2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 9: DEALERS › Subchapter 4: DISPLAY › 29-A §1002. Vehicle and equipment dealer plates

§1002. Vehicle and equipment dealer plates
1.  Limitations on use.
A person using a dealer plate may not operate a vehicle owned or controlled by a manufacturer or dealer except for:
A. Purposes directly connected with the business of buying, selling, testing, adjusting, servicing, demonstrating or exchanging the vehicle, including use of that vehicle by a full-time employee to attend schools and seminars designed to assist the employee in the testing, adjusting or servicing of vehicles;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Personal use by a manufacturer or dealer. There may be no more than one dealer plate for the personal use of the manufacturer or dealer and one dealer plate for the personal use of the immediate family of the dealer;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. Use of the vehicle in a funeral or public parade when no charge is made for that use;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. Use by a full-time sales representative, general manager, sales manager or service manager who is on the dealer's payroll but not in the dealer's immediate family or members of that person's household;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
E. Use by customers for not more than 7 days to demonstrate the vehicle; or   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
F. Use by the manufacturer or dealer when the combined weight of the vehicle and the load does not exceed 10,000 pounds unless the vehicle, by design, exceeds 10,000 pounds without a load.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §11 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
1-A.  Limitation on use.
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.
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §12 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2.  Term.
Dealer plates expire on the last day of the month, one year from issuance. The Secretary of State may determine the number and conditions of use of dealer plates.
[PL 1999, c. 470, §13 (AMD).]
3.  Penalty.
A violation of subsection 1 or subsection 1‑A is a traffic infraction for which a minimum penalty of $200 must be adjudged for each infraction. That penalty may not be suspended.
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §13 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
4.  Service vehicle.
A licensed new or used car dealer may attach to that dealer's service vehicles specially designed service vehicle plates. These plates may be used only in direct connection with the new or used car license. A dealer may attach a service vehicle plate only to a vehicle used for the service or repair of vehicles sold or being repaired by the dealer. A dealer may not attach a service vehicle plate to a vehicle that delivers parts to individuals or to businesses that are not owned by the dealer.
A. A dealer is not entitled to more than 3 service vehicle plates at each established place of business.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. The weight limit for a service vehicle, including the combined weight of vehicle and load, may not exceed 24,000 pounds. This weight limit does not apply to service vehicles of equipment dealers.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. The fee for a service vehicle plate is $50 annually per plate.   [PL 1999, c. 470, §14 (AMD).]
D. A vehicle to which a service vehicle plate is attached must have the name of the licensed dealership on the sides of the vehicle in letters at least 3 inches in height and clearly visible. The name of any other business may not be displayed on the sides of the vehicle to which the service vehicle plate is attached.   [PL 2005, c. 433, §14 (NEW); PL 2005, c. 433, §28 (AFF).]
[PL 2021, c. 216, §31 (AMD).]
5.  Equipment dealers.
Unless otherwise prohibited, equipment dealer plates may be attached only for demonstration, emergency and service purposes to the following:
A. Motorized graders;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Power shovels;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. Front-end loaders;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. Backhoes;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
E. Rubber-tired bulldozers;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
F. Large 4-wheel drive trucks and snowplows;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
G. Motor cranes;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
H. Road sweepers;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
I. Sidewalk cleaners;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
J. Log skidders;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
K. Other related heavy equipment;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
L. Farm tractors;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
M. Self-propelled combines;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
N. Harvesters;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
O. Other related farm machinery; or   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
P. Equipment or a motor vehicle taken in trade.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
A specially designed equipment dealer plate may be attached to a motor truck used for service in direct connection with the equipment dealer business. Any motor truck to which a specially designed equipment dealer plate has been attached may not be used for any purpose except in the service of equipment directly connected with the business of the equipment dealer. An equipment dealer business may not be provided with more than 3 specially designed equipment dealer plates.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
6.  Wreckers.
The following provisions apply to the operation of wreckers and to dealer wrecker plates.
A. A vehicle dealer or equipment dealer may operate a wrecker with a dealer wrecker plate if the wrecker is used only in direct connection with the buying, selling, service or repair business of the dealer to which it is issued.   [PL 1995, c. 482, Pt. B, §16 (AMD).]
