Laws & Rules

ATV & Snowmobile laws book cover

On this page:

  • ATV Registration Fees and Age Requirements
  • All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Laws and Rules
  • Summary of Penalties for ATV

ATV Registration Fees and Historic period Requirements

Registration Fees

Residents Nonresidents Antique ATV
$70*
Prior to registration, sales or use taxes are due.
Season: $115*
7-Solar day: $100*
$45
Residents & Nonresidents

The season registration for an ATV is valid for 1 yr, commencing on July 1st of each year.
* Plus agent fee

Historic period Requirements**

  • A person nether 10 years of age may non operate an ATV.
  • A person 10 years of age or older only under 16 years of historic period may not operate an ATV unless that person has successfully completed a training course approved past the department and is accompanied by an adult. Proof of having completed a training course must be presented for inspection upon request of a law enforcement officeholder.
  • A person under 16 years of age may not cross a public way maintained for travel unless the crossing is in accordance with section 13157-A, subsection 6, paragraph A and the person satisfies the requirements of 13154-A.

** Note: The requirements listed higher up donot apply to the performance of an ATV on:

  1. The land on which the operator is domiciled;
  2. Land owned or leased past the operator'south parent or guardian; or
  3. A safety training site approved past the section

Resident means a citizen of the United States or a person who is not a citizen of the United states of america who has been domiciled in the State for one year who:

  • If registered to vote, is registered in this land.
  • If licensed to drive a motor vehicle, has made awarding for or possesses a motor vehicle operator's license issued by the country.
  • If owning a motor vehicle located within the state, has registered each such vehicle in the state.
  • Is in compliance with the state income tax laws.
  • Is a total-time student at a Maine college or university who satisfies to a higher place requirements.

Nonresident means a person who does not fall inside the definition of a resident.

FREE ATV WEEKEND: AUGUST 19-21, 2022

During Free ATV weekend a nonresident may operate in Maine on an ATV that is non registered in Maine if the nonresident's ATV has a valid registration from another state or Canadian province.

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All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Laws and Rules

Title 12, Affiliate 933

§13001 – Definitions.

Every bit used in this subpart, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

Accompanied by developed."Accompanied past an adult" means, with respect to operation of an ATV, inside visual and voice contact and under the constructive control of a kid's parent or guardian or another person 21 years of historic period or older.

All-terrain vehicle or ATV. "All-terrain vehicle" or "ATV" means a motor- driven, off-route, recreational vehicle capable of cross-land travel on land, snow, water ice, marsh, swampland or other natural terrain. "All-terrain vehicle" or "ATV" includes, but is non limited to, a multitrack, multiwheel or low-pressure tire vehicle; a motorcycle or related 2-cycle, iii-wheel or belt-driven vehicle; an amphibious motorcar; or other ways of transportation deriving motive power from a source other than muscle or wind. For purposes of this subpart, "all-terrain vehicle" or "ATV" does not include an car equally defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection vii; an electric personal assistive mobility device as defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 22-A; a truck as defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 88; a snowmobile; an airmobile; a construction or logging vehicle used in performance of its common functions; a subcontract vehicle used for farming purposes; or a vehicle used exclusively for emergency, military, law enforcement or burn control purposes.

Alpine tundra. "Alpine tundra" means loftier elevation, treeless areas beyond the timberline that are dominated by low herbaceous or shrubby vegetation and, specifically, areas that are designated as alpine tundra by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry by rule pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2.

New definition: Antiquarian all-terrain vehicle or antique ATV. "Antiquarian all-terrain vehicle" or "antique ATV" means an all-terrain vehicle more than 25 years quondam that is substantially maintained in its original or restored condition. Enforcement Fund established under section 10258.

Domicile. "Domicile" means any edifice used every bit a permanent residence or place of home.

Freshwater marshes and bogs. "Freshwater marshes and bogs" means naturally occurring open areas with saturated soils or peat, often associated with standing h2o and dominated by low herbaceous vegetation, grasses, weeds and shrubs and including wetlands, every bit shown on the Freshwater Wetlands Map Series, Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal Resources, Maine Geological Survey, or zoned as a Wetland Protection Subdistrict, P-WL, by the Maine State Use Planning Commission.

Operate. "To operate," in all its moods and tenses, when it refers to an ATV, ways to use an ATV in whatsoever style inside the jurisdiction of the Land, whether or non the vehicle is moving.

Operator. "Operator" means the person who is in control or in accuse of an ATV while it is in use.

Updated definition in 2021: Owner. "Owner" means: For the purposes of registration of an ATV, a person belongings title to an ATV or having equitable interest in an ATV that entitles the person to possession of the ATV.

Private Way Equally defined by Title 23, section 1903-10-A,. "Private Way" means a individual road, driveway, or public easement. "Public easement" means an easement held by a municipality for purposes of public access to land or water not otherwise connected to a public way, and includes all rights enjoyed by the public with respect to private ways dedicated to the public.

