APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 11, 2025 267
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
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H.P. 1077 - L.D. 1623
An Act to Amend Certain Fish and Wildlife Laws Related to Landowner
Representation Regarding Abandoned Property
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10652, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 54, §2, is further
amended to read:
A. A person may not:
(1) Tear down or destroy any fence or wall on another person's land;
(2) Leave open any gate or bars on another person's land;
(3) Trample or destroy any crop on another person's land;
(4) Damage or destroy a tree on another person's land by inserting into that tree
any metallic or ceramic object to be used as, or as part of, a ladder or observation
stand unless the person has the permission of the landowner or the landowner's
representative;
(5) Erect or use either a portable or permanent ladder or observation stand on the
land of another person unless:
(a) That person has obtained oral or written authorization to erect and use a
ladder or observation stand from the landowner or the landowner's
representative; and
(b) The ladder or observation stand is plainly labeled with a 2-inch by 4-inch
tag identifying the name and address of the person or persons authorized by
the landowner or the landowner's representative to use the ladder or
observation stand.
This subparagraph does not apply to a portable ladder or observation stand that is
located on land within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning
Commission and attended by the person who owns the ladder or observation stand.
For purposes of this subparagraph, "observation stand" does not include a portable
blind utilized at ground level that remains in the physical possession of the hunter;
or.
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 If the landowner or the landowner's representative finds an abandoned ladder or
observation stand on the landowner's land in violation of this subparagraph and the
owner of the abandoned ladder or observation stand is unknown, the landowner or
the landowner's representative may take ownership of the abandoned ladder or
observation stand. The landowner or the landowner's representative may remove,
destroy, sell or possess the abandoned ladder or observation stand. For the purposes
of this subparagraph, "abandoned ladder or observation stand" means a ladder or
observation stand left on property not owned by the person who owns the ladder
or observation stand without permission of the landowner or the landowner's
representative; or
(6) Destroy, tear down, deface or otherwise damage a property posting sign under
Title 17‑A, section 402, subsection 4.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §13070, sub-§2, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9, amended by
c. 655, Pt. B, §382 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
2. Stop and identify requirement. Persons operating an airmobile upon the land of
another shall stop and identify themselves upon the request of the landowner or the
landowner's duly authorized representative. A person who violates this subsection commits
a Class E crime.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §13106-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §394
and affected by §422, is amended to read:
2. Stop and identify requirement. Persons operating a snowmobile upon the land of
another shall stop and identify themselves upon the request of the landowner or the
landowner's duly authorized representative.
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §13155, sub-§5-B, as amended by PL 2021, c. 526, §2, is further
amended to read:
5-B. Oversized ATV; exception. A person may not register an oversized ATV except
as provided in this subsection. A resident who has registered an oversized ATV prior to
January 1, 2022 may continue to register that oversized ATV upon payment of the fee
specified in subsection 5, paragraph A, and upon a transfer of ownership of that registered
oversized ATV, the new owner may also register that oversized ATV upon payment of the
fee specified in subsection 5, paragraph A. Registration is not required for an oversized
ATV operated by a person on the land of another if written permission is received from the
landowner or, lessee of the land or landowner's representative and the person is engaged
solely in a business activity, other than a business activity involving recreational use of the
oversized ATV. For purposes of this subsection, "oversized ATV" means an ATV that is
wider than 65 inches or weighs more than 2,000 pounds according to the manufacturer's
specifications.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §13157-A, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 215, §11, is
further amended to read:
1-A. Permission required. A person may not operate an ATV on the land of another
without the permission of the landowner or, lessee or landowner's representative.
Permission is presumed on designated state-approved ATV trails or in areas open to ATVs
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by landowner policy. A landowner or, lessee or landowner's representative may limit the
use of a designated state-approved ATV trail on that landowner's or lessee's property
through agreements with the State or an ATV club to address environmental, public safety
or management concerns, including by limiting the type, size and weight of ATVs
permitted on the landowner's or lessee's property. A person operating an ATV, including
an oversized ATV, on designated state-approved ATV trails shall adhere to limitations
imposed by a landowner or, lessee or landowner's representative and the State on that part
of the designated state-approved ATV trail on the landowner's or lessee's property in
accordance with this subsection. Written permission of the landowner or, lessee or
landowner's representative is required for use of an ATV on cropland or pastureland or in
an orchard. A landowner, lessee or landowner's representative may limit in writing the use
of a designated state-approved ATV trail on that landowner's or lessee's property. As used
in this subsection, "cropland" means acreage in tillage rotation, land being cropped and
land in bush fruits and "pastureland" means acreage devoted to the production of forage
plants used for animal production. For purposes of this subsection, "oversized ATV" has
the same meaning as defined in section 13155, subsection 5‑B. Nothing in this This
subsection may not be construed to limit or expand a landowner's or lessee's property rights.
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of
not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
B. A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated of having
committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period
commits a Class E crime.
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §13157-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §414
and affected by §422, is amended to read:
2. Stop and identify requirement. Persons operating ATVs upon the land of another
shall stop and identify themselves upon the request of the landowner, lessee or the
landowner's duly authorized representative. A person who violates this subsection commits
a Class E crime.
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §13157-A, sub-§27, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. E,
§26 and amended by PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5, is further amended by amending
subparagraph (2) in the first blocked paragraph to read:
The provisions of this subparagraph do not apply to a trail designated for ATV use
by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The provisions of
this subparagraph also do not apply to a person accessing land for maintenance or
inspection purposes with the landowner's permission or the landowner's
representative's permission or to local, state or federal government personnel in the
performance of official duties, provided as long as there is no significant ground
disturbance or sedimentation of water bodies.
Sec. 8. 33 MRSA §2001, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 382, §1, is amended to read:
§2001. Placement of cameras and electronic surveillance equipment on private
property
1. Prohibition. A person may not place a camera or electronic surveillance equipment
that records images or data of any kind while unattended outside on the private property of
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another without the written consent of the landowner or the landowner's representative,
unless the placement is pursuant to a warrant.
2. Labeling. A person who places a camera or electronic surveillance equipment
described in subsection 1 on the private property of another with the written consent of the
landowner or the landowner's representative or pursuant to a warrant shall label the camera
or electronic surveillance equipment with that person's name and contact information.
3. Remove or disable; abandoned camera or electronic surveillance equipment.
A landowner or the landowner's representative may remove or disable a camera or
electronic surveillance equipment placed on the landowner's private property in violation
of this section. If the landowner or the landowner's representative finds an abandoned
camera or electronic surveillance equipment on the landowner's land in violation of this
section and the owner of the abandoned camera or electronic surveillance equipment is
unknown, the landowner or the landowner's representative may take ownership of the
abandoned camera or electronic surveillance equipment. The landowner or the landowner's
representative may remove, destroy, sell or possess the abandoned camera or electronic
surveillance equipment. For purposes of this section, "abandoned camera or electronic
surveillance equipment" means a camera or electronic surveillance equipment left on
property not owned by the person who owns the camera or electronic surveillance
equipment without permission of the landowner or the landowner's representative.
4. Exceptions. This section does not prohibit the following:
A. The use of a camera to deter theft or vandalism of a motor vehicle when the motor
vehicle is temporarily parked; or
B. The use of implanted or attached electronic devices to identify, monitor and track
animals.
5. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a
fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 267: 12.10652, 12.13070, 12.13106, 12.13155, 12.13157, 33.2001