2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 19: OPERATION › Subchapter 1: RULES OF THE ROAD › 29-A §2063-A. Electric personal assistive mobility devices

§2063-A. Electric personal assistive mobility devices
1.  Limiting use.
The department or a municipality with respect to a way under its jurisdiction may prohibit the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices. Municipalities may impose limits on the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices in accordance with the provisions set forth in Title 30‑A, section 3009.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
2.  Operation.
Electric personal assistive mobility devices may be operated anywhere pedestrians are permitted to travel, including, but not limited to, sidewalks, public ways with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less and bike paths, unless such operation is prohibited by local ordinance or state or federal law. A person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device shall at all times yield the right of way to pedestrians. In addition, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device shall give an audible signal before overtaking or passing a pedestrian.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
3.  Riding to the right.
Electric personal assistive mobility devices may operate on public ways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less only where a sidewalk or bike path is unavailable. During operation on a public way, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device shall ride it as far as practicable to the right side of the way, except when making a left turn, and shall cross public ways using crosswalks where available. This subsection does not apply in a municipality that makes other provisions for the location of traffic by bicycles, motorized scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices. During operation on a public way at nighttime or at other times when motor vehicles are required to display headlights, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device shall wear reflective clothing or a reflective device that is visible at least 200 feet from the rear or shall employ an equivalent illumination device located on the electric personal assistive mobility device.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
4.  Speed.
On sidewalks, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may not exceed speeds of 5 miles per hour. On public ways and bike paths, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may not exceed speeds of 15 miles per hour.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
5.  Hitching rides.
A person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may not attach it to a moving vehicle on a way.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
6.  Lights.
When in use at nighttime or at other times when motor vehicles are required to display headlights, an electric personal assistive mobility device must have:
A. A lit front light that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 200 feet to the front;   [PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
B. A red reflector to the rear that is visible at least 200 feet to the rear; and   [PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
C. At least one reflector strip prominently displayed on the device's tires.   [PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
7.  Stopping.
An electric personal assistive mobility device must be equipped to enable the operator to stop the device within a reasonable distance.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
8.  Violations during 183-day trial period.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW); MRSA T. 29-A §2063-A, sub-§8 (RP).]
9.  Violations.
Beginning 183 days after the effective date of this section, a person who violates this section commits a traffic infraction for which a forfeiture of not more than $10 may be adjudged for the first offense and a forfeiture of not more than $25 may be adjudged for the 2nd or subsequent offense. In addition to a forfeiture that may be adjudged, a person who commits a 3rd or subsequent offense may have that person's electric personal assistive mobility device impounded for no more than 30 days.
[RR 2015, c. 1, §33 (COR).]
10.  Registration.
Electric personal assistive mobility devices are not subject to the requirements of chapter 5.
[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW). RR 2015, c. 1, §33 (COR).