Protective headgear. "Protective headgear" ways a helmet that conforms with minimum standards of structure and performance as prescribed past the American National Standards Institute specification Z90.i or past the Federal Motor Vehicle Rubber Standard No. 218.

Public Style, Equally defined by Championship 23, section 1903-11. "Public Way" means whatsoever road capable of carrying motor vehicles, including, but non limited to, any state highway, municipal route, canton road, unincorporated territory road, or other road dedicated to the public.

§13002 – Collection past Commissioner.

The commissioner or agents of the commissioner shall act on behalf of the Land Tax Assessor to collect the use revenue enhancement due under Championship 36, chapters 211 to 225 in respect to any ATV for which an original registration is required under this Title at the time and identify of registration of that ATV.

All taxes collected pursuant to this section must be transmitted forthwith to the Treasurer of State and credited to the General Fund as undedicated revenue. The Legislature shall advisable to the department in each fiscal twelvemonth an amount equal to the authoritative costs incurred by the department in collecting revenue under this section. Those administrative costs must be verified by the Section of Administrative and Financial Services.

For purposes of this department, "original registration" means whatever registration other than a renewal of registration by the same possessor.

§13003 – Payment of sales or use taxation prerequisite to registration.

2. Registration of ATV. Prior to registering an ATV, an agent of the commissioner shall collect sales or use tax due. Sales or use revenue enhancement is due unless:

A. The person registering the ATV is not a resident of this State;

B. The registration is a renewal registration by the same owner;

C. The applicant possesses a dealer's document showing that the sales revenue enhancement was collected by the dealer. The State Tax Assessor shall prescribe the form of a dealer's certificate. D. The ATV is otherwise exempt from sales or utilize tax under Title 36, section 1760.

§13004 – Drove by Country Taxation Assessor. This section and sections 13002, 13003 and 13005 must be construed every bit cumulative of other methods prescribed in Championship 36 for the collection of the sales or utilize tax. These sections do not preclude the Land Tax Assessor's collecting the tax due in respect to any watercraft, ATV or snowmobile in accord with such other methods every bit are prescribed in Title 36 for the collection of the sales or use tax.

§13005 – Certificates to be forwarded to Land Taxation Assessor. An amanuensis of the commissioner shall promptly forward all certificates submitted in accordance with section 13003 to the commissioner. The commissioner shall transmit all such certificates to the State Tax Assessor.

§13006 – Impoundment of ATVs. When a police enforcement officer issues a summons for a violation under affiliate 939, the officer may impound the ATV operated by the person who receives the summons if, in the judgment of the officer, based on actual previous offenses past the operator or other considerations, the operator will continue to operate the ATV in violation of affiliate 939 and that operation may be a hazard to the safety of persons or property.

The operator or owner of an ATV impounded under this section may reclaim the ATV at any time subsequent to 24 hours after the issuance of the summons upon payment of the costs of impoundment to the enforcement agency impounding the ATV.

§13107 – Unlawfully operating vehicle on snowmobile trail. A person may not operate whatever 4-bicycle bulldoze vehicle, dune buggy, all-terrain vehicle, motorbike, or any other motor vehicle, other than a snowmobile and appurtenant equipment, on snowmobile trails that are financed in whole or in part with funds from the Snowmobile Trail Fund, unless that use has been authorized past the landowner or the landowner'due south agent, or unless the use is necessitated by an emergency involving prophylactic or persons or property.

Exception: An ATV with tracks, registered as a snowmobile, may be operated on snowmobile trails.

Title 12, Chapter 939

§13152 – License and training.

i. License. An operator's license is not required for the operation of an ATV, except every bit required past Title 29-A.

2. Training. A person 10 years of historic period or older but under 16 years of age must successfully complete a training program, with that person's parent or guardian approved by the department prior to operating an ATV except on:

A. Land on which that person is domiciled;

B. Land owned or leased past that person's parent or guardian; or

C. A safe training site canonical past the department.

A person under 16 years of age must attend the grooming program with that person's parent or guardian. The training program must include education on the safe functioning of ATVs, the laws pertaining to ATVs, the upshot of ATVs on the environment and ways to minimize that effect, courtesy to landowners and other recreationists and landowners and other materials as determined by the department.

§13153 – Rule violations; ATVs.

The following penalties apply to violations of rules regulating ATVs.

i. Civil. All the same section 10650, a person who violates a rule regulating ATVs commits a ceremonious violation for which a fine of non less than $100 nor more than $500 may exist adjudged.

ii. Criminal. A person who violates a dominion regulating ATVs after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous five-year period commits a Class Eastward criminal offense.

§13154-A – Age restrictions.

1. Minimum age. Except as provided in subsection 5, a person under 10 years of historic period may not operate an ATV.

two. Permitting child less than 10 years to operate ATV. Except equally provided in subsection 6, a person may not permit a child under ten years of age to operate an ATV.

