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An Act To Improve Enforcement of Snowmobile Noise Levels
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §13106-A, sub-§14, as amended by PL 2009, c. 340, §20, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §13106-A, sub-§14-A  is enacted to read:
 
14-A.  Snowmobile noise requirements.     This subsection governs noise level requirements for snowmobiles.
 
A.  Except as provided in section 13112, a person may not:
 
(1) Operate a snowmobile manufactured after February 1, 2007 that does not display on its exhaust silencer a visible, unaltered certification marking issued by an independent organization that certifies snowmobiles for uniformity of safety features and noise levels;
 
(2) Operate a snowmobile manufactured after October 1, 1985 that emits total vehicle noise greater than 78 decibels of sound pressure level at 50 feet on the "A" scale, as measured by the SAE standards J-192; or
 
(3) Operate a snowmobile with an exhaust system that has been modified in a manner that amplifies or otherwise increases total noise emission above that of the snowmobile as originally constructed, regardless of the date of manufacture.
 
A snowmobile manufactured on or before October 1, 1973 is not subject to a specific noise level, except that a person may not operate a snowmobile modified in violation of subparagraph (3).
 
B.  The following penalties apply to violations of this subsection.
 
(1) A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
(2) A person who violates this subsection 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.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §13112, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §400 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
§ 13112.Racing meets
Notwithstanding section 10650 and section 13106-A, subsections 1414-A, 15 and 16, snowmobiles operated at a prearranged racing meet whose sponsor has obtained a permit to hold such a meet from the commissioner are exempt from the provisions of this chapter concerning registration, noise, horsepower and lights during the time of operation at such meets and at all prerace practices at the location of the meet.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.