H.P. 165 - L.D. 227
An Act to Further Decriminalize Operating an Unregistered Vehicle
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §351, as amended by PL 1995, c. 584, Pt. B, §4, is further amended to read:
The owner of a vehicle that is operated or remains on a public way is responsible for registering the vehicle.
1. Failure to register. A person commits a Class E crime if that person who fails to register a vehicle that is operated or remains on a public way as provided by this Title. commits:
A. A traffic infraction for which a forfeiture of not more than $50 may be adjudged if the vehicle was registered and the registration has been expired for more than 30 days but less than 120 days; or
B. A Class E crime if the vehicle was not registered or the registration has been expired for 120 days or more.
1-A. Residents required to register. An owner of a vehicle who becomes a resident of this State shall register that vehicle in this State within 30 days of establishing residency. A person who operates or allows a vehicle that is not registered in accordance with this subsection to remain on a public way commits a Class E crime traffic infraction pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph A.
2. Operating a vehicle with an expired registration. The owner or operator of a vehicle stopped by a law enforcement officer and having a registration that had has expired within the last 30 days must be issued a warning, rather than a summons, in a form designated by the Chief of the State Police. This warning must state that:
A. Within 2 business days, the owner or operator must register the vehicle;
B. The renewed registration expires on the same month as the previous registration; and
C. The registration fee is the same as for a full year year's registration.
3. Temporary permit to tow unregistered vehicle. A law enforcement officer or an employee of the bureau designated by the Secretary of State may issue a permit in writing to allow:
A. An unregistered motor vehicle to be towed either by a regular service wrecker or by the use of a towbar; or
C. An unregistered trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less to be towed, for one trip only, between the points of origin and destination.
A permit issued under this subsection is valid for no more than 3 days, including the date of issuance.
3-A. Permit to operate unregistered vehicle. Upon stopping a vehicle with a registration that has been expired for more than 30 days, a law enforcement officer may issue a permit to the owner or operator of the vehicle to operate the vehicle to the owner's residence or to an office of the bureau for the sole purpose of renewal of the registration by the owner.
4. Duplicate registration, notification of change in location or status. Duplicate registrations are provided in accordance with section 1405. A person to whom a registration has been issued must notify the Secretary of State of a change in location or status in accordance with section 1407.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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