An Act To Improve the Safety of Snowmobile Trails (,-,,/
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0414
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: CONNOR, BRANNIGAN, ADAMS, BRYANT, CLEARY, EATON, EBERLE, LEGG, PERCY, SULLIVAN
Amends: 12 MRSA §1893

Legislative Document 
No. 414 
H.P.302 
House of Representatives, February 10, 2009 
An Act To Improve the Safety of Snowmobile Trails 
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Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
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ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative CONNOR of Kennebunk. 
Cosponsored by Senator BRANNIGAN of Cumberland and 
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111· 7i!1I£~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, BRYANT of Windham, CLEARY of Houlton, EATON 
of Sullivan, EBERLE of South Portland, LEGG of Kennebunk, PERCY of Phippsburg, 
Senator: SULLIVAN of York. 
Prillll.:J l1l1 1"L'L:yckd p;lpt:r 
1. 
~e it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1893, sub-§3, ';fA, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. C, §1 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
A. 
The bureau is authorized to use the money credited to the Snowmobile Trail 
Fund to make grants-in-aid to political subdivisions, educational institutions, regional 
planning agencies, snowmobile groups and others for the construction and 
maintenance of snowmobile trails and for research, development and planning of 
snowmobile trails. 
(1) For all grants disbursed after July 1, 1984, the bureau shall adopt rules 
specifying how to apply for the grants, which projects are eligible and the 
formula for state support. 
(2) The bureau may charge a reasonable fee for these services and materials 
when the money credited to it under this paragraph is insufficient to satisfy the 
demand for the services and materials. All fees so collected must be deposited in 
the Snowmobile Trail Fund. 
(3) If any of the money is not expended during the year in which the money is 
collected, the unexpended balance does not lapse, but is carried as a continuing 
account available for the purposes specified until expended. 
(4) A political subdivision, educational institution, regional planning agency, 
snowmobile group or any other person or entity that receives money from the 
Snowmobile Trail Fund shall ensure that: 
(a) All trail markings and signs on the snowmobile trails maintained by that 
political subdivision, educational institution, regional planning agency, 
snowmobile group or other person or entity that receives money from the 
Snowmobile Trail Fund substantially comply with guidelines regarding 
snowmobile trail signs published by the department; and 
(b) A rope, cord, line, chain or similar material does not cross a snowmobile 
trail and is not used in any way to create a barrier to or within a snowmobile 
trail so as to create a potential hazard on a snowmobile trail maintained by 
that political subdivision, educational institution, regional planning agency, 
snowmobile group or other person or entity that receives money from the 
Snowmobile Trail Fund. 
A person or entity that violates this subparagraph commits a civil violation for 
which a fme of not less than $100 and not more than $500 must be adjudged. If a 
person or entity violates this subparagraph and that. violation causes death or 
serious bodily injury, that person or entity, in addition to being liable for the fine 
described in this subparagraph, is not eligible to receive funding from the 
Snowmobile Trail Fund for 3 years after that death or serious bodily injury. 
Page I - 124LR0312(Ol)-1 
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SUMMARY 
This bill provides that a person or entity that receives money from the Snowmobile 
Trail Fund shall ensure that all trail markings and signs on the snowmobile trails 
maintained by that person or entity comply with guidelines regarding snowmobile trail 
signs published by the Department of Conservation and that a rope, cord, line, chain or 
similar material does not cross a snowmobile trail and is not used in any way to create a 
potential hazard on a snowmobile trail. A person or entity that violates these provisions 
is subj ect to a fme of not less than $100 and not more than $500 and, if the violation 
causes death or serious bodily injury, ineligibility to receive funding from the 
Snowmobile Trail Fund for 3 years.