An Act to Require Registration of Motorized Bicycles or Tricycles or Motorized Scooters
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1245
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: LAJOIE, BRIDGEO, CRAVEN, LEE
Amends: 29-A MRSA §351, 29-A MRSA §458-C, 29-A MRSA §1769

Legislative Document
No. 1245
H.P. 793
House of Representatives, March 21, 2023
An Act to Require Registration of Motorized Bicycles or Tricycles 
or Motorized Scooters
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative LAJOIE of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BRIDGEO of Augusta, CRAVEN of Lewiston, LEE of 
Auburn.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §351, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 68, §1, is amended to 
read:
The owner of a vehicle that is operated or remains on a public way is responsible for 
registering the vehicle.  For purposes of this section, "vehicle" includes a motorized bicycle 
or tricycle or motorized scooter.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §458-C is enacted to read:
§458-C.  Motorized bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter
A motorized bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter may be registered in accordance 
with the provisions of this section.
1.  Registration fee.  The fee for a motorized bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter 
registration is the same as the motor vehicle registration fee required under section 501, 
subsection 1. 
2.  Registration plate.  The Secretary of State shall issue a registration certificate and 
a unique motorized bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter registration plate in a 3-number 
and 3-letter combination sequence.
3.  Application for registration.  An application for registration must contain 
information requested by the Secretary of State, including the legal name, residence and 
address of the registrant and the maker, the serial number if listed on the frame, the year of 
manufacture, the type of motor fuel or motive power and a brief description of the 
motorized bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter.  A registrant that is a corporation, trust, 
limited partnership or other similar entity shall provide either a federal taxpayer 
identification number or an identification number issued by the department. An initial 
application for registration must be signed by the registrant or the registrant's legal 
representative. The Secretary of State shall keep the initial application on file until that 
registration is terminated. 
4.  Registration.  The registration must indicate the year and make of the motorized 
bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter. 
5.  Vanity plates.  The Secretary of State may not issue vanity plates for motorized 
bicycles or tricycles or motorized scooters.
6.  Inspection.  A motorized bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter is not subject to 
the inspection requirements of section 1751, except that the Chief of the State Police may 
provide certain inspection requirements for motorized bicycles or tricycles or motorized 
scooters pursuant to section 1769.
7.  Rules.  The Secretary of State may adopt rules to enforce this section. Rules adopted 
pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §1769, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
B.  To designate periods of time during which owners of vehicles must display or 
produce a certificate of inspection; and
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §1769, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
C.  Concerning the inspection of registered special mobile equipment not ordinarily 
operated over the highway.; and
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §1769, sub-§1, ¶D is enacted to read:
D.  Concerning the inspection of motorized bicycles or tricycles or motorized scooters.
SUMMARY
This bill requires a motorized bicycle or tricycle or motorized scooter to be registered 
to operate on a public way.