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LAWS & RULES: SUMMARY OF PENALTIES FOR ATV
LAWS & RULES
Summary of Penalties for ATV
This is a summary of penalties for ATVs. For full language please refer to Title 12.
Operating under the influence. See page 4.
§ 10757 – Fraudulently obtaining or possessing license, permit or registration
A person may not obtain or possess a paper or electronic license, permit or registration authorized in this Part through fraud, misstatement or misrepresentation. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.
§ 10651, 1-D – Failure to stop for law enforcement officer
A person may not fail or refuse to stop any ATV on request or signal of any law 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 $ 1,000 must be adjudged. If convicted there 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 attempt to elude a law enforcement officer by: operating or attempting to operate an all-terrain vehicle past a clearly identifiable police roadblock; or after being requested or signaled to stop by a law enforcement officer in uniform, 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 there is a mandatory one year suspension of all licenses, permits and registrations by the department.
§ 13157-A, 10 – 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 there 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 any person or property. A person who violates this provision commits a Class E crime. If convicted there is a mandatory one year suspension 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 Class E crime.
§ 13157-A, 22 – Abuse of another person’ s property
A person may not while operating an ATV:
• Tear down or destroy a fence or wall on another person’ s land;
• Leave open a gate or bars on another person’ s land;
• Trample or destroy crops on another person’ s land; or
• Remove or destroy signs or posted notices.
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime. If convicted 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 issue a license or permit
Any conviction or adjudication, deferred disposition pursuant to Title 17‐A, section 1902, subsection 1 or written filing agreement with the State pursuant to the Maine Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure, Rule 11B for a violation of this Part is grounds for suspension of any license or permit issued under this Part. Except where provided by law, the commissioner shall determine the suspension period. To suspend a license or permit based upon a conviction or adjudication, the commissioner shall follow the procedures under section 10903.
§ 10902, 9 – Discretionary suspension for certain ATV violations; training
The commissioner may suspend all licenses, permits and registrations issued by the department pursuant to this Part to any person convicted or adjudicated of:
• Operating an ATV on a temporarily closed trail or
•. Operating an ATV on the land of another without permission.
If the commissioner suspends a license, permit 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 suspend for at least one year all licenses, permits and registrations issued by the department pursuant to this Part to any person convicted or adjudicated of:
• Abuse of another person’ s property.
• 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 safety and ethics course, approved by the department and related to the operation of ATVs. ■
2024-25 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES ATV & SNOWMOBILE