CHAPTER 125
H.P. 507 - L.D. 690
An Act To Create Experimental Motor Vehicle Plates and Registration
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §470 is enacted to read:
§470. Experimental motor vehicle plates and registration
1. Definition. "Experimental motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle in the developmental stage that has not yet reached production.
2. Inspection and equipment. An experimental motor vehicle is exempt from inspection requirements under section 1751 but must comply with the equipment standards of chapter 17 to include at a minimum: body components, an exhaust system, reflectors, running gear, tires, a horn, lights, directional signals, brakes, a steering mechanism, windshield wipers, safety seat belts and rearview mirrors.
3. Experimental motor vehicle inventor registration. A person in the business of developing experimental motor vehicles shall register with the Secretary of State as an experimental motor vehicle inventor. The Secretary of State shall develop and implement an application process, including but not limited to name, address and description and photographs of the experimental motor vehicle in development.
4. Experimental motor vehicle plate. The Secretary of State shall issue a registration plate for an experimental motor vehicle to a registered experimental motor vehicle inventor. This plate may be used for one or more experimental motor vehicles during the term of the registration provided that those vehicles are owned by the person issued the registration plate. The Secretary of State may issue no more than 2 plates per registered experimental motor vehicle inventor. The registration for an experimental motor vehicle must be renewed annually.
5. Fee. The Secretary of State shall charge an annual fee of $20 for each plate issued under this section.
6. Insurance. The Secretary of State may not issue an experimental motor vehicle registration plate until the applicant has procured and filed with the Secretary of State a certificate showing that the applicant is covered by an automobile bodily injury and property damage liability insurance policy providing coverage against any legal liability when injury, death or damage results from or has been caused by the operation of any vehicle bearing an experimental motor vehicle registration plate.
7. Limitations on use. A person may not operate an experimental motor vehicle on a public way with a posted speed limit that exceeds the capability of that vehicle to achieve and safely maintain that speed. Experimental motor vehicles are prohibited from operation on the interstate highway system and Maine Turnpike at all times. A person may operate an experimental motor vehicle only in daylight hours.
8. Rulemaking. The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to establish the application criteria and process by which a person may qualify to receive an experimental motor vehicle registration plate. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
9. Violations. The operation of any motor vehicle registered under this section that is not in compliance with this section is a traffic infraction.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§8, ¶C, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 437, §42, is amended to read:
C. Has a partial annual inspection of running gear, steering mechanism, brakes and exhaust system and tires under section 1917, subsection 3; and
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
9. Registered in this State. A motor vehicle registered in this State displaying a valid certificate of inspection from another state or a federally approved commercial vehicle inspection program until its normal expiration.; and
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§10 is enacted to read:
10. Experimental motor vehicle. A vehicle registered as an experimental motor vehicle pursuant to section 470. An experimental motor vehicle must meet minimum equipment standards pursuant to section 470, subsection 2.
Effective September 13, 2003, unless otherwise indicated.
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