Penalties for ATV and Snowmobile

A person who violates the provisions below commits a Class D crime, for which a minimum fine or not less than $1,000 must be adjudged.

§10651 – Failure to stop for law enforcement officer.

A person may not fail or refuse to stop any recreational vehicle on request or signal of any law enforcement officer in uniform whose duty it is to enforce laws.

§10651, 1-E – Attempt to elude a law enforcement officer.

A person may not attempt to elude a law enforcement officer by: operating or attempting to operate a recreational vehicle past a clearly identifiable police roadblock; or after being requested or signaled to stop by a law enforcement officer in uniform, operating or attempting to operate a recreational vehicle at a reckless rate of speed.

The following penalties are Class D crimes as well, with varying fine amounts

Operating under the influence.

Reckless operating on a recreational vehicle. A person may not operate a recreational vehicle in such a way as to recklessly create a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person.

A person who violates the provisions below commits a Class E crime.

Operating to endanger. A person may not operate a recreational vehicle so as to endanger any person or property.

Operating at greater than reasonable and prudent speed. A person may not operate a recreational vehicle except at a reasonable and prudent speed for the existing conditions.

Abuse of another person’s property. A person may not while operating a recreational vehicle: Tear down or destroy a fence or wall on another person’s land; leave open a gate or bars on another person’s land; trample or destroy crops on another person’s land; or remove or destroy signs or posted notices.

12 MRSA §10902 – Suspension or revocation of or refusal to issue license or permit.

In addition to the penalties described above, the commissioner shall suspend all licenses and permits issued by the department pursuant to this Part and may suspend any registration to any person convicted or adjudicated of:

• Abuse of another person’s property
• Operating under the influence
• Operating to endanger
• Reckless operation
• Failure or refusal to stop or attempting to elude an officer.

The commissioner shall reinstate licenses,permits and registrations that have been suspended after the suspension period has lapsed and only if the person satisfactorily completes a training program approved by the department relating to safety and ethics. The costs of this training program are borne by the person undertaking the training. The commissioner shall establish by rule the procedures for completion of mandatory training pursuant to this subsection. A person who satisfactorily completes a training program approved by the department is deemed to have satisfied the outdoor ethics training course requirements established under section 10903.

The commissioner may suspend, for at least 90 days, all licenses, permits, and registrations issued by the department pursuant to this Part to any person convicted or adjudicated of:

• Operating a recreational vehicle on a temporarily closed trail or
• Operating a recreational vehicle on the land of another without permission.