An Act To Waive Snowmobile Registration Requirements for Canadians Riding on Maine Trails
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0293
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: AYOTTE, SHERMAN, BURNS, CLARK, EDGECOMB, WILLETTE, JACKSON
Amends: 12 MRSA §13104

Legislative Document 
No. 293 
H.P. 237 
House of Representatives, February 3, 2011 
An Act To Waive Snowmobile Registration Requirements for 
Canadians Riding on Maine Trails 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative AYOTTE of Caswell. 
Cosponsored by Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
Representatives: BURNS of Whiting, CLARK of Easton, EDGECOMB of Caribou, 
WILLETTE of Mapleton, Senator: JACKSON of Aroostook. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §13104, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2009, c. 184, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
7.  Snowmobiles of nonresidents.  Except as specifically provided in this subsection 
and notwithstanding any other provision of law, a snowmobile belonging to a nonresident 
may be possessed or operated by any person in this State as long as the snowmobile is 
properly registered in this State in the name of a nonresident owner of the snowmobile.  
Nothing in this subsection authorizes the operation of a snowmobile in a manner contrary 
to this chapter. 
A.  A nonresident is ineligible to obtain a resident registration for a snowmobile 
owned by that nonresident.  Snowmobiles and grooming equipment registered to 
federal or state entities, snowmobile clubs, municipalities or counties from bordering 
states or provinces and engaged in trail grooming may be operated without being 
registered under this subsection. Snowmobiles registered in either New Hampshire or 
Canada may be operated on any lake or pond that is partly in both the State and New 
Hampshire or Canada without being registered in the State. 
B.  A snowmobile registered in this State or in New Hampshire may be operated 
without further registration requirements on those portions of the Maine-New 
Hampshire Cooperative Trails located in Maine.  For purposes of this paragraph, 
"Maine-New Hampshire Cooperative Trails" means: 
 (1)  New Hampshire Trail 18 as identified in the Success Pond - Grafton Notch 
area; and 
(2)  Maine Trail ITS-80 as identified in the Evans Notch area of the White 
Mountain National Forest. 
C.  Snowmobiles registered in another state or in a Canadian province may be 
operated without a Maine registration at a special event or festival organized to occur 
in this State if such operation is approved by the commissioner.  An event or festival 
organizer must submit a request in writing to the commissioner at least 60 days prior 
to the event or festival and shall include a map of trails where operation will be 
allowed. 
D.  A snowmobile owned or under the control of a snowmobile manufacturer may be 
operated without a Maine registration at a demonstration event organized to occur in 
this State if such operation is approved by the commissioner.  A snowmobile 
manufacturer or a representative of a snowmobile manufacturer must submit a 
request in writing to the commissioner at least 60 days prior to the demonstration 
event and shall include a description and the location of the event. 
E.  A snowmobile registered in a Canadian province may be operated without a 
Maine registration on state-funded snowmobile trails as long as the snowmobile is 
insured in Canada and the rider belongs to a snowmobile club located in this State.  
The commissioner shall designate snowmobile clubs for purposes of this paragraph. 
The commissioner shall adopt rules regarding the grooming and maintenance of the 
Maine-New Hampshire Cooperative Trails and reimbursement or payment for those 
services.  The rules must allow reimbursement for grooming and maintenance services to 
be through direct cash payments by users of the Maine-New Hampshire Cooperative 
Trails or through in-kind services.  The costs of grooming and maintenance must be 
based on the average per mile costs to Maine and New Hampshire of providing these 
services.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined 
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that a snowmobile registered in a Canadian province may be 
operated without a Maine registration on state-funded snowmobile trails as long as the 
snowmobile is insured in Canada and the rider belongs to a snowmobile club located in 
Maine.