LAWS & RULES : ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE ( ATV ) 9
2 . Criminal . A person who violates a rule regulating ATVs after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime .
§ 13154-A – Age restrictions
1 . Minimum age . Except as provided in subsection 5 , a person under 10 years of age may not operate an ATV .
2 . Permitting child under 10 years of age to operate ATV . Except as provided in subsection 6 , a person may not permit a child under 10 years of age to operate an ATV .
3 . Unlawfully operating ATV by person ages 10 to under 16 . Except as provided in subsection 6 , a person 10 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may not operate an ATV unless that person has successfully completed a training course approved 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 age crossing public way . 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 subsection 3 .
5 . Permitting an unaccompanied person under 16 years of age to operate an ATV . Except as provided in subsection 6 , a person may not permit an unaccompanied person 10 years of age or older but under 16 years of age to operate an ATV .
6 . Exceptions for certain property . This section does not apply to the operation of an ATV on :
A . The land on which the operator is domiciled ;
B . Land owned 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 not registered in accordance with subsection 3 .
A . The following 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 not operated elsewhere within the jurisdiction of the State .
( 2 ) Registration is not required for an ATV operated by a commercial ski area for the purpose of packing snow or for rescue operations on the commercial ski area , unless the ATV is required to cross a public way during that operation .
( 3 ) An ATV owned and operated in the State by the Federal Government , the State or a political subdivision of the State is exempt from registration fees but must be registered and is required to display registration numbers .
( 4 ) An ATV registration for the farm use specified in Title 29-A , section 501 , subsection 8 , paragraph E is not required for a vehicle registered with the Secretary of State under Title 29-A , section 501 , subsection 8 .
( 5 ) 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 event and provides the commissioner with a map of the trails to be used during the special event and the commissioner approves the request .
( 6 ) An ATV owned or under the control of an ATV manufacturer may be operated without a Maine registration at a demonstration event 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 request in writing to the commissioner at least 60 days prior to the demonstration event and shall include a description and the location of the event .
( 7 ) The Commissioner may annually establish one 3-consecutive-day 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 non-resident ’ s ATV has a valid registration from another state or a Canadian province .
2 . 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 . Application and issuance . The commissioner , or an agent designated by the commissioner , may register and assign a registration number to an ATV upon application and payment of a fee by the owner . The commissioner shall charge 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 commissioner must be clearly 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 but after 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 form developed and provided by 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 operation of oversized ATVs on designated state-approved ATV trails . The department has developed a form for use by registration agents under this subsection .
4 . Form of registration . An ATV registration must be in such form as the commissioner may determine .
5 . Fees . See page 7
5-B . Oversized ATV ; exception . A person may not 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 specified in subsection 5 , paragraph A , and upon a transfer of ownership of that registered oversized ATV , the new Maine resident owner may also register that oversized ATV upon payment of the fee specified in subsection 5 , paragraph A . Registration is not required for an oversized ATV operated by a person on the land of another if written permission is received from the landowner or lessee of the land and the person is engaged solely in a business activity , other than a business activity involving recreational use 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 .
2023-24 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES ATV & SNOWMOBILE