3. Unlawfully operating ATV by person ages 10 to 16 years of age. Except as provided in subsection 6, a person ten years of age or older but under 16 years of age may non operate an ATV unless that person has successfully completed a preparation course canonical by the department pursuant to section 13152 and is accompanied by an adult. Proof of having completed a training course must be presented for inspection upon request of a law enforcement officer.

4. Person under 16 years of historic period crossing public way. A person under 16 years of age may not cross a public way maintained for travel unless the crossing is in accord with section 13157-A, subsection 6, paragraph A and the person satisfies the requirements of subsection 3.

5. Permitting an unaccompanied person under 16 years of age to operate an ATV. Except as provided in subsection half dozen, a person may non permit an unaccompanied person ten years of age or older but under 16 years of historic period to operate an ATV.

vi. Exceptions for certain belongings. This section does not apply to the operation of an ATV on:

A. The land on which the operator is domiciled;

B. Land endemic or leased by the operator's parent or guardian; or

C. A safety training site approved by the department.

§13155 – Registration.

1-A. Operating unregistered ATV. Except as provided in paragraph A and subsection 5-B, a person may not operate an ATV that is non registered in accordance with subsection 3.

A. The post-obit exceptions apply.

(1) Registration is not required for an ATV operated on land that the ATV operator owns or leases, regardless of where that ATV operator is domiciled, as long as the ATV is non operated elsewhere inside the jurisdiction of the Country.

(2) Registration is not required for an ATV operated by a commercial ski expanse for the purpose of packing snow or for rescue operations on the commercial ski surface area, unless the ATV is required to cantankerous a public mode during that operation.

(3) An ATV owned and operated in the State by the Federal Government, the Land or a political subdivision of the State is exempt from registration fees simply must be registered and is required to display registration numbers.

(4) An ATV registration for the farm use specified in Title 29-A, department 501, subsection viii, paragraph E is not required for a vehicle registered with the Secretarial assistant of State nether Title 29-A, section 501, subsection 8.

(v) An ATV registered in another state or in a Canadian province may be operated without being registered pursuant to this section at a special event organized to occur in this State if the special event organizer submits a request in writing to the commissioner 60 days prior to the special result and provides the commissioner with a map of the trails to be used during the special event and the commissioner approves the request.

(vi) An ATV owned or under the control of an ATV manufacturer may be operated without a Maine registration at a sit-in effect organized to occur in this State if such operation is approved by the commissioner. An ATV manufacturer or a representative of an ATV manufacturer must submit a asking in writing to the commissioner at least 60 days prior to the demonstration event and shall include a clarification and the location of the event.

(7) The Commissioner may annually institute 1 three-consective-24-hour interval period, 2 days of which are weekend days, during which a non-resident may operate an ATV that is not registered in Maine, if the not-resident's ATV has a valid registration from some other country or a Canadian province.

ii. Reciprocity. Reciprocity was repealed in 2004 so there are no longer reciprocal privileges for ATV registrations. A Maine ATV registration is required for nonresidents to operate an ATV in the State of Maine.

3. Updated constabulary in 2021: Application and issuance. The commissioner, or an agent designated past the commissioner, may register and assign a registration number to an ATV upon application and payment of a fee by the owner. Thursday commissioner shall accuse a fee of $1 in addition to the fee for each registration issued by an employee of the department. The registration number in the form of stickers issued by the commis sioner must be conspicuously displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. An annual registration is valid for one year commencing July 1st of each year, except that any registration issued prior to July 1st merely later May 1st is valid from the date of issuance until June 30th of the following year. A registration agent shall provide to the person who requests to register an oversized ATV under subsection 5-B a written grade developed and provided past the department explaining the size and weight restrictions for registering that ATV, including whether it qualifies for registration, and explaining the provisions of section 13157-A regarding the performance of oversized ATVs on designated country-canonical ATV trails. The section shall develop a class for employ by registration agents under this subsection.

4. Form of registration. An ATV registration must exist in such form every bit the commissioner may decide.

5. Fees. Meet Registration Fees.

five-B. New law in 2021: Oversized ATV; exception. A person may non register an oversized ATV except as provided in this subsection. A resident who has registered an oversized ATV prior to January 1, 2022 may continue to register that oversized ATV upon payment of the fee specifie in subsection v, paragraph A, and upon a transfer of buying of that registered oversized ATV, the new Maine resident owner may too register that oversized ATV upon payment of the fee specified in subsection 5, paragraph A. Registration is not required for an oversized ATV operated past a person on the land of another if written permission is received from the landowner or lessee of the state and the person is engaged solely in a business organisation activity, other than a concern activity involving recreational utilize of the oversized ATV. For purposes of this subsection, "oversized ATV" means an ATV that is wider than 65 inches or weighs more than 2,000 pounds according to the manufacturer's specifications.

