Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7824, sub-§9, as amended by PL 1997, c. 227, §4, is further amended to read:

9. Requirement. Except as specifically provided in this subsection, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, a snowmobile belonging to a nonresident may be possessed or operated by any person in this State without being registered in this State as long as:

A. The snowmobile is properly registered in this State in the name of a nonresident owner of the snowmobile; and.

B. The nonresident owner of the snowmobile is a resident of a state, province, country or district with which this State has reciprocity.

For purposes of this subsection, "state, province, country or district with which this State has reciprocity" means a state, province, country or district that shares a common border with this State and that offers similar privileges to residents of this State. A state, province, country or district does not offer similar privileges if Maine residents holding a valid Maine snowmobile registration are charged a fee for access to the trail system in that state, province, country or district, or if, as determined by the commissioner, privileges and opportunities offered to snowmobile users in that state, province, country or district are not otherwise comparable to those offered in this State.

A snowmobile owned by a nonresident may not be issued a resident registration. Nothing in this subsection authorizes the operation of any snowmobile in any manner contrary to this subchapter. This subsection does not apply to snowmobiles and grooming equipment registered to snowmobile clubs, municipalities or counties from bordering states or provinces and engaged in trail grooming.

SUMMARY

Under current law, a snowmobile may be operated in the State without being registered in the State if the snowmobile is registered in another area that grants Maine residents a reciprocal privilege. This bill requires all nonresidents who snowmobile in Maine to register their snowmobiles in Maine. This bill specifically excludes from this requirement snowmobiles and grooming equipment registered to snowmobile clubs, municipalities or counties and engaged in trail grooming activities.