APPROVED CHAPTER
MARCH 28, 2024 583
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
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H.P. 1461 - L.D. 2272
An Act Related to Airboats and Airboat Noise Limits
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the Legislature enacted legislation in 2023 to extend the repeal date of the
provisions of law establishing airboat noise limits but this legislation did not take effect
before the provisions were repealed; and
Whereas, the stakeholder group on airboat noise issues convened pursuant to Public
Law 2021, chapter 166 and extended by Public Law 2021, chapter 585 and Public Law
2023, chapter 209 has recommended that the decibel level limits for airboats be
reestablished immediately; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§10, ¶A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 166, §1, is
further amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
As used in this paragraph, "motorboat" does not include an "airboat," which has the
same meaning as defined in paragraph A‑2 subsection 10-A.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§10-A is enacted to read:
10-A. Operating airboat that exceeds noise limits. The following provisions govern
airboat noise limits.
A. A person may not operate an airboat:
(1) If the noise level of the airboat exceeds 90 decibels as measured in a stationary
sound level test as prescribed by SAE standards J-2005;
(2) Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. in such a manner as to exceed a noise
level of 75 decibels on the "A" scale as measured by the SAE standards J-1970,
Page 1 - 131LR3128(02)
 referred to in this paragraph as "the shoreline test," except to the extent necessary
to achieve headway speed when leaving a boat launch or to move the airboat from
a stationary position on a tidal flat; or
(3) After 7 a.m. and before 7 p.m. in such a manner as to exceed a noise level of
90 decibels as measured by the shoreline test, except to the extent necessary to
achieve headway speed when leaving a boat launch or to move the airboat from a
stationary position on a tidal flat.
B. This subsection does not apply to the operation of an airboat by a marine patrol
officer appointed under section 6025, subsection 1, a game warden or a municipal law
enforcement officer.
C. The following penalties apply to violations of this subsection.
(1) A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a
fine of not less than $300 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
(2) A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having
committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year
period commits a Class E crime.
For purposes of this subsection, "airboat" means a flat-bottomed watercraft propelled by
an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft engine or an automotive engine
and "SAE standards" means technical standards adopted by the Society of Automotive
Engineers.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2272, HP 1461: 12.13068
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 583: 12.13068