APPROVED CHAPTER
JULY 8, 2021 427
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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H.P. 475 - L.D. 644
An Act Regarding Motor Vehicle Registration Violations
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §351, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 112, §6, is further
amended to read:
1. Failure to register. A person who operates a vehicle that is not registered in
accordance with this Title, fails to register a vehicle or permits a vehicle that is not
registered to remain on a public way commits:
A. A traffic infraction for which a fine of not more than $50 may be adjudged for a
first offense if the vehicle was registered and the registration has been expired for more
than 30 days but less than 150 days; or
B. A Class E crime if the vehicle was not registered or the registration has been expired
for 150 days or more.
C. A traffic infraction for which a fine of not more than $100 may be adjudged for a
first offense if the vehicle was registered and the registration has been expired for 150
days or more;
D. A traffic infraction for which a fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged for
each subsequent offense; or
E. A Class E crime if the vehicle has never been registered by the current owner of the
vehicle.
A person served with a Violation Summons and Complaint charging a violation of this
subsection may have the complaint dismissed if that person shows satisfactory evidence of
registration that was in effect at the time of the alleged violation or that the person
subsequently registered the vehicle prior to the date required for filing an answer to the
complaint. The clerk of the District Court Violations Bureau must dismiss the complaint
if, prior to the date required for filing an answer to the complaint, the person charged files
a copy of the Violation Summons and Complaint with the bureau, together with satisfactory
evidence of registration. If a person files a timely answer to a Violation Summons and
Complaint alleging a violation of this subsection and that person presents to the court at the
time of trial satisfactory evidence of registration, the court must dismiss the complaint.
Page 1 - 130LR1930(05)
 Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §351, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 433, §5 and
affected by §28, is further amended to read:
1-A. Residents required to register. An owner of a vehicle who becomes a resident
of this State shall register that vehicle in this State within 30 days of establishing residency.
A person who operates or allows a vehicle that is not registered in accordance with this
subsection to remain on a public way commits:
A. A traffic infraction for which a fine of not more than $50 may be adjudged for a
first offense if more than 30 days but less than 150 days has elapsed since establishing
residency; or
A-1. A traffic infraction for which a fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged for
a 2nd and each subsequent offense; or
B. A Class E crime if more than 150 days have elapsed since establishing residency.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §351, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2
and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
A. Within 2 10 business days, the owner or operator must register the vehicle;
Sec. 4. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2022.
Page 2 - 130LR1930(05)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 644, HP 475: 29-A.351
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 427: 29-A.351