5-C. New law in 2021: Antique ATV. A person who owns an antiquarian ATV may annals that ATV under this subsection equally an antique ATV. Still subsection 5, the fee for an antique ATV registration is $45. An antique ATV registration is valid until the ownership of the ATV is transferred to some other person. Upon the transfer of buying, the new owner may reregister that ATV as an antique ATV by paying the $45 antique ATV registration fee. However section 10206, all registration fees for antique ATVs must be deposited in the General Fund.

6. Duplicate registration certificate. The holder of a registration certificate issued nether this section may obtain a duplicate registration from the commissioner upon application and payment of a duplicate fee of $1. If a sticker has been misplaced, a new sticker and a new registration matching the new sticker number must be obtained at a fee of $1 each. Amanuensis fee also applies to all duplicates.

vii. Transfer of ownership, discontinuance of employ. A transfer of ownership or discontinuance of use of an all-terrain vehicle is subject to this subsection.

A. Whoever transfers the ownership or discontinues the use of a registered all-terrain vehicle shall, inside 10 days, properly sign the registration, indicate the disposition of the all-terrain vehicle and return the registration to the commissioner.

B. An all-terrain vehicle owner who transfers ownership or discontinues its apply may, inside ten days from the date of transfer or discontinuance, apply to the commissioner for registration of another all-terrain vehicle. The fee for the transfer is $4, and the registration is valid for the rest of the registration year for which the previous all-terrain vehicle had been registered.

C. When there is a change of ownership of an all-terrain vehicle for which a registration has previously been issued, the new owner shall apply for a new registration and shall pay the applicable fee under subsection 5.

8-A. Updated law in 2021: Registration inspection. An owner or operator of an ATV shall present a registration document or an online registration receipt for inspection by whatever police force enforcement officeholder on demand. An owner or operator of an ATV may present a registration document or an online registration receipt in electronic class.

8-B. Notification of destroyed, abandoned, stolen, or permanently removed ATV. The registrant shall notify the commissioner if an ATV is destroyed, abandoned, stolen, or permanently removed from the State.

9. Display of registration numbers. Each new ATV sold in the Country must have a space 6 inches in width by 3½ inches in superlative provided on the front and rear of the machine, as high above the tires as possible, for the vertical display of the registration numbers. A person may not operate an ATV that is required to be registered under this section unless registration numbers in the class of stickers are displayed in these spaces or as otherwise required by the department. A person may operate an ATV registered online without displaying a registration number until that person receives the registration certificate from the department or for 30 days after registering the ATV online, whichever occurs start.

10. Grooming and education. The department shall provide training and education relating to ATVs.

11. Members of the armed forces permanently stationed in the State of Maine. The following persons are eligible to annals any ATV owned by them at the resident fee:

A. A person serving in the Military machine of the The states who is permanently stationed at a armed services or naval postal service, station or base of operations in the State; and

B. The spouse and children of the person described in paragraph A, provided that the spouse and children permanently reside with that person.

A member of the armed forces described in paragraph A who desires to register an ATV shall present certification from the commander of the mail service, station or base, or from the commander's designated agent, that the member is permanently stationed at that mail service, station or base of operations. Registration fees for registrations pursuant to this subsection must be allocated every bit if the person registering the ATV was a resident of the municipality in which the post, station or base is situated.

12. New law in 2021: Review of ATV registration fees and trail maintenance needs. In consultation with the Section of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the department shall review ATV registration fees and maintenance needs of designated state-approved ATV trails in 2022 and 2023 and every 2 years thereafter. Th Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wild animals shall report the findings and recommendations from the review to the joint continuing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wild animals matters past February 1st each year a review is required. The committee may report out legislation related to ATV registration fees and maintenance needs of ATV trails to the session of the Legislature in which the written report is received.

§13157-A – Operation of ATVs.

1-A. Updated law in 2021: Permission required. A person may not operate an ATV on the land of some other without the permission of the landowner or lessee. Permission is presumed on designated state-approved ATV trails or in areas open up to ATVs past landowner policy. A landowner or lessee may limit the use of a designated state-approved ATV trail on that landowner'south or lessee's belongings through agreements with the State or an ATV club to accost environmental, public safety or management concerns, including by limiting the blazon, size and weight of ATVs permitted on the landowner's or lessee'due south belongings. A person operating an ATV, including an oversized ATV, on designated country-approved ATV trails shall adhere to limitations imposed by a landowner or lessee and the State on that part of the designated state-approved ATV trail on the landowner's or lessee's property in accordance with this subsection. Written permission of the landowner or lessee is required for utilize of an ATV on cropland or pasture land or in an orchard. Every bit used in this subsection, "cropland" means acreage in tillage rotation, land being cropped and land in bush fruits and "pasture land" means acreage devoted to the production of fodder plants used for animal production. For purposes of this subsection, "oversized ATV" has the aforementioned meaning as defined in section 13155, subsection 5-B. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to limit or expand a landowner's or lessee'southward holding rights.

ii. Stop and identify requirement. Persons operating ATVs upon the land of another shall terminate and identify themselves upon the request of the landowner or the landowner's duly authorized representative.

