An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Motor Vehicles
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2072
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: NANGLE, PARRY, FARRIN, CRAFTS, O'CONNELL
Amends: 29-A MRSA §101, 29-A MRSA §457, 29-A MRSA §461, 29-A MRSA §468, 29-A MRSA §501, 29-A MRSA §505, 29-A MRSA §523, 29-A MRSA §651-B, 29-A MRSA §652, 29-A MRSA §657, 29-A MRSA §903, 29-A MRSA §953-A, 29-A MRSA §956, 29-A MRSA §1002, 29-A MRSA §1052, 29-A MRSA §1108, 29-A MRSA §1113, 29-A MRSA §1253, 29-A MRSA §1301, 29-A MRSA §1353, 29-A MRSA §1354, 29-A MRSA §1410, 29-A MRSA §1754, 29-A MRSA §2310

Legislative Document
No. 2072
S.P. 873
In Senate, December 22, 2023
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Motor Vehicles
Submitted by the Secretary of State pursuant to Joint Rule 203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 20, 2023.  Referred to the Committee 
on Transportation pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator NANGLE of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative PARRY of Arundel and
Senator: FARRIN of Somerset, Representatives: CRAFTS of Newcastle, O'CONNELL of 
Brewer.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
A.  More than 25 35 years old or is more than 25 years old and was registered as an 
antique vehicle prior to January 2025;
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§4, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
A.  More than 25 35 years old or is more than 25 years old and was registered as an 
antique motorcycle prior to January 2025;
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §457, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
A.  Is over 25 years old or in the case of an antique auto or antique motorcycle, is more 
than 35 years old or is more than 25 years old and was registered as an antique auto or 
antique motorcycle prior to January 2025;
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §461, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 352, §1, is further 
amended by repealing the first blocked paragraph.
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §468, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 271, §6, is 
amended to read:
1-A.  Sponsor affiliation.  A sponsor who registers with the Secretary of State after 
June 30, 2025 must be affiliated with a state department that is responsible for oversight of 
the collection and distribution of the contributions collected under subsection 2, paragraph 
B and not returned pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph C, which, except as provided by 
subsection 2, must be deposited in an other special revenue account to provide essential 
services to the public. To obtain preliminary approval in subsection 1‑B, the sponsor shall 
provide documentation to the Secretary of State identifying the state department providing 
oversight and that department shall submit in writing on departmental letterhead to the 
Secretary of State that it agrees to oversee the collection and distribution of the 
contributions.
Sec. 6.  29-A MRSA §501, sub-§7, ¶G, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 556, §4, is 
repealed.
Sec. 7.  29-A MRSA §505, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
1.  Definition.  For purposes of this section, "farm truck" means a truck, van or sport 
utility vehicle equipped with axles other than dolly axles under section 1902, subsection 4, 
or a farm truck towing a trailer or semitrailer when that truck is used primarily for 
transportation of agricultural commodities, supplies or equipment for a farm owned, 
operated or occupied by the registrant.  "Farm truck" does not include a truck used for the 
retail delivery of milk or used on a substantially daily delivery schedule on established 
routes.
Sec. 8.  29-A MRSA §523, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
1.  Amputee or blind veterans.  On application to the Secretary of State for 
registration of any motor vehicle of any amputee or blind veteran who has received an 
automobile from the United States Government under authority of 38 United States Code, 
Sections 3901, et seq. or any amputee or blind veteran receiving compensation from the 
United States Department of Veterans Administration Affairs or any branch of the United 
States Armed Forces for service-connected disability who has a specially designed motor 
vehicle, that veteran is entitled to have that automobile duly registered and a registration 
certificate delivered to the veteran without the requirement of the payment of any fee.
Any veteran who has lost both legs or the use of both legs and who has registered a motor 
vehicle without the payment of a fee as provided in this section upon certification by the 
United States Department of Veterans Administration Affairs or appropriate branch of the 
United States Armed Forces must may upon request be issued special designating plates. 
Those designating plates must be issued by the Secretary of State and must bear the words 
"Disabled Veteran."
