An Act To Amend Provisions of the Law Pertaining to Motor Vehicles
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0943
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: MAZUREK, PARRY
Amends: 25 MRSA §2106-A, 29-A MRSA §101, 29-A MRSA §351, 29-A MRSA §2077

Legislative Document 
No. 943 
S.P. 320 
In Senate, March 7, 2013 
An Act To Amend Provisions of the Law Pertaining to Motor 
Vehicles 
Submitted by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator MAZUREK of Knox. 
Cosponsored by Representative PARRY of Arundel. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2106-A, as amended by PL 1983, c. 862, §73, is repealed and 
the following enacted in its place: 
§2106-A.  Penalties 
A person who violates this chapter or a rule adopted pursuant to this chapter commits 
a Class D crime, except that if the violation is discovered during a routine compliance 
review as defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 385.3, the violation is a civil 
violation. 
A civil violation under this section is subject to a fine, which must be determined 
with due consideration of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's uniform fine 
assessment program. 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§42, as amended by PL 2005, c. 577, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
42.  Motor vehicle.  "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle not operated 
exclusively on railroad tracks, but does not include: 
A.  A snowmobile as defined in Title 12, section 13001; 
B.  An all-terrain vehicle as defined in Title 12, section 13001, unless the all-terrain 
vehicle is permitted in accordance with section 501, subsection 8 or is operated on a 
way and section 2080 applies; and 
C.  A motorized wheelchair or an electric personal assistive mobility device. 
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§80, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is repealed. 
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§86, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
86.  Trailer.  "Trailer" means a vehicle without motive power, designed to carry 
persons or property and to be drawn by a motor vehicle, not operated on railroad tracks, 
and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.  "Trailer" does 
not include tow dollies. 
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§91, as amended by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §44 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is further amended to read: 
91.  Vehicle.  "Vehicle" means a device for conveyance of persons or property on a 
way.  "Vehicle" does not include conveyances propelled or drawn by human power or 
used exclusively on railroad tracks or snowmobiles as defined in Title 12, section 13001 
or an electric personal assistive mobility device as defined in this section. 
Sec. 6.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 671, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
A.    A traffic infraction for which a forfeiture fine of not more than $50 may be 
adjudged if the vehicle was registered and the registration has been expired for more 
than 30 days but less than 150 days; or 
Sec. 7.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6.  Improper registration.  A traffic infraction for which a fine of not less than $200 
nor more than $1,000 may be adjudged if the vehicle is not properly registered.  For 
purposes of this paragraph, a vehicle is not properly registered if that vehicle's registration 
is not reflective of its current actual use or its motor vehicle type. 
Sec. 8.  29-A MRSA §2077, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected 
by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
§2077.  Working on ways 
Sections 2051, 2053, 2055, 2056, 2066, 2068 and 2076 do not apply to a person, 
team, motor vehicle and other equipment actually engaged in work on the surface of a 
public way, but does do apply to such a person and vehicle when traveling to or from 
such work. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends various provisions of the motor vehicle laws. 
It provides that a person who violates the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, chapter 
pertaining to the transport of hazardous materials, or a rule adopted pursuant to that 
chapter, commits a Class D crime, unless the violation is discovered during a routine 
compliance review.  If the violation is discovered during a routine compliance review, the 
violation is a civil violation. 
It amends the definition of "motor vehicle" to clarify that the term means a 
self-propelled vehicle not operated exclusively on railroad tracks. 
It repeals the definition of "team" in Title 29-A, section 101. 
It creates the traffic infraction of failing to properly register a motor vehicle as to its 
current actual use or motor vehicle type.