LAWS & RULES : ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE ( ATV ) 11 that landowner ’ s or lessee ’ s property through agreements with the State or an ATV club to address environmental , public safety or management concerns , including by limiting the type , size and weight of ATVs permitted on the landowner ’ s or lessee ’ s property . A person operating an ATV , including an oversized ATV , on designated state-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 use of an ATV on cropland or pastureland or in an orchard . As used in this subsection , “ cropland ” means acreage in tillage rotation , land being cropped and land in bush fruits and “ pastureland ” means acreage devoted to the production of forage plants used for animal production . For purposes of this subsection , “ oversized ATV ” has the same 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 ’ s property rights .
2 . Stop and identify requirement . Persons operating ATVs upon the land of another shall stop and identify themselves upon the request of the landowner or the landowner ’ s duly authorized representative .
3 . Operating ATV upon controlled access highway . The following provisions govern the operation of ATVs on controlled access highways .
A . A person may not operate an ATV upon a controlled access highway or within the right-of-way 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 access highways at grade ;
( 2 ) The Commissioner of Transportation may issue special permits for designated crossings of controlled access 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 by the Commissioner of Transportation or the board of directors of the Maine Turnpike Authority , as applicable .
At the request of the Commissioner of Agriculture , Conservation and Forestry , the Commissioner of Transportation or the board of directors of the Maine Turnpike Authority , as applicable , may permit construction of an ATV trail within the right-of-way of a controlled access highway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation or the Maine Turnpike Authority being constructed on or after January 1 , 2016 when there 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 4-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 part 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 by an emergency involving safety of persons or property .
Exception : ATV ’ s with tracks , registered as snowmobiles can be operated on a snowmobile trail .
5 . Repealed
5-A . Operating a motor vehicle on an ATV trail . A person may not operate a motor vehicle as defined in Title 29-A , section 101 , subsection 42 on a designated ATV trail that is not on a gravel road system unless authorized by the landowner or landowner ’ s agent , or in an emergency involving the safety of a person or property .
6 . Operating ATV on public way . Except as provided in this subsection , a person may not operate an ATV , other than an ATV registered with the Secretary 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 any public way .
A . A properly registered ATV may be operated on a public way only the distance necessary , but in no case to exceed 500 yards , on the extreme right of the traveled way for the purpose of crossing , as directly as possible , a public way , bridge , overpass , underpass , sidewalk or culvert as long as that operation can be made safely and does not interfere with traffic approaching from either direction on the public way .
B . Repealed .
C . An ATV may be operated on any portion of a public way when the public way has been closed in accordance with Title 23 , section 2953 .
D . An ATV may be 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 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 declared 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 limited duration conducted according to a prearranged schedule under a permit from the governmental unit having jurisdiction .
G . An ATV may be operated on a public way on the extreme right of the traveled way by a law enforcement officer for the sole purpose of traveling between the place where the ATV is usually stored and an area to be patrolled by the law enforcement officer .
H . Notwithstanding paragraphs A to G , an ATV may be operated on the extreme right of a public way , or as directed by the appropriate governmental unit within the public way , of a municipality or an unorganized or unincorporated township if the appropriate governmental unit has designated the public way as an ATV-access route . An ATV must travel in the same direction as motor vehicle traffic on a public way designated as an ATV access route . A public way designated by 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 route .
Before designating a public way as an ATV-access route , the appropriate governmental unit shall make appropriate determinations that ATV travel on the extreme right of the public way , or as directed by the appropriate governmental unit within the public way may be conducted safely and will not interfere with vehicular traffic on the public way . For purposes of this paragraph , “ appropriate governmental unit ” means the Department of Transportation , county commissioners or municipal officers within their respective jurisdictions . The jurisdiction of each appropriate governmental unit over public ways pursuant to this paragraph is the same as its jurisdiction over the passage of
2023-24 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES ATV & SNOWMOBILE