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LAWS & RULES : SNOWMOBILE
LAWS & RULES
Snowmobile
Title 12 , Chapter 933
§ 13001 – Definitions
Antique Snowmobile . “ Antique Snowmobile ” means a snowmobile more than 25 years old that is registered as an antique snowmobile under section 13104 , subsection 5 .
Cowling . “ Cowling ” means the forward or rear portion of a snowmobile , usually of fiberglass or similar material , surrounding the motor and clutch assembly .
Operate . “ To operate ,” in all its moods and tenses , means : When it refers to a snowmobile , to use a snowmobile in any manner within the jurisdiction of the State , whether or not the vehicle is under way .
Owner . “ Owner ” means : For the purpose of registration of a snowmobile , a person holding title to a snowmobile or having equitable interest in a snowmobile that entitles the person to possession of the snowmobile ;.
Private Way . As defined by Title 23 § 1903-10-A , “ Private Way ” means a private 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 ” means a helmet that conforms with minimum standards of construction and performance as prescribed by the American National Standards Institute specification Z90.1 or by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standard No . 218 .
Public Way . As defined by Title 23 § 1903- 11 “ Public Way ” means any road capable of carrying motor vehicles , including , but not limited to , any state highway , municipal road , county road , unincorporated territory road , or other road dedicated to the public .
Snowmobile . “ Snowmobile ” means a vehicle propelled by mechanical power that is primarily designed to travel over ice or snow and is supported in part by skis , belts , or cleats . Snowmobile does not include a motor vehicle as defined in Title 29-A , section 101 .
Trail Grooming Equipment . See page 23 .
§ 13002 – Collection by Commissioner
The commissioner or agents of the commissioner shall act on behalf of the State Tax Assessor to collect the use tax due under Title 36 , chapters 211 to 225 in respect to any snowmobile for which an original registration is required under this Title at the time and place of registration of that snowmobile .
§ 13003 – Payment of sales or use tax prerequisite to registration
2 . Registration of snowmobile . Prior to registering a snowmobile , an agent of the commissioner shall collect sales or use tax due . Sales or use tax is due unless :
A . Repealed
B . The registration is a renewal registration by the same owner ;
C . The applicant possesses a dealer ’ s certificate showing that the sales tax was collected by the dealer . The State Tax Assessor shall prescribe the form of a dealer ’ s certificate ; or
D . The snowmobile is otherwise exempt from sales or use tax under Title 36 , section 1760 .
§ 13004 – Collection by State Tax Assessor
This section and sections 13002 , 13003 and 13005 must be construed as cumulative of other methods prescribed in Title 36 for the collection of the sales or use tax . These sections do not preclude the State Tax Assessor ’ s collecting the tax due in respect to any ATV in accordance with such other methods as are prescribed in Title 36 for the collection of the sales or use tax .
§ 13005 – Certificates to be forwarded to State Tax Assessor
An agent 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 snowmobiles
When a law enforcement officer issues a summons for a violation under chapter 937 , the officer may impound the snowmobile operated by the person who receives the summons if , in the judgment of the officer , based on actual previous offenses by the operator or other considerations , the operator will continue to operate the snowmobile in violation of chapter 937 and that operation may be a hazard to the safety of persons or property .
The operator or owner of a snowmobile impounded under this section may reclaim the snowmobile 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 snowmobile .
§ 13101 – Application
This chapter applies to the operation of snowmobiles in all areas that come within the jurisdiction of the State .
§ 13102 – License not required
An operator ’ s license is not required for the operation of a snowmobile .
§ 13103 – Rule violations ; snowmobiles and snowmobile races
The following penalties apply to violations of rules regulating snowmobiles or the protection and safety of spectators at snowmobile races .
1 . Civil . Notwithstanding section 10650 , a person who violates a rule regulating snowmobiles or the protection and safety of spectators at snowmobile races commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $ 100 nor more than $ 500 may be adjudged .
2 . Criminal . A person who violates a rule regulating snowmobiles or the protection and safety of spectators at snowmobile races 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 .
2023-24 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES ATV & SNOWMOBILE