(7)__A Department of Public Safety vehicle operated by a motor carrier inspector may be equipped with auxiliary lights that emit an amber light.

Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §2054, sub-§9 is enacted to read:

9.__Stationary authorized emergency vehicles.__The operator of a vehicle passing a stationary authorized emergency vehicle using an emergency light, with due regard to the safety and traffic conditions, shall:

A.__Pass in a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible; or

B.__If passing in a nonadjacent lane is impossible or unsafe, pass the emergency vehicle at a careful and prudent speed reasonable for passing the authorized emergency vehicle safely.

Sec. 8. 29-A MRSA §2063, sub-§§2, 4, 5, and 8, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, are amended to read:

2. Riding to the right. A person operating a bicycle or scooter shall ride it as far as practicable to the right side of the way, except when making a left turn. This subsection does not apply in a municipality that, by ordinance and with the approval of the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation, makes other provisions for the location of bicycle or scooter traffic.

4. Hitching rides. A person riding on a bicycle, scooter or toy vehicle may not attach it to a moving vehicle on a way.

5. Rights and duties. A person riding a bicycle or scooter on a way has the rights and is subject to the duties applicable to the operator of a vehicle, except as to:

A. Special regulations; and

B. Provisions in this Title that by their nature can have no application.

8. Impoundment. The chief of police of a municipality, or if there is no chief of police, the chair of the local legislative body, when satisfied that a juvenile under the age of 17 years has ridden a bicycle or scooter in violation of this

section, may impound the bicycle or scooter for a period not to exceed 5 days for the first offense, 10 days for a 2nd offense and 30 days for a subsequent offense.

Sec. 9. 29-A MRSA §2066, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

5. Following fire apparatus; other emergency vehicles. An operator may not follow within 500 feet of fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm or within 150 feet of any other authorized emergency vehicle as defined in section 2054, subsection 1, paragraph B that is using an emergency light as defined in section 2054, subsection 1, paragraph D.

Sec. 10. 29-A MRSA §2067, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

3. Parking or standing. Unless a municipal ordinance specifically provides otherwise, a vehicle may not be parked or stand on or beside the left-hand side of a way during the times when lighted lamps are required in a manner that its lights project in the direction of oncoming traffic.

Sec. 11. 29-A MRSA §2084, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

§2084. Bicycles and scooters

1. Night equipment. A bicycle, scooter or motorized bicycle or tricycle, when in use in the nighttime or at other times when motor vehicles are required to display headlights, must have:

A. Lighted a front light that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 200 feet to the front;

B. A red reflector to the rear that is visible at least 200 feet to the rear; and

C. Reflector strips on the pedals and handlebars.

2. Brakes. A bicycle, scooter or motorized bicycle or tricycle must be equipped with a brake sufficient to enable the operator to stop the vehicle or device within a reasonable distance.

Sec. 12. 29-A MRSA §2088, sub-§2, ¶¶C and D, as reallocated by RR 1999, c. 1, §41, are amended to read:

C. Participants in parades; or

D. A passenger secured by a seat belt in a manufacturer- installed seat located outside the passenger compartment.; or

Sec. 13. 29-A MRSA §2088, sub-§2, ¶E is enacted to read:

E.__Campers and hikers being transported in Baxter State Park.

Sec. 14. 29-A MRSA §2251, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

8. Violation. A person commits a Class E crime if that person:

A. Is required to make an oral or written report and knowingly fails to do so within the time required; or

B. Is an operator involved in a reportable accident and knowingly fails to give a correct name and address when requested by an officer at the scene.; or

C.__Is the operator involved in a reportable accident or the owner of a vehicle involved in a reportable accident and knowingly fails to produce the vehicle or, if the vehicle is operational, return it to the scene when requested by the investigating officer.

Sec. 15. 29-A MRSA §2396, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

3. Gravel. A load of gravel, sand, crushed stone, rubbish, wood chips, building debris or trash must be covered or otherwise secured or confined to prevent any portion of the load from falling from or spilling out of the vehicle.

SUMMARY

The bill affects the motor vehicle statutes as follows.

1. It defines scooter and imposes the same restrictions on this mode of transportation as on bicycles.

2. It authorizes a law enforcement officer who has stopped a vehicle for another violation to demand and inspect the operator's record of duty status and medical examiner's certificate, if the operator is required to have this information.

3. It allows a permit to be issued by a law enforcement agency to tow an unregistered vehicle using a tow dolly. Currently, a permit may be issued to tow by use of a service wrecker or tow bar.

4. It allows Department of Public Safety vehicles operated by motor carrier inspectors to be equipped with amber auxiliary lights.

5. It allows vehicles designed to respond to a weapon of mass destruction to use a siren and to display and use a red light or combination red and white light.

6. It requires an operator passing a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is using an emergency light to pass that emergency vehicle in a nonadjacent lane, if possible, or at a careful and prudent speed.

7. It prohibits an operator from following within 150 feet of an authorized emergency vehicle, other than fire apparatus, that is using an emergency light.

8. It prohibits a vehicle from standing beside the left-hand side of a way at night in a manner so that its headlights project in the direction of oncoming traffic.

9. It creates an exemption to the prohibition against riding in the back of a pickup truck for campers and hikers being transported in Baxter State Park.

10. It requires the operator or the owner of a vehicle involved in a reportable accident to produce the vehicle and return the vehicle to the scene of an accident, if possible, at the request of the officer who is investigating the accident.

11. It resolves an inconsistency regarding confining a load of wood chips when the wood chips are transported.