An Act To Amend Maine's Motor Vehicle Laws
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §101, sub-§15-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 315, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §201, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 1997, c. 776, §6, is further amended to read:
(1) Registrations for pickup trucks registered for 9,000 10,000 pounds or less gross vehicular weight, automobiles, trailers, semitrailers and farm tractors; and
(2) Registrations for trucks of greater gross weight than provided in subparagraph (1), after the agent has satisfactorily participated in special training as prescribed by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §401, sub-§2, as corrected by RR 2009, c. 2, §81, is amended to read:
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §452, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §3 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §456-A, sub-§8, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 356, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §456-A, sub-§8, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 356, §3, is repealed.
Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §456-F, sub-§7, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 703, §10, is amended to read:
Sec. 8. 29-A MRSA §504, as amended by PL 2007, c. 647, §3 and affected by §8, is further amended to read:
§ 504. Registration of trucks and truck tractors
Beginning July 1, 2009, $10 of the fee must be transferred on a quarterly basis by the Treasurer of State to the TransCap Trust Fund established by Title 30-A, section 6006-G.
The Secretary of State shall keep records and may issue evidence to comply with 26 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 41, revised as of May 23, 1985, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 United States Code, Sections 4481, 4482 and 4483.
Pursuant to rule, the Secretary of State may certify that a vehicle qualifies for exemptions under 26 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.4483-3(g) or Section 41.4483-6(b), revised as of May 23, 1985.
Sec. 9. 29-A MRSA §507, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
When a truck is properly base registered in this State, the registrant may increase the registered gross vehicle weight of the truck upon application and payment of the proper fee. Temporary registered gross weight increases may be issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Bureau of the State Police or by any agent appointed by the Secretary of State who has been appointed for that specific purpose. Agents must be either municipal tax collectors or town or city managers.
Sec. 10. 29-A MRSA §521, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 1995, c. 645, Pt. A, §4, is further amended to read:
Sec. 11. 29-A MRSA §1251, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
Sec. 12. 29-A MRSA §1256, as amended by PL 2013, c. 606, §§1 to 5, is repealed.
Sec. 13. 29-A MRSA §1304, sub-§2, ¶E, as amended by PL 2013, c. 381, Pt. B, §16, is further amended to read:
Sec. 14. 29-A MRSA §1352, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 577, §21, is further amended to read:
Sec. 15. 29-A MRSA §1352, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is repealed.
Sec. 16. 29-A MRSA §1354, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 381, Pt. C, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 17. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2013, c. 381, Pt. A, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 18. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§10, as amended by PL 2011, c. 8, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 19. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§11, as amended by PL 2011, c. 8, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. 20. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§12, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 8, §3, is repealed.
Sec. 21. 29-A MRSA §1752-A is enacted to read:
§ 1752-A. Antique autos and motorcycles
An antique auto or an antique motorcycle registered pursuant to section 457 and manufactured prior to 1992 is exempt from inspection. An antique auto or an antique motorcycle registered pursuant to section 457 and manufactured in or after 1992 is subject to a biennial inspection congruent with the year of manufacture.
Sec. 22. 29-A MRSA §2356, as amended by PL 2009, c. 598, §39, is further amended to read:
§ 2356. Operation of a vehicle exceeding registered weight
Sec. 23. 29-A MRSA §2458, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 111, §2, is amended to read:
(1) "Entity" means a corporation, firm, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, association, fiduciary, trust, estate or any other legal or commercial entity.
(2) "Related entity" includes:
(a) All entities owned, operated or controlled by the person or named entity, by related individuals, by any person who is an officer or director of the named entity or by shareholders of the named entity;
(b) Any entity that has as an officer, director or partner an individual whose license or authority to engage in the business or commercial activity has been suspended;
(c) Any entity that has an officer, partner or 25% of its directors in common with the named entity; and
(d) Any entity in which 25% of the outstanding shares are owned or controlled by the suspended person or by an individual, related individual or entity who, taken together, also owned 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the named entity.
(3) "Related individual" means a spouse, domestic partner, parent, grandparent, sibling, child or grandchild, whether by blood or marriage, of a person whose license or authority to engage in the business or commercial activity has been suspended.
(4) "Suspension" means a suspension or revocation.
summary
This bill amends the motor vehicle laws as follows.
It clarifies that a combination vehicle may include a truck-trailer configuration.
It allows municipal agents to issue registrations for pickup trucks up to 10,000 pounds rather than the current 9,000-pound limit.
It amends the vehicle registration laws to require registration information on a motor vehicle's motive power for vehicles that do not use motor fuels, such as electric vehicles.
It makes clear that a registration plate may not be obscured by a plate frame or covering or other device that prevents the plate from being read.
It repeals the authorization for truck and truck tractor lobster registration plates and farm truck agriculture education registration plates.
It removes the word "commercial" from the laws regarding registration of trucks and truck tractors so as to include trucks and truck tractors that are used privately.
It removes an obsolete requirement that an agent who issues temporary registered gross weight increases be either a municipal tax collector or town or city manager.
It corrects a discrepancy regarding the maximum length of time for which a permanent disability parking placard may be issued. The limit is 6 years.
It requires antique autos and antique motorcycles manufactured after 1991 to be subject to a biennial inspection.
It removes the word "commercial" from the laws regarding the operation of a vehicle exceeding its registered weight.
It amends the definition of "related entity" to include a domestic partner in the provision regarding suspension or revocation of the license or authority to engage in a business or commercial activity under the motor vehicle major offenses laws.
It removes the requirement for a noncommercial driver education school to obtain a surety bond if the school offers driver education as a course credit and does not charge a fee for the driver education course.
It repeals the provision of law that allows a person who is at least 15 years of age to obtain a special restricted license under certain conditions without having held a permit for a period of 6 months.
It changes the motorcycle driver education requirement from an 8-hour block of instruction to classroom and hands-on instruction.