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An Act To Prohibit Motor Vehicle Use in the Intertidal Zone
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §6959-B  is enacted to read:
§ 6959-B. Operating a motor vehicle in the intertidal zone
 
1.  Violation.     A person may not operate a motor vehicle as defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 42 in the intertidal zone, except:
 
A.  To launch or retrieve watercraft as defined in section 13001, subsection 28;
 
B.  To engage in an activity that has received any necessary state or local permits and for which a motor vehicle is necessary; or
 
C.  If the vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in Title 29-A, section 2054, subsection 1, paragraph B.
 
2.  Penalty.     The following penalties apply to violations of this section.
 
A.  A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.  A person who violates this section after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this section within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime.
 
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle in the intertidal zone except to launch or retrieve a watercraft, to engage in an activity that requires the use of a motor vehicle and for which any necessary state or local permits have been obtained or if the vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle. It specifies that a person who violates the prohibition on the operation of a motor vehicle in the intertidal zone commits a civil violation, except that a person who is adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations for operating a motor vehicle in the intertidal zone within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime.