2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 12: CONSERVATION › Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE › Subpart 3: LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GENERAL OFFENSES › Chapter 907: ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES › Subchapter 2: EVIDENCE › 12 §10501. Admissibility of department records and prima facie evidence

§10501. Admissibility of department records and prima facie evidence
1.  Certificate; admissible evidence.
A certificate, signed by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, stating what the records of the department show on any given matter is admissible in evidence in all courts of this State to prove what the records of the department are on that matter. Upon the testimony of a law enforcement officer that the certificate and records were obtained by that officer from the department, the court shall admit that certificate and those records as evidence without any further foundation or testimony.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
2.  Certificate prima facie evidence person not holder of license, permit, registration or certificate of number.
A certificate, signed by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, stating that the records of the department do not show that a particular person on a stated date held a license, permit, registration or certificate of number issued under this Part is admissible in evidence in all courts of this State and is prima facie evidence that the particular person named in the certificate did not hold a license, permit, registration or certificate of number as specified in the certificate on the date specified in the certificate.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
3.  Certificate prima facie evidence of license, permit, registration or certificate of number revocation.
A certificate, signed by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, stating that the records of the department show that a particular person's license, permit, registration or certificate of number issued under this Part was revoked or suspended on a particular stated date is admissible in evidence in all courts of this State and is prima facie evidence that the particular person's license, permit, registration or certificate of number as specified in the certificate was revoked or suspended on the date stated.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
4.  Use of snowmobile accident reports.
Accident reports made by investigating officers are for the purpose of statistical analysis and accident prevention and are not admissible in evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident, but any investigating agency may disclose, upon the request of any person, the date, time and location of the accident and the names and addresses of drivers, owners, injured persons, witnesses and the investigating officer. The investigating agency may upon written request furnish a photocopy of any report at the expense of the person making the request.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
5.  Certificate of number for motorboat.
If the operator of a motorboat requiring a certificate of number under section 13056, subsection 2 fails to produce a current certificate of number for the motorboat that person is operating within a reasonable time after demand of a law enforcement officer authorized to enforce the law, it is prima facie evidence that the motorboat is being operated without a current certificate of number.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
6.  Failure to produce license.
A person's failure to produce a license within a reasonable time when requested by any authorized person is prima facie evidence that the person does not possess that license.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
7.  Possession of hunting equipment without license.
The possession of any hunting equipment in the fields, forests or on the waters or ice within the territorial limits of the State by any person who does not possess the required hunting license duly issued to that person, covering the period of time within which the hunting equipment is found in that person's possession, is prima facie evidence of hunting in violation of law, unless the person furnishes satisfactory evidence of the issuance of a hunting license.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
8.  Possession of fishing tackle without license.
The possession of any fishing tackle in the fields, forests or on the waters or ice within the territorial limits of the State by any person who does not possess the required fishing license duly issued to that person, covering the period of time within which the fishing tackle is found in that person's possession, is prima facie evidence of fishing in violation of law, unless the person furnishes satisfactory evidence of the issuance of a fishing license.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
9.  Possession of hunting equipment on Sunday.
Possession of hunting equipment in the fields or forests or on the waters or ice in the State on Sunday is prima facie evidence of a violation of section 11205, unless:
A. The hunting equipment is carried, securely wrapped, in a complete cover;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
B. The hunting equipment is fastened in a case; or   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
C. The hunting equipment is carried in at least 2 separate pieces in such a manner that it cannot be fired, unless the separate pieces are joined together. For the purpose of this subsection, a clip, magazine or cylinder of a firearm may not be considered a piece of the hunting equipment. Archery equipment must be kept in a case or cover if broadheads or field points are kept attached to the arrows or bolts.   [PL 2023, c. 239, §8 (AMD).]
[PL 2023, c. 239, §8 (AMD).]
10.  Possession of firearm on public paved way.
[PL 2003, c. 511, §2 (RP); PL 2003, c. 511, §3 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 614, §§9, 10 (AFF).]
11.  Failure to give notice of snowmobile accident.
Failure of a person who is required to give notice of a snowmobile accident under sections 13069‑C and 13106‑B to give that notice to the available law enforcement officer nearest to the place where the accident occurred is prima facie evidence that the accident was not reported.
[PL 2005, c. 436, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 511, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 511, §3 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §§9,10 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B57 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 436, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 239, §8 (AMD).