Chapter 532
H.P. 1475 - L.D. 2089
An Act To Allow Certain Assistance to Guides and Hunters
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12861  is enacted to read:
Notwithstanding section 10001, subsection 28 and Title 29-A, section 552, a person licensed to guide hunters under this chapter may employ the services of a person not licensed as a guide to transport hunters along a public or private road in a motor vehicle for the sole purpose of delivering those hunters to a predetermined destination prior to or at the conclusion of the time those hunters are engaged in hunting. For purposes of this section, "motor vehicle" does not include a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle.
1. Prohibition.
Â
A person, while transporting hunters pursuant to this section, may not: A. Engage in hunting;
B. Transport hunting equipment for that person's own use unless that hunting equipment is fastened in a case;
C. Accompany hunters into the fields or forests; or
D. Assist in hunting activities, including, but not limited to, accompanying hunters to a hunting stand or bait site, searching for wounded animals or locating, retrieving or field dressing harvested animals.
2. Penalty and vicarious liability.
Â
This subsection applies to violations of subsection 1. A. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime. When a person is convicted of violating subsection 1, the guide employing that person must be issued a warning by a law enforcement officer, as defined in Title 25, section 2801-A, subsection 5.
B. A person licensed as a guide who receives 3 or more warnings pursuant to paragraph A within a 5-year period commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 may be adjudged. The commissioner may suspend the guide license of a person adjudicated of a violation of this paragraph for a period of up to one year.
C. A person licensed as a guide who violates paragraph B after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within a 5-year period commits a Class E crime.
3. Repeal.
Â
This section is repealed July 31, 2010.
Effective June 30, 2008