Sec. 9.  29-A MRSA §523, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 43, §1, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Disabled veterans; special free license plates.  The Secretary of State, on 
application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 
1482 or upon evidence of exemption from excise tax under Title 36, section 1483, 
subsection 12, shall issue, with no annual registration fee, a registration certificate and set 
of upon request special designating plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates 
for a vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than 26,000 pounds to any 100% 
disabled veteran when that application is accompanied by certification from the United 
States Department of Veterans Administration Affairs or any branch of the United States 
Armed Forces as to the veteran's permanent disability and receipt of 100% service-
connected benefits.  A Upon request a disability placard is may be issued in addition to the 
disabled veteran registration plate at no fee. The Secretary of State may issue a registration 
certificate and special designating plates for more than one vehicle owned by a veteran 
eligible under this subsection.
These special designating plates must bear the words "Disabled Veteran," which indicate 
that the vehicle is owned by a disabled veteran.
Sec. 10.  29-A MRSA §651-B, as amended by PL 2001, c. 671, §11, is further 
amended to read:
§651-B.  Certificate of title permissible
A semitrailer, regardless of model year, no more than 25 years old with an unladen 
weight in excess of 3,000 pounds that is used for interstate or intrastate transportation may 
be titled in this State even if the semitrailer is registered in another jurisdiction.
Sec. 11.  29-A MRSA §652, sub-§13, as amended by PL 2023, c. 402, §1, is further 
amended to read:
13.   Vehicles more than 25 years old.  Vehicles more than 25 years old, except when 
the Secretary of State determines it is in the best interest of the State and the applicant to 
issue a warranty title as prescribed under section 651, subsection 3 to a motor vehicle more 
than 25 years old;
Sec. 12.  29-A MRSA §657, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1995, c. 645, Pt. A, §8 and 
affected by §18, is further amended to read:
7.  Mailing of certificate.  The Secretary of State shall mail a certificate of title or 
certificate of salvage to the owner named on the certificate.  The Secretary of State shall 
also mail a certificate of lien, certificate of title or certificate of salvage to the first 
lienholder named on the certificate. If the first lienholder named on the certificate of title 
participates in the electronic lien titling program as provided by section 651-A, the first 
lienholder may request that the Secretary of State print a paper certificate of title or 
certificate of salvage and mail it to an alternate address.
Sec. 13.  29-A MRSA §903, sub-§1, ¶K, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
K.  Failure to appear at a hearing required by the Secretary of State or, failure to appear 
in court to answer a summons or failure to pay fines or fees for a violation of this 
chapter; or
Sec. 14.  29-A MRSA §953-A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 211, §1, is amended to 
read:
§953-A.  Document fees
A dealer selling a new or used motor vehicle shall post on the a vehicle the dealer is 
selling any document preparation fee that will be added to the vehicle's sale price.  A 
violation of this section is prima facie evidence of an unfair trade practice and is a violation 
of Title 5, section 207.
Sec. 15.  29-A MRSA §956, sub-§1, ¶H, as amended by PL 1997, c. 776, §31, is 
further amended to read:
H.  On a used motor vehicle offered for sale, the written vehicle history statement 
required by Title 10, section 1475; and
Sec. 16.  29-A MRSA §956, sub-§1, ¶I, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 776, §32, is 
amended to read:
I.  Copies of titles, transfers and other documents used for titling purposes.; and
Sec. 17.  29-A MRSA §956, sub-§1, ¶J is enacted to read:
J.  A copy of the purchase and sale agreement for each transaction conducted.
Sec. 18.  29-A MRSA §1002, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §12 
and affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
1-A.  Limitation on use.  The following provisions govern limitations on use.
A.  A person using a dealer plate may not permit a vehicle owned or controlled by a 
manufacturer or dealer to be operated except for the purposes authorized under 
subsection 1.
B.  Unless otherwise authorized by law, a dealer plate may only be used on the type of 
vehicle for which the plate is issued.
Sec. 19.  29-A MRSA §1002, sub-§5, ¶F, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
F.  Large 4-wheel drive trucks and snowplows that are manufactured to be equipment;
Sec. 20.  29-A MRSA §1052, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is repealed.