3. Operating ATV upon controlled admission highway. The following provisions govern the operation of ATVs on controlled access highways.

A. A person may not operate an ATV upon a controlled admission highway or within the correct-of-manner limits of a controlled access highway, except that:

(1) A person on a properly registered ATV may cross controlled access highways by use of bridges over or roads under those highways or by use of roads crossing controlled admission highways at course;

(two) The Commissioner of Transportation may consequence special permits for designated crossings of controlled admission highways.

(3) A person on a properly registered ATV may operate the ATV within the right-of-way limits of a controlled access highway on a trail segment approved past the Commissioner of Transportation or the board of directors of the Maine Turnpike Authority, equally applicable. At the request of the Commissioner of Agronomics, Conservation and Forestry, the Commissioner of Transportation or the board of directors of the Maine Turnpike Authority, equally applicable, may allow construction of an ATV trail inside the right-of-fashion of a controlled access highway nether the jurisdiction of the Section of Transportation or the Maine Turnpike Authorisation being constructed on or later on January 2, 2016 when in that location is an ability to provide for the continuity of a state-owned or state controlled network of ATV trails. Funds for the construction of an ATV trail under this paragraph may not be provided from the Highway Fund.

4. Unlawfully operating ATV on snowmobile trail. A person may not operate any four-wheel-drive vehicle, dune buggy, all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle or any other motor vehicle, other than a snowmobile and appurtenant equipment, on snowmobile trails that are financed in whole or in office with funds from the Snowmobile Trail Fund, unless that use has been authorized by the landowner or the landowner's agent, or unless the use is necessitated past an emergency involving safety of persons or holding.

Exception: ATV'due south with tracks, registered as snowmobiles can be operated on a snowmobile trail.

v. Repealed.

v-A. Operating a motor vehicle on an ATV trail. A person may not operate a truck, pickup truck, or motorbus on a designated ATV trail that is not on a gravel road system unless authorized by the landowner or landowner's amanuensis, or in an emergency involving the safe of a person or belongings. For purposes of this law, "pickup truck" and "truck" have the same meaning as in Title 29-A section 101, subsections 55 and 88 and "passenger vehicle" means a self-propelled iv-wheel motor vehicle designed primarily to carry passengers on public roads.

half-dozen. Operating ATV on public manner. Except every bit provided in this subsection, a person may not operate an ATV, other than an ATV registered with the Secretarial assistant of State under Title 29-A, on any portion of a public way maintained or used for the operation of conventional motor vehicles or on the sidewalks of whatever public way.

A. A properly registered ATV may be operated on a public way but the altitude necessary, but in no instance to exceed 500 yards, on the farthermost right of the traveled way for the purpose of crossing, equally directly as possible, a public way, span, overpass, underpass, sidewalk or culvert as long as that operation can be made safely and does not interfere with traffic budgeted from either direction on the public way.

B. Repealed.

C. An ATV may be operated on any portion of a public manner when the public way has been closed in accord with Title 23, section 2953.

D. An ATV may exist operated on a public way that is not maintained or used for the operation of conventional motor vehicles, except that operation on the left side of the way is prohibited prohibited during the hours from sunset to sunrise.

E. An ATV may be operated on streets and public ways during a period of emergency when the emergency has been so alleged by a police agency having jurisdiction and when travel by conventional motor vehicles is not practicable.

F. An ATV may be operated on streets and public ways in special events of express duration conducted co-ordinate to a prearranged schedule under a allow from the governmental unit having jurisdiction. Grand. An ATV may be operated on a public style on the extreme correct of the traveled way past a police enforcement officer for the sole purpose of traveling between the place where the ATV is unremarkably stored and an area to be patrolled by the law enforcement officeholder.

One thousand. An ATV may be operated on a public way on the extreme right of the traveled way by a law enforcement officeholder for the sole purpose of traveling betwixt the identify where the ATV is ordinarily stored and an area to be patrolled by the police force enforcement officer.

