An Act To Allow the Operation of Modified Utility Vehicles on Public Ways . Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0745
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: DAMON, MAZUREK
Amends: 2 MRSA §13001, 29-A MRSA §501, 29-A MRSA §1927, 29-A MRSA §2093

Legislative Document 
No. 745 
S.P.292 
In Senate, February 26,2009 
An Act To Allow the Operation of Modified Utility Vehicles on 
Public Ways' 
. Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator DAMON of Hancock. 
Cosponsored by Representative MAZUREK of Rocldand. 
Printed on recycled pllper 
9tgrY~ 
. JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. Jl. Jl2 MRSA §13001, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
3. All-terrain vehicle or ATV. 
"AlI~terrain vehlcle" or "ATV" means a motor-
driven, off-road, recreational vehlcle capable of cross-country travel on land, snow, ice, 
marsh, swampland or other natural terrain. "All-terrain vehlcle" or "ATV" iricludes, but 
is not limited to, a multitrack, multiwheel or low-pressure tire vehlcle; a motorcycle or 
related 2-wheel, 3-wheel qr belt-driven vehlcle; ari amphlbious machlne; or other means 
of transportation deriving motive power from a source other than muscle or :wind. For 
purposes ofthls subpart, "all-terrain vehlcle" or "ATV" does not include an automobile as 
defmed in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 7; an electric personal assistive mobility 
device as defmed in Title 29.:.A, section 101, subsection 22-A; a truck as defined in Title 
··29-A, section 101, subsection 88; a modified utility vehlcle as defined in Title .29-A, 
section 101, subsection 35-B; a snowmobile; an airmobile; a construction or logging 
vehicle used in performance of its common functions; a farm vehlcle used for farming 
purposes; or a vehlcle used exclusively for emergency, military~ law enforcement or fire 
control purposes. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §lOl, sub-§35-B is enacted to read: 
35-B. Modified utility vehicle. 
"Modified utility vehlcle" means a 4-wheeled 
automobile, commonly known as a utility vehlcle, recreational utility vehlcle or 
multipurpose utility vehicle, that has been modified so as to meet the equipment 
requirements in accordance with section 1927. 
"Modified utility vehlcle" does not 
include an ATV as defined in Title 12, section 13001 or an off-road vehlcle. 
Sec. 3. 29-A MRS A §102, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3. 
Operation of modified utility vehicle. The registration and operation of a 
modified utility vehlcle in accordance with section 501, subsection 12 and section 2093 is 
authorized. A municipality.may prohlbit the use of modified utility vehlcles by municipal 
ordinance or restrict the use of modified utility vehlcles in accordance with section 2093, 
subsection 2. 
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §501, sub-§12 is enacted to read: 
12. Modified utility vehicle .. Registration of modified utility vehlcles is subject to 
the provisions of this subsection. 
A. The Secretary of State shall issue a registration for a modified utility vehlcle upon 
application and payment of an annual fee of $35. The registrant must provide proof 
of ownershlp, proof of fmancial responsibility required by section 1601 and evidence 
of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36,. section 1482. A modified utility 
vehlcle registered under thls section is issued a motorcycle, registration plate as 
described in section SIS-A. The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate for a 
60-day period. , 
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Page I - 124LR1812(Ol)-1 
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B. Proof of ownership may be demonstrated either by affidavit or by providing the 
manufacturer's certificate of origin. 
Sec. 5. 29-A MRS A §1752,sub-§12 is enacted to read: 
12. Modified, utility vehicle. A modified utility vehicle registered pursuant to 
section 501, subsection 12. A modified utility vehicle must be equipped in accordance 
with section 1927. 
Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §1927 is enacted to read: 
§1927. Equipment requirements for modified utility vehicles 
1. Equipment required. A modified utility vehicle registered pursuant to section 
501, subsection 12 must be equipped, at a minimum, with: 
A. Brakes for each wheel; 
B. ,Headlights; , 
C. . Odometer; 
D. One exterior rearview mirror; 
E. One interior rearview mirror; 
F. A parking device; 
G. Rear reflectors; 
H. A windshield; 
I. A speedometer; 
J. Stop lamps; 
K. . Rear lights; 
L. Seat belts; 
M. Turn signal lamps; and 
N. A vehicle identification number. 
2. 
Working condition. 
Equipment required in subsection 1 must be in good 
working condition. 
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Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §2093 is enacted to read: 
§2093. Operation of modified utiJityvehicles 
A person operating a modified utility vehicle on a public way shall comply with the 
provisions of this chapter as they apply to the operator of an automobile and with this 
section. 
1. License required. A person operating a modified utility vehicle must possess a 
valid Class A. Class B or Class C driver's license pur:suant to section 1252. 
2. Road restrictions. A modified utility vehicle may be operated only on a road or 
street with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less. A modified utility vehicle 
may cross, at an intersection, a road or street with a posted speed limit higher than 45 
miles per hour. A municipality may prohibit the operation of a modified utility vehicle 
on any road under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the 
interest of public safety. 
3. Violation. A person who operates a modified utility vehicle in violation of 
subsection 2 commits a traffic infraction. 
SUMMAR.Y 
This bill allows a modified utility vehicle,' commonly lmownas a utility vehicle, 
recreational utility vehicle or multipurpose utility vehicle, to be registered and operated in 
Maine with certain limitations. 
A modified utility vehicle that meets specified equipment requirements may be 
operated on Maine roads with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less. Due to its 
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modifications, a modified utility vehicle is not an ATV or off-road vehicle. Like a 
low-speed vehicle, a modified utility vehicle is exempt from inspection requirements and 
is registered by application to the Secretary of State, which application must be 
. accompanied by proof of ownership, proof' of financial responsibility and proof of 
payment of excise tax. 
In order to avoid the cost of printing a new registration plate specifically for modified 
utility vehicles, a modified utility vehicle is issued a motorcycle registration plate. 
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