An Act Regarding Motor Vehicle Registration Violations
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0644
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: CLOUTIER, SANBORN, BRENNAN, CONNOR, CRAVEN, LOOKNER, MORALES, PLUECKER, WARREN, LIBBY
Amends: 29-A MRSA §351

Legislative Document
No. 644
H.P. 475
House of Representatives, March 3, 2021
An Act Regarding Motor Vehicle Registration Violations
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 1, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Transportation pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CLOUTIER of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator SANBORN of Cumberland and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, CONNOR of Lewiston, CRAVEN of Lewiston, 
LOOKNER of Portland, MORALES of South Portland, PLUECKER of Warren, WARREN of 
Hallowell, Senator: LIBBY of Androscoggin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 112, §6, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Failure to register.  A person who operates a vehicle that is not registered in 
accordance with this Title, fails to register a vehicle or permits a vehicle that is not 
registered to remain on a public way, after a warning under subsection 2 has been issued, 
commits:
A.  A traffic infraction for which a 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 for a first offense.  For each subsequent offense, a fine of not 
more than $500 may be adjudged.
B.  A Class E crime if the vehicle was not registered or the registration has been expired 
for 150 days or more.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 433, §5 and 
affected by §28, is further amended to read:
1-A.  Residents required to register.  An owner of a vehicle who becomes a resident 
of this State shall register that vehicle in this State within 30 days of establishing residency.  
A person who operates or allows a vehicle that is not registered in accordance with this 
subsection to remain on a public way after a warning under subsection 2 has been issued 
commits:
A.  A traffic infraction for which a fine of not more than $50 may be adjudged if more 
than 30 days but less than 150 days has elapsed since establishing residency; or for a 
first offense.  For each subsequent offense, a fine of not more than $500 may be 
adjudged.
B.  A Class E crime if more than 150 days have elapsed since establishing residency.
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 68, §1, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Operating a vehicle with an expired registration.  The owner or operator of a 
vehicle stopped by a law enforcement officer and having a registration that has expired 
within the last 30 days must be issued a warning, rather than a summons, in a form 
designated by the Chief of the State Police. This warning must state that:
A.  Within 2 10 business days, the owner or operator must register the vehicle;
B.  The renewed registration expires on the same month as the previous registration; 
and
C.  The registration fee is the same as for a full year's registration.
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§5, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 671, §4, is 
amended to read:
A.  A traffic infraction for which a forfeiture fine of not more than $50 may be adjudged 
if the registration has been expired for less than 150 days; or for a first offense.  For 
each subsequent offense, a fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged.
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§5, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 671, §4, is 
repealed.
Sec. 6.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
7.  Notification.  The Secretary of State shall create a system to notify individuals with 
registrations that are to expire within the next 30 days.  The notification must include:
A.  The date the vehicle's registration expires; and
B.  The available methods to obtain or renew the registration.
SUMMARY
This bill removes the designation as a Class E crime of the following: operating with 
expired motor vehicle registrations, failure to change out-of-state registrations and 
operating with expired 14-day registration plates.  It requires a warning to be issued for all 
traffic stops for expired registrations.  It requires registrations to be obtained or changed 
within 10 business days of a warning having been issued.  It establishes a $500 fine for 2nd 
and subsequent offenses.  It also requires the Secretary of State to establish a notification 
system to inform individuals of registrations that are going to expire within the next 30 
days.