Sec. 21.  29-A MRSA §1108, sub-§1, ¶J, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
J.  Failure to appear at a hearing required by the Secretary of State or, failure to appear 
in court pursuant to a lawful summons or failure to pay fines or fees for a violation of 
this chapter.
Sec. 22.  29-A MRSA §1113, sub-§5, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 660, §4, is 
amended to read:
A.  A person who is not a recycler may not operate a business that deals in the purchase 
or sale of catalytic converters that have been removed from motor vehicles or the 
deconstruction or disposal of catalytic converters that have been removed from motor 
vehicles.
A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime.
Sec. 23.  29-A MRSA §1113, sub-§15, ¶E is enacted to read:
E.  A catalytic converter seized from a recycler that is not properly marked in 
accordance with this section is contraband and automatically forfeited.  The catalytic 
converter must be automatically forfeited to the Secretary of State without the 
completion of a libel process.
Sec. 24.  29-A MRSA §1253, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8.  Query of drug and alcohol clearinghouse.  Beginning no later than November 18, 
2024, the Secretary of State shall query the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's 
drug and alcohol clearinghouse prior to the issuance, upgrade, renewal or transfer of a 
commercial driver's license or a commercial learner's permit and shall deny the transaction 
and initiate downgrade procedures if the query results indicate the driver is prohibited from 
operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Sec. 25.  29-A MRSA §1301, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2017, c. 27, §2 and 
affected by §10, is further amended to read:
2-A.  Legal presence requirement.  The Secretary of State may not issue a license to 
an applicant unless the applicant presents to the Secretary of State valid documentary 
evidence of legal presence in the United States. Valid documentary evidence of legal 
presence for a United States citizen may include a United States passport that has been 
expired for less than 2 years.
Sec. 26.  29-A MRSA §1353, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 352, §3, is amended 
to read:
1.  Instructor fee.  The motorcycle rider education instructor license fee is $100 $200 
and expires one year 2 years from the date of issuance.  The renewal fee is $100 $200.
Sec. 27.  29-A MRSA §1354, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 505, §15 and 
affected by §22, is amended to read:
A.  The Secretary of State may not issue a license for a driver education school until 
the applicant school owner has filed with the Secretary of State a certificate showing 
that the applicant each vehicle used during driving instruction is covered by an 
automobile bodily injury and property damage liability insurance policy insuring 
against any legal liability in accordance with the terms of the policy for personal injury 
or death of any one person in the sum of $100,000 and for any number of persons in 
the sum of $300,000 and against property damage in the sum of $100,000 arising from 
the operation of any each vehicle being used in a commercial driver education school.  
In lieu of that insurance, the applicant may file with the Secretary of State a bond or 
bonds issued by a surety company authorized to do business in the State in the amount 
of at least $100,000 on account of injury to or death of one person and subject to such 
limits as respects injury to or death of one person, of at least $300,000 on account of 
any one accident resulting in injury to or death of more than one person and of at least 
$100,000 for damage to property of others.  Failure to comply with this subsection is 
grounds for suspension or revocation of a driver education school license.
Sec. 28.  29-A MRSA §1410, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2017, c. 27, §6 and 
affected by §10, is further amended to read:
8.  Legal presence requirement.  The Secretary of State may not issue a nondriver 
identification card to an applicant unless the applicant presents to the Secretary of State 
valid documentary evidence of legal presence in the United States. Valid documentary 
evidence of legal presence for a United States citizen may include a United States passport 
that has been expired for less than 2 years.
Sec. 29.  29-A MRSA §1754, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 2001, c. 180, §1, is 
further amended to read:
D.  If operated by a dealer or holder of a transporter registration certificate, is operated 
only from a point of purchase to the licensee's place of business.  For the purposes of 
this paragraph, "point of purchase" includes, but is not limited to, an auto automobile 
auction, distribution center or another licensed vehicle dealer; or
Sec. 30.  29-A MRSA §1754, sub-§1, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 180, §2, is 
amended to read:
E.  Is owned by the dealer or holder of the transporter registration certificate and is 
operated by the owner or the owner's employee for the sole purpose of traveling to an 
inspection facility.; or
Sec. 31.  29-A MRSA §1754, sub-§1, ¶F is enacted to read:
F.  Is owned by the dealer or holder of the transporter registration certificate and is 
operated by the owner or the owner's employee for the sole purpose of moving an 
uninspected motor vehicle to an automobile auction or another licensed vehicle dealer.