H. Withal paragraphs A to G, an ATV may be operated on the extreme right of a public way, or equally directed by the advisable governmental unit of measurement inside the public way, of a municipality or an unorganized or unincorporated township if the advisable governmental unit has designated the public manner as an ATV-access route. An ATV must travel in the same management as motor vehicle traffic on a public style designated as an ATV access route. A public fashion designated past an appropriate governmental unit as an ATV-access route must be posted conspicuously at regular intervals by that governmental unit with highly visible signs designating the ATV-access road. Before designating a public manner every bit an ATV-admission route, the appropriate governmental unit shall brand appropriate determinations that ATV travel on the extreme right of the public manner, or as directed past the advisable governmental unit within the public way may be conducted safely and will not interfere with vehicular traffic on the public fashion. For purposes of this paragraph, "appropriate governmental unit" means the Department of Transportation, canton commissioners or municipal officers inside their corresponding jurisdictions. The jurisdiction of each advisable governmental unit over public means pursuant to this paragraph is the same as its jurisdiction over the passage of vehicles on public ways pursuant to Title 29-A, section 2395. Municipal or county law enforcement officials having jurisdiction have primary enforcement authority over any route established nether this paragraph.

7. Failing to stop ATV before entering public mode. A person shall bring an ATV to a complete stop earlier entering a public way.

8. Failing to yield correct-of-mode while operating ATV. A person shall yield the right-of-way to all other types of vehicular traffic while operating an ATV on a public style.

9. Crossing closed bridge, canal, overpass or underpass with ATV. A person may non cross with an ATV a bridge, culvert, overpass or underpass closed to ATVs by the Commissioner of Transportation pursuant to this subsection. The Commissioner of Transportation may, post-obit a public hearing, prohibit the crossing by an ATV of an private span, culvert, overpass or underpass if the commissioner determines that that crossing or utilise of a public manner is hazardous. Any bridge, culvert, overpass or underpass airtight by the commissioner must be posted past appropriate notices.

10. Reckless operating on ATV. A person may non operate an ATV in such a way as to recklessly create a substantial adventure of serious actual injury to another person.

11. Operating ATV to endanger. A person may not operate an ATV and then as to endanger whatever person or property.

12. Operating ATV at greater than reasonable and prudent speed. A person may not operate an ATV except at a reasonable and prudent speed for the existing conditions.

13. Operating ATV without protective headgear. A person nether xviii years of age may non operate an ATV without protective headgear.

14. Carrying passenger on ATV without headgear. A person may non behave a passenger under 18 years of age on an ATV unless the passenger is wearing protective headgear.

15. Repealed.

16. ATV headlight and taillight requirements. This subsection establishes light equipment requirements for the operation of an ATV.

A. Except as provided in this subsection and section 13159, a person may non operate an ATV in the State, regardless of where purchased, unless equipped with front and rear lights equally follows.

(1) The ATV must have mounted on the front at to the lowest degree one headlight capable of casting a white beam for a altitude of at to the lowest degree 100 feet directly ahead of the ATV.

(2) The ATV must accept mounted on the rear at to the lowest degree 1 taillight capable of displaying a calorie-free that must be visible at a altitude of at least 100 feet behind the ATV.

B. The post-obit are exceptions to the requirements of paragraph A.

(1) Repealed.

(two) A person may operate an ATV including a 2-cycle off-road motorbike without a headlight and taillight between sunrise and sunset.

17. Required use of ATV lights. Except as provided in section 13159, the following provisions govern the use of ATV lights.

A. A person shall use the lights required under subsection 16 every bit follows:

(1) During the period from ½ hour after dusk to ½ hour before sunrise; and

(2) At any time when, due to bereft light or unfavorable atmospheric atmospheric condition caused past fog or otherwise, other persons, vehicles and other objects are not clearly discernible for a distance of 500 feet alee.

18. Unlawfully operating ATV on railroad tracks. This subsection governs performance of an ATV on railroad tracks.

A. A person may not:

(ane) Operate an ATV along or side by side and parallel to the tracks of a railroad within the limits of the railroad correct-of-way without written permission from the railroad owning the correct-of- way; or

(two) Operate an ATV across the tracks of a railroad after having been forbidden to exercise so past the railroad owning the railroad right-of- manner or past an amanuensis of that railroad, either personally or by advisable notices posted conspicuously along the railroad right-of-way.

B. Notwithstanding paragraph A, a person may operate within the right-of-way of a portion of railroad line that has been officially abandoned under the authority of the Interstate Commerce Committee.

19. Operating too close to certain buildings. person may non operate an ATV within 200 feet of a dwelling, infirmary, nursing dwelling, convalescent home, or church.

A. This subsection does not apply when a person is operating an ATV on:

(1) Public means in accordance with subsections 6 and nine or on controlled admission highways in accordance with subsection iii, paragraph A;

(2) The frozen surface of any body of water; or

(3) Land that the operator owns or is permitted to use.

20. Repealed.

21. Repealed.

22. Abuse of some other person's property. A person may not while operating an ATV:

A. Tear down or destroy a fence or wall on another person'southward land;

B. Leave open a gate or bars on another person's land;

C. Bruise or destroy crops on another person'due south land; or

D. Remove or destroy signs or posted notices.

23. Repealed.

24. Operation of ATV on temporarily closed trail. A person may not operate an ATV on whatever section of a trail posted with a find of temporary closure in accordance with this subsection. The notice must specify the section of trail that is closed and the menstruum of the closure and must be conspicuously posted at each end of the closed department of the trail.

