Resolve, to Create a Working Group to Study the Safety and Use of Nonconforming Vehicles on Maine's Roads and Highways

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STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
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S.P. 498 - L.D. 1209
Resolve, to Create a Working Group to Study the Safety and Use of
Nonconforming Vehicles on Maine's Roads and Highways
Sec. 1. Nonconforming vehicle working group. Resolved: That the Secretary
of State shall convene a working group, referred to in this resolve as "the working group,"
to study the feasibility of allowing registration and use by motorists of vehicles currently
prohibited from operation on the State's roads and highways, referred to in this resolve as
"nonconforming vehicles," including, but not limited to, mini trucks, antique military
vehicles and any other vehicle under 10,000 pounds and operated by a holder of a Class C
license, and to review the systems and laws in place for antique vehicles. The working
group consists of 7 members as follows:
1. The deputy secretary of state for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or the deputy
secretary's designee;
2. One member from the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, traffic
safety unit who is an expert in vehicle safety and emissions standards, appointed by the
Secretary of State;
3. One member who is a representative of a motor vehicle insurance company,
appointed by the Secretary of State;
4. One member who is a representative of a motor vehicle inspection business,
appointed by the Secretary of State;
5. One member who is a representative of a business that imports foreign cars for sale
in the State, appointed by the Secretary of State;
6. One member who is a representative of municipalities, appointed by the Secretary
of State; and
7. One member who is a representative of a transportation museum with a focus on
nonconforming vehicles, appointed by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 2. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall:
1. Identify the operating standards that prohibit nonconforming vehicles from being
operated on the State's roads and highways;
APPROVED
MAY 16, 2025
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
29
RESOLVES
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2. Identify the risks of allowing nonconforming vehicles on the State's roads and
highways;
3. Review and analyze the safety of allowing the use of nonconforming vehicles on the
State's roads and highways, including but not limited to crash safety, vehicle emissions and
speed capabilities, and a comparison of the safety of nonconforming vehicles to the safety
of vehicles already allowed on the State's roads and highways, including antique vehicles
and motorcycles;
4. Review and analyze laws in other states that allow the use of nonconforming vehicles
and how the allowance of these vehicles has affected motor vehicle safety in those states;
5. Review and analyze any reports or studies from other states that have considered the
subjects of study described in section 1 and how the results of those reports or studies could
relate to the State's roads and highways and motor vehicle systems;
6. Consider the most effective way to allow for nonconforming vehicles to be used on
the State's roads and highways while protecting the safety of those driving them and other
drivers and consider any restrictions on location, annual mileage or driving speed and how
to most effectively register those vehicles to indicate such restrictions, including through
the use of a system similar to those systems used for antique and farm vehicles;
7. Consider how to implement an inspection system that would ensure that
nonconforming vehicles are safe to drive on the State's roads and highways and how such
a system might be similar to or different from the State's current inspection systems for
motor vehicles and antique vehicles; and
8. Recommend whether to implement the registration, inspection and use of
nonconforming vehicles on the State's roads and highways and recommend any related
legislation.
Sec. 3. Compensation. Resolved: That members of the working group may not
be compensated for their work on the working group.
Sec. 4. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Department of the Secretary of State,
Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall provide necessary staffing services to the working group
within existing resources.
Sec. 5. Report. Resolved: That the Secretary of State shall provide a report by
February 6, 2026 containing the findings and recommendations of the working group,
including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.
The joint standing committee may introduce legislation for presentation to the Second
Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature based on the recommendations in the report.