An Act To Clarify the Laws Governing Hunting from a Vehicle
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0693
Committee Amendment CA_A_H349 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §11212, 12 MRSA §11212-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,/1,, to H.P. 484, L.D. 693, Bill, "An Act To 
Clarify the Laws Governing Hunting from a Vehicle" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11212, as amended by PL 2015, c. 327, §1, is repealed. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11212-A is enacted to read: 
§11212-A. Hunting or shooting from a motor vehicle or motorboat 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings, 
A. "Loaded firearm or crossbow" means a firearm with a cartridge or shell in the 
chamber or in an attached magazine, clip or cylinder or a muzzle-loading firearm 
charged with powder, lead and a primed ignition device or mechanism or a cocked 
and armed crossbow. 
B. "Vehicle" means a motor vehicle or a trailer or other type of vehicle being hauled 
by a motor vehicle. 
2. Prohibition; vehicles. A person may not shoot while in or on a vehicle, have a 
loaded firearm or crossbow while in or on a vehicle or rest a loaded firearm or crossbow 
on a vehicle except as provided in subsection 3. 
3. Exceptions. The following exceptions apply to subsection 2. 
A. While hunting, a person who is not in or on a vehicle may rest a loaded firearm or 
crossbow that is under the person's control on the vehicle to shoot only when the 
vehicle is not in motion and the engine of the vehicle is not mnning. 
B. While hunting, a person who is on but not within an enclosed area or passenger 
compartment of an all-te1Tain vehicle or snowmobile may shoot a firearm or 
crossbow or rest a loaded firearm or crossbow that is under the person's control on the 
all-te1Tain vehicle or snowmobile to shoot only when the all-te1Tain vehicle or 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'ft" to H.P. 484, L.D. 693 
snowmobile is not in motion and the engine of the all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile 
is not running. 
C. While target shooting and not hunting, a person who is on but not within an 
enclosed area or passenger compartment of a vehicle may shoot a firearm or 
crossbow or rest a loaded firearm or crossbow that is under the person's control on the 
vehicle to shoot only when the vehicle is not in motion and the engine of the vehicle 
is not running. 
D. Notwithstanding paragraph A, a paraplegic or single or double amputee of the 
legs may shoot from a vehicle that is not in motion. 
E. A person who is 21 years of age or older and is not otherwise prohibited from 
possessing a firearm or is 18 years of age or older and under 21 years of age and is on 
active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard or is an 
honorably discharged veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or the 
National Guard and is not otherwise prohibited from canying a firearm may have in 
or on a vehicle a loaded pistol or revolver. 
4. Prohibition; motorboats. A person may not shoot while in or on a motorboat, 
except that: 
A. A person may hunt migratory waterfowl from a motorboat in accordance with 
federal regulations; and 
B. A person may shoot from a motorboat if that boat is not being propelled by its 
motor. 
5. Possession of wild animals or wild birds. A person may not possess a wild 
animal or wild bird taken in violation of subsections 2 or 3, except as otherwise provided 
in this Part. 
6. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment prohibits a person, while hunting, 
from shooting a firearm or crossbow while in or on a motor vehicle other than an ATV or 
snowmobile and possessing a loaded firearm or a crossbow in a motor vehicle other than 
an ATV or snowmobile or while in or on a trailer or another vehicle being hauled by a 
motor vehicle, except that a person may rest a loaded firearm or crossbow that is under 
the person's control on a motor vehicle other than an A TV or snowmobile as long as the 
motor vehicle is not moving and its engine is off. The amendment prohibits a person from 
shooting while in an enclosed area or passenger compartment of an ATV or snowmobile, 
but allows a person to shoot a firearm or crossbow from or rest a loaded firearm or 
crossbow on the ATV or snowmobile when the ATV or snowmobile is not in motion and 
its engine is off. The amendment also provides that a person who is target shooting and 
not within an enclosed area or passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, trailer or other 
vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle may shoot a firearm or crossbow when the motor 
vehicle, trailer or other type of vehicle is not in motion and the engine is not running. 
F~CALNOTEREQUlllED 
(See attlebtd) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 05/23/17 feac.. 
LD 693 
LR 1434(02) 
An Act To Clarify the Laws Governing Hunting from a Vehicle 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor savings - General Fund 
Minor revenue decrease - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Eliminates Class E crimes. 
A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a result of clarifications to the laws 
prohibiting the discharge of a weapon while in a motor vehicle, ATV, snowmobile or motorboat are anticipated to be 
minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1434(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1