ATV Riding Laws – Maine

ATV riding is legislated in terms of Title 12, Chapter 933 of the Maine Statutes. Title 12 covers all legislation governing conservation in the state. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildfire (DOIFW) has the authority to enforce the provisions of this statute.

Maine has a comprehensive set of statutory rules and regulations that govern the use of these vehicles in the state. These make provision for the registration and operation, as well as penalties for violating ATV laws.

ATV Registration Requirements and Age Restrictions

The DOIFW charges higher ATV registration fees for non-residents of Maine than for residents of the state, and registration must be renewed yearly. ATVs that are ridden only on the land on which the owner lives do not need to be registered. The law also provides for certain other exclusions from registration, like ATV use for commercial ski and farming operations.

The law imposes the following age restrictions for operating an ATV:

  • No child under the age of 10 may operate the vehicle.
  • Teenagers between the ages of 10 and 16 must successfully complete an approved training course and be accompanied by an adult when operating it.
  • Anyone under 16 years old may not cross a public way unless they satisfy the provisions of the statute.

These restrictions do not apply if children are riding on the property where they live or at a safety training site approved by the DOIFW.

Restrictions on the Operation of ATVs

Title 12, Chapter 933 also imposes several restrictions on vehicle operation. A person may not:

  • Ride on another person’s land without their permission.
  • Operate one on a highway, unless they cross the highway in designated crossings.
  • Ride on a snowmobile trail.
  • Ride the vehicle on a public way unless it for crossing purposes, and then for no more than 500 yards.
  • Ride without protective headgear, whether driver or passenger, if under the age of 18.
  • Operate it on an adjacent railroad area.

In addition, there are certain areas where it is illegal to ride an ATV. These include a beach, sand dune, salt marsh, intertidal zone, cemetery or burial ground. ATVs may also not be operated on alpine tundra or through rivers, streams and protected water sources.

Penalties for Statutory Violation

State legislation prescribes penalties for various violations of the law:

  • A minimum fine of $1,000 for failing to stop for a law enforcement officer
  • The same minimum fine for eluding an enforcement officer
  • A mandatory one-year suspension of licenses, permits, and registrations for the reckless operation of an ATV or for endangering a person or property
  • A similar suspension of entitled operation for the abuse or destruction of property while riding

An ATV rider may be suspended for operating the vehicle on a closed trail or on land without permission. Riding under the influence of drugs or liquor is prohibited. Intoxicated riders face stiff penalties, including fines and incarceration.