25. ATV noise and fire control devices. The following provisions pertain to ATV muffling and burn control devices and noise level limits.

A. Except as provided in department 13159, a person may not:

(i) Operate an ATV that is non equipped at all times with an effective and suitable muffling device on its engine to effectively deaden or conceal the dissonance of the exhaust;

(two) Operate or change an ATV with an exhaust organization that has been modified in any way that will increment the noise emitted to a higher place the following emission standard:

(a) Each ATV must meet dissonance emission standards of the U.s.a. Ecology Protection Agency and in no case exceed 96 decibels of audio pressure when measured from a distance of 20 inches using examination procedures established past the commissioner; or

(iii) Operate an ATV without a working spark arrester.

B. In addition to any penalties imposed under this subsection, the courtroom may, subject to section 9321 and Title 17-A, chapter 54, order restitution for fire suppression costs incurred past country or municipal government entities in suppressing a burn down acquired by an ATV operating without a working spark arrester.

26. Prohibited equipment. A person may non operate an ATV that is equipped with a snorkel kit or other equipment designed to allow the ATV to be used in deep water except with the permission of the owner of the land on which the ATV is operated or as provided in section 13159.

27. Operation of ATV in prohibited area. The following provisions establish areas where the operation of an ATV is prohibited.

A. A person may not operate an ATV:

(1) On a salt marsh, intertidal zone, marine sand beach, sand dune or any cemetery, burial place or burying ground; or

(2) When the footing is not frozen and sufficiently covered with snow to forbid direct damage to the vegetation:

(a) On alpine tundra;

(b) On a freshwater marsh or bog, river, brook, stream, smashing pond, nonforested wetland or vernal puddle; or

(c) In a source water protection area as defined in Title 30-A, department 2001, subsection xx-A. The provisions of this subparagraph do not apply to a trail designated for ATV utilize by the Section of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The provisions of this subparagraph as well exercise not apply to a person accessing land for maintenance or inspection purposes with the landowner's permission or to local, state, or federal government personnel in the performance of official duties, provided there is no significant footing disturbance or sedimentation of water bodies.

§13158-A – Unlawfully permitting operation; liability for damage by other persons.

one. ATV owner; functioning by another. A person is in violation of this subsection if that person is the owner of an ATV that is operated in violation of this chapter.

2. Parent or guardian; operation by minor. A person is in violation of this subsection if that person is a parent or guardian responsible for the intendance of a minor nether 18 years of age who is operating an ATV in violation of this affiliate.

3. Furnishing ATV. An possessor of an ATV, a person who gives or furnishes an ATV to a person and a parent or guardian responsible for the care of a small-scale under eighteen years of historic period are jointly and severally liable with the operator for amercement caused in the operation of the vehicle or past the minor in operating whatsoever ATV.

§13159 – Racing meets.

Notwithstanding section 13155 and section 13157-A, subsection 16, paragraph A, subsection 17, and subsection 25 ATVs used exclusively for scheduled racing meets and operated solely on predefined race, courses are exempt from the provisions of this chapter concerning registration, mufflers, snorkel kits, and lights during the time of operation at these meets and at all prerace practices at the location of the meets.

§13160 – Dealer'due south registration and license.

1. Application and issuance. A person may not appoint in the business of selling ATVs in the State unless that person has registered equally a dealer and secured a valid dealer's license from the commissioner. A dealer so registered and licensed need not annals individual ATVs.

2. Fees. The annual license fee for a dealer registered under subsection 1 is $15. The license runs from July 1st of each twelvemonth.

A. A dealer licensed under Title 29-A, section 954, subsection 2 is non required to pay the license fee nether this subsection.

3. Dealer'due south number plates. Dealer'due south number plates must be provided and obtained equally follows.

A. A dealer registered under subsection 1 may receive dealer's number plates for a $5 annual fee for each plate

B. Replacements for lost or stolen plates may be obtained for a fee of $5 for each plate.

C. If a number plate is lost or stolen, the owner shall notify the commissioner immediately.

4. Temporary registration certificate. The commissioner may issue temporary registration certificates to a registered dealer who may, upon the sale or commutation of an ATV, issue a temporary registration certificate to a new owner, in order to let the new owner to operate the ATV for a menstruation of 20 consecutive days, later on the appointment of auction in lieu of a permanent number equally required by this chapter. The fee for each temporary registration is $ane.

5. Brandish of dealer's number plate. A dealer shall display the dealer's number on each ATV being used until the auction of the ATV, whereupon information technology becomes the possessor'due south responsibility to register the ATV.