Sec. 32.  29-A MRSA §2310, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 484, §2, is amended 
to read:
2.  Multifunction school activity bus.  The bus is a multifunction school activity bus 
that is operated by a driver with a school bus operator endorsement pursuant to section 
2303 that is appropriate for the number of passengers and gross vehicle weight rating.  A 
driver of a multifunction school activity bus must comply with all applicable school bus 
operator requirements of this Title who is at least 21 years of age and who has held a driver's 
license for at least 2 years.
SUMMARY
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing motor vehicles. It:
1. Amends the definition of "antique auto" to include an automobile that is more than 
years old or that is more than 25 years old and was registered as an antique vehicle 
before January 2025;
2. Amends the definition of "antique motorcycle" to include a motorcycle that is more 
than 35 years old or that is more than 25 years old and was registered as an antique 
motorcycle before January 2025;
3. Eliminates the provision that allows a person during a nonplate issue year to reserve 
an unexpired registration plate number for more than 6 months;
4. Clarifies that specialty plate sponsors registering with the Secretary of State after the 
specialty plate moratorium must be affiliated with a state department;
5. Eliminates the authority of the Secretary of State to issue unassigned temporary 
registration permits to licensed vehicle auction businesses;
6. Clarifies that vans and sport utility vehicles may be registered as farm trucks;
7. Clarifies that a set of disabled veteran plates are optional for a veteran who has lost 
both legs or the use of both legs when the veteran receives a registration fee and excise tax 
exemption;
8. Clarifies that the Secretary of State may issue a registration certificate and special 
designating plates for more than one vehicle owned by certain disabled veterans;
9. Allows for the issuance of titles for semitrailers no more than 25 years old;
10. Requires titles issued to motor vehicles over 25 years old to be warranty titles in 
accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 651, subsection 3;
11. Allows a first lienholder participating in the electronic lien titling program to 
request that a paper certificate of title or salvage be printed and mailed to an alternate 
address;
12. Requires that all fines and fees related to dealer licensing be paid for a dealer license 
to be issued or retained;
13. Requires dealers to post their document preparation fees on all vehicles;
14. Requires dealers to maintain a copy of any purchase and sale agreements for a 
minimum of 5 years;
15. Clarifies that specific dealer plates may be used only for that type of vehicle;
16. Clarifies the type of large 4-wheel drive trucks that may be operated with an 
equipment dealer plate;
17. Eliminates the requirement that records of vehicles sold by vehicle auction 
businesses be submitted to the Secretary of State;
18. Requires that all fines and fees related to dealer and recycler licensing be paid for 
a recycler license to be issued or retained;
19. Prohibits a person who is not a recycler from operating a business that deals in the 
sale of catalytic converters that have been removed from motor vehicles;
20. Clarifies that unmarked catalytic converters seized from a licensed recycler are 
contraband and must be automatically forfeited to the Secretary of State without the 
requirement of the libel process;
21. Requires the Secretary of State to use the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration's drug and alcohol clearinghouse when issuing, upgrading, renewing or 
transferring a commercial driver's license or learner's permit;
22. Allows the Secretary of State to accept a recently expired United States passport as 
proof of legal presence for United States citizens when issuing a driver's license;
23. Increases the length of time a motorcycle rider education instructor license is valid;
24. Allows the Secretary of State to accept a recently expired United States passport as 
proof of legal presence for United States citizens when issuing a nondriver identification 
card;
25. Clarifies the responsibilities of a driver education school to ensure adequate vehicle 
insurance prior to use during driver education instruction;
26. Clarifies that a dealer may transport an uninspected vehicle to an automobile 
auction or another licensed vehicle dealer as long as it is safe to operate on a public way; 
and
27. Eliminates the requirement for a school bus operator endorsement for drivers of a 
multifunction school activity bus and provides that the driver must be at least 21 years of 
age and have held a driver's license for at least 2 years.