An Act to Better Protect Animal-drawn Vehicles and Motorists on
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1531
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: GUERIN
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1909-C, 29-A MRSA §1909-D

Legislative Document
No. 1531
S.P. 615
In Senate, April 8, 2025
An Act to Better Protect Animal-drawn Vehicles and Motorists on 
Public Roadways
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator GUERIN of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DAIGLE of Fort Kent, FOSTER of Dexter, GUERRETTE of 
Caribou.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §1909-C, as amended by PL 2023, c. 301, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §1909-D is enacted to read:
§1909-D.  Animal-drawn vehicles
1.  Lights required at all times.  An animal-drawn vehicle may not be operated on a 
public way unless it is equipped with and displays, at all times, the following:
A.  One yellow flashing lamp displaying yellow light that is visible from a distance of 
not less than 1,000 feet and that is mounted in either of the following positions:
(1) On the top-most portion of the rear of the animal-drawn vehicle; or
(2) On the top of the animal-drawn vehicle; and
B. At least one of the following:
(1) A slow-moving vehicle emblem on the rear of the animal-drawn vehicle; or
(2) Microprism reflective tape that is visible from a distance of not less than 500 
feet to the rear of the animal-drawn vehicle when illuminated by the low beams of 
headlights.
2.  Lights required when visibility is limited.  An animal‑drawn vehicle may not be 
operated on a public way unless it is equipped with and displays lights as described in 
subsection 3 during the following times:
A.  The time from sunset to sunrise;
B.  At any other time when, due to insufficient natural light or unfavorable atmospheric 
conditions, persons, vehicles and substantial objects on the public way are not 
discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet ahead of the animal-drawn vehicle; and
C.  At any time when the windshield wipers of a vehicle are required to be in use 
because of precipitation on the windshield.
3.  Light specifications.  For purposes of subsection 2, lights on an animal-drawn 
vehicle when visibility is limited must include:
A.  At least one lamp displaying a white light that is visible from a distance of not less 
than 1,000 feet to the front of the animal-drawn vehicle; and
B.  Two lamps displaying red light that is visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 
feet to the rear of the animal-drawn vehicle or, as an alternative, one lamp displaying 
a red light that is visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear of the 
animal-drawn vehicle and 2 red reflectors that are visible from all distances of 100 feet 
to 600 feet to the rear of the animal-drawn vehicle when illuminated by the low beams 
of headlights.
4.  Exception.  This section does not apply to the operator of animal-drawn agricultural 
equipment that is not transporting any livestock or a person other than the operator, except 
that animal-drawn agricultural equipment may not be operated on a public way unless it is 
equipped with and displays at all times a slow-moving vehicle emblem.  For purposes of 
this subsection, "agricultural equipment" means equipment drawn by the power of an 
animal that is used solely for agricultural purposes.
5.  Rules.  The Commissioner of Public Safety may adopt rules establishing standards 
and specifications for lamps and microprism reflective tape required under this section and 
for the position and mounting of the lamps and microprism reflective tape required by this 
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the current law relating to light and reflective gear requirements for 
animal-drawn vehicles operated on a public way and replaces it with more detailed light 
and gear requirements for the operation of animal-drawn vehicles at all times and additional 
requirements for times when there is limited visibility.  The bill also provides an exception 
for animal-drawn agricultural equipment that is not transporting any livestock or a person 
other than the operator.