B. A wrecker on which a dealer wrecker plate is attached may not be used in commercial towing.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. The annual fee for a dealer wrecker plate is $50 per plate for attachment to a wrecker that does not exceed 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and $200 for attachment to a wrecker that does not exceed 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.   [PL 2009, c. 435, §16 (AMD).]
D.   [PL 1999, c. 470, §16 (RP).]
E. The certificate of registration for the dealer wrecker plate must be displayed at the dealer's established place of business.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
F. The Secretary of State shall determine the number of dealer wrecker plates that may be issued to a dealer.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2009, c. 435, §16 (AMD).]
7.  Demonstrating a loaded truck.
A dealer must obtain a written permit from the Secretary of State to demonstrate a loaded truck, truck tractor, trailer, semitrailer or combination of vehicles bearing dealer plates.
A permit may be issued to a nonresident dealer when reciprocity has been established.
A permit may not be issued to allow demonstration for a period longer than 7 days. A permit to demonstrate can not be issued to the same individual or company more than once to cause use for a period of more than 7 days.
A permit may not be issued to a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is being rented or leased.
The processing fee for a permit to demonstrate is $1.
[PL 2003, c. 434, §12 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 434, §37 (AFF).]
8.  Vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
The following provisions apply to the use of dealer plates on vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
A. Except as provided in paragraph B, a truck tractor and trailer or semitrailer combination may be operated with dealer plates if the dealer is licensed as a new vehicle dealer or used vehicle dealer and heavy trailer dealer and if the trailer or semitrailer does not contain a load.   [PL 2003, c. 652, Pt. B, §5 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 652, Pt. B, §8 (AFF).]
B. A dealer must obtain a written permit from the Secretary of State to operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles carrying a load. The permit must be issued in accordance with the following provisions.
(1) The operation of the vehicle or combination of vehicles and load must be in conjunction with the sale or purchase of a motor vehicle, vehicle or equipment by the dealer.
(2) The load must consist of a motor vehicle, trailer or equipment that the dealer is licensed to sell.
(3) The load may not consist of more than one automobile, truck or truck tractor at any time.
(4) The initial fee and renewal fee for a permit issued under this paragraph are $200 each.
(5) A permit expires 90 days from the date of issuance and may be renewed.
(6) A permit must contain the name and address of the licensed dealer, an effective date, an expiration date and any other information required by the Secretary of State.   [PL 2017, c. 229, §18 (AMD).]
[PL 2017, c. 229, §18 (AMD).]
9.  Mobile homes.
A mobile home may not be moved over a public way unless the operator of the vehicle hauling it has in possession a permit issued pursuant to section 2382 or a written certificate from the tax collector of the municipality in which the mobile home is situated on the day of the move, identifying the mobile home and stating that all applicable property taxes, including those for the current tax year, have been paid or that the mobile home is exempt from taxes. The tax year is the period from April 1st to March 31st. For the purposes of this subsection, taxes for the current tax year include taxes not yet committed. If the amount of these taxes can not then be determined, the amount must be presumed to be the same as the previous year's taxes until the current year's taxes are assessed. Notwithstanding Title 36, section 506, the tax collector may accept prepayment of these taxes and shall repay any amount paid in excess of that finally assessed, with interest on that amount as provided in Title 36, section 506‑A. If a mobile home was moved into the municipality after April 1st so that no tax was assessed in the previous year and will be moved from the municipality before the commitment of the current year's taxes but after April 1st, the term "previous year's taxes" means taxes estimated by using the prior year's tax rate.
[PL 1999, c. 117, §1 (AMD).]
10.  Loss of dealer plate.
Upon the loss of a dealer plate, the dealer immediately shall notify the Secretary of State.
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §14 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
11.  Temporary dealer plate.
If a dealer has written authorization from the Secretary of State, a dealer may use a temporary number plate bearing the registration number issued to that dealer.
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §15 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 482, §B16 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 117, §1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 470, §§13-16 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 671, §20 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 434, §§12,13 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 434, §37 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 452, §§Q11-15 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 652, §B5 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 652, §B8 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 433, §14 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 433, §28 (AFF). PL 2009, c. 435, §16 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 229, §18 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 216, §31 (AMD).