PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Limit the Use of Ropes and Buoys in Swim Areas in Great Ponds
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1900, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 312, §1, is amended to read:
 
3. Swim area prohibition.   A person may not establish or maintain a swim line or a developed swim area without a permit issued under subsection 4. A person may not establish or maintain a swim line or a developed swim area unless the length of the developed swim area or of the area delineated by a swim line is equal to or less than 50% of the entire length of the shore frontage of the property from which the developed swim area or the area delineated by a swim line extends or 200 feet, whichever is greater. The length of a developed swim area or of an area delineated by a swim line is measured parallel to the shore.
 
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. Each day a person violates this subsection is a separate violation.
 
B. A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this subchapter within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a person may not establish or maintain a swim line or a developed swim area unless the length of the developed swim area or of the area delineated by a swim line is equal to or less than 50% of the entire length of the shore frontage of the property from which the developed swim area or the area delineated by a swim line extends or 200 feet, whichever is greater. The length of a developed swim area or of an area delineated by a swim line is measured parallel to the shore. The length of the swim line will determine where a line, rope or series of buoys used to delineate an area of surface water for the purpose of swimming may be placed.