LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S CHAPTER
SIGNATURE
510
MARCH 22, 2022 PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO
_____
H.P. 963 - L.D. 1307
An Act Regarding the Sale and Use of Consumer Fireworks
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §223-A, sub-§10, as amended by PL 2019, c. 646, §1, is further
amended to read:
10. Disclosures to customers. A person authorized to sell consumer fireworks shall
provide to the purchaser at the point of sale written guidelines, which must be published or
approved by the commissioner before distribution, describing the safe and proper use of
consumer fireworks, which must include, but are including, but not limited to, guidelines
regarding the safe and proper use of consumer fireworks around bodies of water; guidelines
regarding the prevention of littering in the use of consumer fireworks; and guidelines
regarding the effects from the use of consumer fireworks on wildlife, livestock and
domesticated animals. The guidelines must also include the following statements in a
conspicuous location: "MAINE LAW EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS PERSONS UNDER 21
YEARS OF AGE FROM PURCHASING, POSSESSING OR USING CONSUMER
FIREWORKS" and "FURNISHING CONSUMER FIREWORKS TO PERSONS UNDER
21 YEARS OF AGE IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN MAINE." Such guidelines must be
published or approved by the commissioner prior to distribution.
A. "MAINE LAW EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS OF
AGE FROM PURCHASING, POSSESSING OR USING CONSUMER
FIREWORKS";
B. "FURNISHING CONSUMER FIREWORKS TO PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS
OF AGE IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN MAINE"; and
C. "LOCAL ORDINANCES MAY PROHIBIT OR RESTRICT THE USE OF
CONSUMER FIREWORKS WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY. INFORMATION
REGARDING LOCAL PROHIBITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS IS AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE MAINE STATE FIRE MARSHAL."
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §2263, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2021, c. 374, §1, is further
amended to read:
Page 1 - 130LR0520(03)
 2. Litter. "Litter" means all waste materials including, but not limited to, bottles,
glass, crockery, cans, scrap metal, junk, paper, garbage, rubbish, offal, except waste parts
or remains resulting from the normal field dressing of lawfully harvested wild game or the
lawful use of waste parts or remains of wild game as bait, feathers, except feathers from
live birds while being transported, abandoned ice-fishing shacks, old automobiles or parts
of automobiles or similar refuse, or disposable packages or containers thrown or deposited
as prohibited in this chapter, but not including the wastes of the primary processes of
mining, logging, sawmilling, farming or manufacturing. "Litter" includes waste materials
resulting from or associated with the use of tobacco products, including, but not limited to,
cigarette butts, and all waste materials resulting from the outdoor release or abandonment
of a balloon and all waste materials resulting from the use of consumer fireworks.
For the purposes of this subsection, "tobacco product" has the same meaning as in Title 22,
section 1551, subsection 3 and "consumer fireworks" has the same meaning as in Title 8,
section 221-A, subsection 1-A.
Sec. 3. 17-A MRSA §501-A, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 144, §3, is
amended by amending subparagraph (1) to read:
(1) Making loud and unreasonable noises noise, including, but not limited to, loud
and unreasonable noise resulting from the use of consumer fireworks;
Sec. 4. 17-A MRSA §501-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 144, §3, is
amended to read:
C. In a private place, the person makes loud and unreasonable noise, including, but not
limited to, loud and unreasonable noise resulting from the use of consumer fireworks,
that can be heard by another person, who may be a law enforcement officer, as
unreasonable noise in a public place or in another private place, after having been
ordered by a law enforcement officer to cease the noise; or
Sec. 5. 17-A MRSA §501-A, sub-§2, ¶C is enacted to read:
C. "Consumer fireworks" has the same meaning as in Title 8, section 221-A,
subsection 1-A.
Page 2 - 130LR0520(03)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1307, HP 963: 8.221, 8.223, 8.236, 30-A.7051
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 510: 8.223, 17.2263, 17-A.501