An Act To Amend the Speed Limits for Low-speed Vehicles
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0907
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: GILES
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2089

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124thMAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 907 
H.P.625 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2009 
An Act To Amend the Speed Limits for Low-speed Vehicles 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative GILES of Belfast. 
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frI· 7llt1C~{ 
MILLICENTM. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored'by Representatives: FLETCHER ofWins]ow, PRESCOTT of Topsham, 
STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland, THIBODEAU of Winterport, VAN WIE of New 
Gloucester. 
Printed on rccydcd p:'lpf..'r 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §lOl, sub-§32-A, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and 
repealed and replaced by c. 688, Pt. B, §8 and affected by §9, is amended 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 ;W 30 miles per hour on a level surface but not more 
.. than ~ 35 miles per hour on a level surface and does not exceed 1,800 pounds in 
unloaded weight. "Low-speed vehicle" does not include an ATV as defmed in Title 12, 
section 13001. l\ 10''''' speed vehicle must be originally manufactured and maintained in 
accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as a low speed vehicle 
Dursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations. Section 57i.500. as amended. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2089, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 397, §10, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
2. 
Road restrictions; passing. The provisions of this subsection apply to the 
operation of a low-speed vehicle on roads and streets. 
A. A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on a road or street where the posted 
speed limit is 45 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 45 miles per hour. 
B. When 7 or more vehicles are directly behind a low-speed vehicle being operated 
on a road or street. the operator of the low-speed vehicle, as soon as practicable. shall 
move as far to the side of the road or street as may be done safely to allow the 
vehicles behind the low-speed vehicle to pass. 
C. 
The department may prohibit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on any 
highway or segment of highway under its jurisdiction if it determines that the 
prohibition is necessary in the interest of public safety. 
D. A municipality may prohibit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on any road or 
street under its jurisdiction if it· determines that the prohibition is necessary in the 
interest of public safety. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the law regarding low~speed vehicles: 
l. It increases the minimum and maximum speeds for low-speed vehicles to 30 and 
miles per hour, respectively. 
It also eliminates a cross-reference to the federal 
regulations concerning low-speed vehicles since under those regulations the maximum 
attainable speed is 25 miles per hour. 
2. It allows. low-speed vehicles to be operated on streets or roads having a maximum 
posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour, instead of the cunent limit of 35 miles per hour. 
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3. It requires the operator of a low-speed vehicle to mpve to the side of the road, 
when it is safe and practicable to do so, to allow a line of 7 or more vehicles directly 
behind the low-speed vehicle to pass.