An Act to Implement Recommendations in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Report on Wake Boats
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2284
Amends: 12 MRSA §13001, 12 MRSA §13056, 12 MRSA §13068-A

Legislative Document
No. 2284
H.P. 1472
House of Representatives, April 1, 2024
An Act to Implement Recommendations in the Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Report on Wake Boats
Reported by Representative LANDRY of Farmington for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 33, section 3.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §13001, sub-§27-A is enacted to read:
27-A.  Wakesurfing activity.  "Wakesurfing activity" means an activity that involves 
using a surfboard, wakeboard or similar device while being propelled by a motorboat's 
wake or while on or in a motorboat's wake directly behind that motorboat.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §13056, sub-§14 is enacted to read:
14.  Dissemination of educational materials required; watercraft dealers.  A 
watercraft dealer who sells a motorboat in the State shall provide the purchaser of that 
motorboat with information related to the boater safety and education courses offered by 
the department as well as information related to those operators who are required to 
complete those courses.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§18 is enacted to read:
18.  Operating motorboat for wakesurfing activity; minimum depth and distance 
from shore requirement.  A person may not operate a motorboat engaged in a wakesurfing 
activity in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline.
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
not to exceed $100 may be adjudged.
B.  A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having 
committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period 
commits a Class E crime.
Sec. 4.  Outreach program; report.  The Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife shall:
1.  Develop an outreach program to provide boater safety and education to persons 
engaged in wakesurfing activities in the State; and 
2.  Submit a report focused on wake boats and wakesurfing activities in the State to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and 
wildlife matters no later than February 1, 2027.  The report must include information on 
the outreach program developed pursuant to subsection 1.  The report must also include 
detailed information on enforcement mechanisms and the level of enforcement undertaken, 
as measured by statistics when data are available, including the number of reported 
incidents, the number of complaints and the number of boats checked.  The report may 
include information on enforcement challenges, the department's view on the appropriate 
water depth and distance from the shoreline for users engaged in a wakesurfing activity and 
any recommendations for statutory changes related to these issues.  The committee is 
authorized to report out a bill based on the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.
For the purposes of this section, "wakesurfing activity" has the same meaning as in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 13001, subsection 27-A. 
SUMMARY
This bill is submitted by the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 33 and does the following. 
1.  It defines "wakesurfing activity."
2.  It requires that information related to boater safety and education courses be 
provided at the time of purchase of a motorboat from a dealer in the State.
3.  It prohibits a person from operating a motorboat in less than 15 feet of water or 
within 300 feet of the shoreline when the motorboat is engaged in a wakesurfing activity.
4.  It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop an outreach 
program to provide boater safety and education to persons engaged in wakesurfing 
activities and to submit a report focused on wake boats and wakesurfing activities in the 
State to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland 
fisheries and wildlife matters no later than February 1, 2027.  The committee is authorized 
to report out a bill based on this report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Revised: 03/26/24
LD 2284
LR 3052(01)
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
Fiscal Detail and Notes
An Act to Implement Recommendations in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Report 
on Wake Boats
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Any additional costs to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to implement the provisions of this bill are 
expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require 
additional funding at this time.  The collection of additional fines will increase General Fund or other dedicated 
revenue by minor amounts.
LR3052(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1