6. Warranties and data on used ATVs. A dealer who offers a warranty in connectedness with the sale or transfer of a used ATV shall furnish a written statement concerning that warranty. The statement regarding the warranty must signal the parts or systems of the vehicle that are covered and those non covered by the warranty and what the dealer will do in the event of a defect and at whose expense repairs be made. The dealer shall as well replenish before auction a written statement identifying whatsoever and all defects known to the dealer and any type of damage that the vehicle has sustained if such information is known to the dealer.

§13161 – Sale of ATV; lite equipment.

1. Headlight and taillight required. A person may not sell or offer to sell a new ATV unless:

A. That ATV is equipped with a functioning headlight and taillight; or

B. The ATV:

(1) Is a 2-wheel off-road motorcycle; or

(two) Has an engine size of ninety cubic centimeters or less and has 4 or more wheels.

1-A. New constabulary in 2021: Dealer to provide registration information. A dealer may not sell a new or used oversized ATV without providing to the purchaser a written form developed and provided by the department explaining the size and weight restrictions for registering that ATV under section 13155, subsection 5-B and the provisions of department 13157-A regarding the use of oversized ATVs on designated state-approved ATV trails. Thursday department shall develop a class for use by dealers nether this department, which must include a identify for a purchaser to sign acknowledging receipt of the grade. For purposes of this subsection, "oversized ATV" has the aforementioned meaning as defined in section 13155, subsection five-B.

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Summary of Penalties for ATV

This is a summary of penalties for ATV. For full linguistic communication please refer to Title 12.

Operating under the influence.

§10651, 1-D – Failure to stop for a law enforcement officer

A person may not fail or refuse to terminate any ATV on asking or indicate of any police force enforcement officer in uniform whose duty it is to enforce ATV laws. A person who violates this provision commits a Class D crime, for which a minimum fine of not less than $ane,000 must be adjudged. If bedevilled in that location is a mandatory one year suspension of all licenses, permits and registrations by the department.

§10651, 1-E – Attempt to elude a law enforcement officer

A person may not effort to elude a law enforcement officer by: operating or attempting to operate an all-terrain vehicle past a conspicuously identifiable police force roadblock; or afterwards being requested or signaled to finish by a law enforcement officeholder in compatible, operating or attempting to operate an all-terrain vehicle at a reckless rate of speed. A person who violates this provision commits a Class D crime, for which a minimum fine of not less than $1,000 must be adjudged. If convicted in that location is a mandatory one year break of all licenses, permits and registrations past the department.

§13157-A, x – Reckless operating on ATV

A person may not operate an ATV in such a way as to recklessly create a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another person. A person who violates this provision commits a Class D crime. If convicted in that location is a mandatory one year suspension of all licenses, permits and registrations by the department.

§13157-A, 11 – Operating ATV to endanger

A person may not operate an ATV so as to endanger whatever person or holding. A person who violates this provision commits a Class E offense. If convicted there is a mandatory one twelvemonth interruption of all licenses, permits and registrations by the department.

§13157-A, 12 – Operating ATV at greater than reasonable and prudent speed

A person may not operate an ATV except at a reasonable and prudent speed for the existing conditions. A person who violates this provision commits a Form E crime.

§13157-A, 22 – Abuse of some other person'south belongings

A person may not while operating an ATV:

  • Tear down or destroy a argue or wall on another person's land;
  • Exit open up a gate or bars on another person'south land;
  • Trample or destroy crops on some other person'southward land; or
  • Remove or destroy signs or posted notices. A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime. If bedevilled there is a mandatory one year suspension of all licenses, permits and registrations by the department.

§10902, 1 – Suspension or revocation of, or refusal to event a license or permit

Whatever conviction or adjudication for a violation of this Role is grounds for suspension of any license or permit issued under this Role. Except where provided past law, the commissioner shall decide the intermission menses. To suspend a license or permit based upon a conviction or arbitrament, the commissioner shall follow the procedures nether section 10903.

§10902, nine – Discretionary interruption for certain ATV violations; preparation

The commissioner may suspend all licenses, permits and registrations issued by the department pursuant to this Part to any person bedevilled or adjudicated of:

  • Operating an ATV on a temporarily airtight trail or
  • Operating an ATV on the land of another without permission.

If the commissioner suspends a license, let or registration pursuant to this subsection, the suspension must be for at least 90 days. Before reinstatement of licenses and permits, a person must satisfactorily complete a safety and ethics course, approved by the department and related to the operation of ATVs.

§10902, 10 – Mandatory suspension for certain ATV violations

The commissioner shall append for at least i yr all licenses, permits and registrations issued by the department pursuant to this Part to any person bedevilled or adjudicated of:

  • Abuse of another person's belongings.
  • Operating an ATV under the influence.
  • Operating an ATV to endanger.
  • Reckless operation of an ATV.
  • Failure or refusal to stop an ATV or attempting to elude an officer.

Before reinstatement of licenses and permits, a person must satisfactorily complete a prophylactic and ethics class, approved by the department and related to the performance of ATVs.

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