501, a sum of 
$20, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Nine do lIars to the Maine National Guard Foundation Fund Special Revenue 
Funds account in the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, 
referred to in this section as "the fund," for use in accordance with subsection 7; 
B. Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
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to H.P. 1459, L.D. 2075 
3. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee required 
under section 501, the annual renewal contribution for We Support Our Troops plates is 
$15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Nine dollars to the fund for use in accordance with subsection 7; 
B. Five dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
4. Design. A sponsor must submit a design for the We Support Our Troops plates to 
the Secretary of State for approval or modification in accordance with section 468, 
subsection 5. The design must include the shape of the boundaries of the State of Maine, 
with an image of a curled ribbon superimposed over the shape of the State, with the 
words "We Support Our Troops" printed along the bottom of the plate. The Secretary of 
State shall provide the final design to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over transportation matters prior to manufacture of the plates. The 
Secretary of State shall issue upon request We Support Our Troops plates that are also 
vanity plates. We Support Our Troops plates are issued in accordance with the provisions 
of this section and section 453. 
5. Duplicate plates prohibited. The Secretary of State shall issue a We Support 
Our Troops plate in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may 
not duplicate vanity plates issued in another class of plate. 
6. Weight limit. A We Support Our Troops plate may be issued for a motor vehicle 
that does not exceed 10,000 pounds. A motor vehicle that exceeds 6,000 pounds is 
subject to the fees in section 504. 
7. Administration of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer 
the revenue from the issuance and renewal of the We Support Our Troops plates to the 
Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 3. 
The Treasurer of State shall reimburse the sponsor $20,000 of the original payment from 
the Highway Fund after the issuance of the first 2,000 registration plates under this 
section. 
Revenue in the fund must be used to provide financial assistance to members of the 
Maine National Guard, residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the 
Armed Forces of the United States and the families of those members of the Maine 
National Guard or Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States for emergencies 
and other special needs as determined by the We Support Our Troops Advisory Board 
established in Title 5, section 12004-1, subsection 84-A. 
8. 
We Support Our Troops Advisory Board. The We Support Our Troops 
Advisory Board, as established by Title 5, section 12004-1, subsection 84-A and referred 
to in this section as "the board," consists of 9 members: 
A. Eight members appointed by the Governor, in consultation with the Adjutant 
General of the State of Maine: 
(1) Two persons, each representing the interests of the Maine National Guard; 
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(2) 
Two persons, each representing the interests of Maine residents In the 
Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States; and 
(3) Four persons representing the interests of the public; and 
B. The Adjutant General of the State of Maine. 
The Adjutant General serves during the Adjutant General's tenn of office. The tenns of 
members appointed under paragraph A are for 3 years. Members may be reappointed for 
subsequent tenns. 
A vacancy must be filled in the same manner as an original 
appointment for the remainder of the unexpired tenn. 
The board shall detennine the use of the revenue in the fund. Revenue in the fund must 
be used to provide financial assistance in the fonn of loans or grants to members of the 
Maine National Guard, residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the 
Armed Forces of the United States and the families of those members of the Maine 
National Guard or Reserves of the Anned Forces of the United States for emergencies 
and other special needs. 
The board shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over transportation matters by June 30th of each year. 
The report must 
provide a detailed account of funds for each fiscal year and include the number of loans 
and grants awarded, the names of those who received loans and grant money, a 
description of the process for awarding loans and grants and the total amount of loan and 
grant money awarded. 
Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §456-E is enacted to read: 
§456-E. Agriculture education registration plate 
1. 
Agriculture education plates. The Secretary of State, upon receIVIng an 
application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, 
the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501, section 504, subsection 
or section 505 and the contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a 
registration certificate and a set of agriculture education special registration plates to be 
used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must bear identification numbers 
and letters. 
2. Contribution; credit to Agriculture Education Plate Fund. In addition to the 
regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law for the particular class of vehicle 
registered, the initial contribution for agriculture education plates is $20, which must be 
deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A. Nine dollars to the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council established in 
Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 4-C; 
B. Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3. Design; review; vanity plates. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Association, shall detennine a design for the 
agriculture education special registration plates. The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters shall review the final design 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" n" In H.P. 1459, L.D. 2.7' 
prior to manufacture of the plates. 
The Secretary of State shall issue upon request 
agriculture education plates that are also vanity plates. Agriculture education plates are 
issued in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 453. 
4. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for agriculture education special registration 
plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as 
follows: 
A. Nine dollars to the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council established in 
Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 4-C; 
B. Five dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
5. Transfer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the agriculture education registration plates to 
the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 4. 
6. Duplicate plates. The Secretary of State shall issue an agriculture education plate 
in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity 
plates issued in another class of plate. 
7. Eligibility; trucks. An agriculture education registration plate may be issued for: 
A. A vehicle that qualifies for a specialty license plate under section 468, subsection 
8; and 
B. A truck registered under section 504, subsection 1 or section 505.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 4 the following: 
'Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §558, sub-§l-B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, § 10 
and affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read: 
I-B. Violation. The following penalties apply to violations of this subchapter. 
A. 
Except as provided in paragraph paragraphs C and D, a person who violates this 
subchapter or a rule adopted pursuant to this subchapter commits a Class E crime, 
which is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A. 
B. 
Except as provided in paragraph paragraphs C and D, a person who knowingly 
permits a violation of this subchapter or a rule adopted pursuant to this subchapter 
commits a Class E crime. 
C. 
A person commits a Class C crime if: 
(1) The person acts knowingly or intentionally; 
(2) The violation in fact causes either death or serious bodily injury, as defined 
in Title 17-A, section 2, to a person whose health or safety is protected by the 
provision violated; and 
(3) The death or injury is a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the violation. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~s· 
~.(j 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1459, L.D. 2075 
D. A person commits a traffic infraction if that person violates any provision of the 
rules of the bureau adopted under section 555 that incorporates by reference any of 
the following federal regulations or that is an amended version of any of the 
following federal regulations: 
0) 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 390.21 (2007); 
(2) 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 391.41 (2007); 
(3) 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 392.16, 392.22, 392.24, 392.25, 
392.33 and 392.71 (2007); 
(4) Any section of 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 393 (2007); or 
(5) 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 396, except Sections 396.7 and 396.9 
(2007).' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section II the following: 
'Sec. 12. 29-A MRS A §1611, sub-§2,~, as amended by PL 2005, c. 573, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
B. 
For vehicles used exclusively to transport passengers for hire between points 
within the State, including motor vehicles under contract with the State, a 
municipality or a school district for the transportation of students, but not vehicles 
defined as school buses in section 2301, subsection 5, there is a combined single limit 
of: 
(1) 
One hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or split limits consisting of 
$50,000 per person and $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury liability, and 
$25,000 for property damage liability for vehicles not under contract with the 
State, a municipality or a school district for the traAsportation of students that are 
designed to carry no more than 3 passengers behind the driver's seat; 
(2) Three hundred thousand dollars for vehicles that are designed to carry 4 to 7 
passengers behind the driver's seat, including those vehicles under contract with 
the State, a municipality or a school district for the transportation of students; 
(3) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars for vehicles that are designed to carry 8 
to 15 passengers behind the driver's seat; 
(4) One million five hundred thousand dollars for vehicles that are designed to 
carry 16 to 30 passengers behind the driver's seat; 
(5) Two million dollars for vehicles that are designed to carry 31 or more 
passengers behind the driver's seat; and 
(6) Four hundred thousand dollars for vehicles registered to a transit district as 
defined in Title 3D-A, section 3501. 
Sec. 13. 29-A MRS A §2381, sub-§2, ~A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, 
§2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" R 
.. to H.P. 1459, L.D. 2075 
A. 
The transportation of utility poles by a tractor and semitrailer without regard to 
overall length if the utility poles are moved by a utility company or the utility 
company's contractor from a staging area to the final point of installation. Nothing in 
this paragraph exempts the transporter from other applicable laws or rules; 
Sec. 14. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF 
Administration - Motor Vehicles 0077 
Initiative: Provides an allocation for administrative costs related to specialty license 
plates. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2007-08 
$0 
$0 
2008-09 
$123,014 
$123,014 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment provides that one dollar collected for each specialty registration 
plate initial contribution and annual renewal contribution must be deposited into a 
specialty license plate fund established for the purposes of covering the costs of 
manufacturing and producing specialty or recognition license plates. The amendment 
also provides that $10 collected for each sportsman registration plate initial contribution 
and $5 collected for each sportsman registration plate renewal contribution must be 
deposited into the Highway Fund. The amendment also makes technical changes to 
provide consistency throughout the specialty registration plate statutes. 
The amendment also provides that violations of certain federal regulations applicable 
to commercial motor vehicle carriers and operators are traffic infractions under Maine 
law. 
The amendment also removes conflicting language from the for-hire insurance 
requirement provisions. 
The amendment also clarifies that the overlimit permit exemption for the 
transportation of poles applies to utility poles being moved from a staging area to the 
final point of installation only. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/02/08 
~ac:.. 
LD 2075 
LR 3227(02) 
An Act To Amend Motor Vehicle Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'H" 
Committee: Transportation 
Net Cost (Savings) 
Highway Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
Highway Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2008-09 
($75,000) 
$123,014 
$75,000 
($75,000) 
Projections 
2009-10 
($72,500) 
$126,014 
$72,500 
($72,500) 
Projections 
2010-11 
($62,500) 
$126,514 
$62,500 
($62,500) 
Provides an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of$123,014 in fiscal year 2008-09 to the Secretary of State, 
Bureau of Motor Vehicles for administrative costs associated with specialty license plates. This allocation will be 
funded by depositing $1 of each specialty license plate initial contribution, and $1 of each annual renewal into the 
Specialty License Plate Fund. Depositing $1 of each initial contribution and renewal into this fund will result in an 
increase to that Other Special Revenue Funds account of$123,014 in fiscal year 2008-09 and a corresponding 
decrease to the various Other Special Revenue Funds accounts to which the specialty license plate fees are currently 
deposited. Allocating $10 of each initial Sportsman license plate fee, and $5 of each Sportsman annual renewal fee, to 
the Highway Fund will increase Highway Fund revenues in fiscal year 2008-09 by $75,000 and decrease the various 
Other Special Revenue Funds accounts to which the specialty license plate fees are currently deposited by the same 
amount. 
LR3227(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1