Resolve, to Create a Working Group to Study the Safety and Use of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1209
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, HEPLER

Legislative Document
No. 1209
S.P. 498
In Senate, March 20, 2025
Resolve, to Create a Working Group to Study the Safety and Use of 
Small Lightweight Vehicles on Maine's Roads and Highways, the 
Systems and Laws Governing Antique Vehicles and the General 
Improvement of Road Safety
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative HEPLER of Woolwich and
Senators: FARRIN of Somerset, NANGLE of Cumberland, Representative: PLUECKER of 
Warren.
Sec. 1.  Small lightweight vehicle working group.  Resolved:  That the 
Secretary of State shall convene a working group, referred to in this resolve as "the working 
group," to study the potential to allow registration and use by motorists of small lightweight 
vehicles, including mini trucks, on the State's roads and highways, to review the systems 
and laws in place for antique vehicles and to study improving road safety generally.  The 
working group consists of 6 members, as follows:
1.  The Secretary of State or the secretary's designee;
2.  The deputy secretary of state for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles;
3.  One member from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles who is an expert in vehicle safety 
and emissions standards appointed by the Secretary of State;
4.  One member who is a representative of a motor vehicle insurance company 
appointed by the Secretary of State;
5.  One member who is a representative of a motor vehicle inspection business 
appointed by the Secretary of State; and
6.  One member who is a representative of a business that imports foreign cars for sale 
in the State appointed by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 2.  Duties. Resolved:  That the working group shall:
1.  Review and analyze the safety of allowing the use of small lightweight vehicles on 
the State's roads and highways, including but not limited to crash safety, vehicle emissions 
and speed capabilities, and a comparison of the safety of small lightweight vehicles to the 
safety of vehicles already allowed on the State's roads and highways, including antique 
vehicles and motorcycles;
2.  Review and analyze laws in other states that allow the use of small lightweight 
vehicles and how the allowance of these vehicles has affected motor vehicle safety in those 
states;
3.  Review and analyze any reports or studies from other states that have considered 
the subjects of study described in section 1 and how the results of those reports or studies 
could relate to the State's roads and highways and motor vehicle systems;
4.  Consider the most effective way to allow for small lightweight vehicles to be used 
on the State's roads and highways while protecting the safety of those driving them and 
other drivers and consider any restrictions on location, annual mileage or driving speed and 
how to most effectively register those vehicles to indicate such restrictions, including 
through the use of a system similar to those systems used for antique and farm vehicles;
5.  Consider how to implement an inspection system that would ensure that small 
lightweight vehicles are safe to drive on the State's roads and highways and how such a 
system might be similar to or different from the State's current inspection systems for motor 
vehicles and antique vehicles;
6.  Recommend whether to implement the registration, inspection and use of small 
lightweight vehicles on the State's roads and highways and recommend any related 
legislation;
7.  Review the inspection system in place for antique vehicles and the safety of antique 
vehicles generally and when driven on the State's roads and highways and recommend any 
related legislation; and
8.  Study the safety of roads and highways in the State and recommend legislation to 
improve road safety generally.
Sec. 3.  Compensation. Resolved:  That members of the working group may not 
be compensated for their work on the working group.
Sec. 4.  Staff assistance. Resolved:  That the Department of the Secretary of State, 
Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall provide necessary staffing services to the working group 
within existing resources.
Sec. 5.  Report. Resolved:  That the Secretary of State shall provide a report by 
December 3, 2025 containing the findings and recommendations of the working group, 
including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.  
The joint standing committee may introduce legislation for presentation to the Second 
Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature based on the recommendations in the report.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Secretary of State to convene a working group to study the 
potential to allow registration and use by motorists of small lightweight vehicles, including 
mini trucks, on the State's roads and highways, to review the systems and laws in place for 
antique vehicles and to study improving road safety generally. The Secretary of State is 
directed to report by December 3, 2025 to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation, 
which is authorized to introduce legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd 
Legislature.