Title 29-A, Title 29-A

This subchapter is in addition to and does not limit or replace other rights or procedures provided by statute or common law.

1. Access to diagnostic systems. Access to the vehicle on-board diagnostic systems of all motor vehicles, including commercial motor vehicles and heavy duty vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 pounds, must be standardized and made accessible to owner…

1. Notice. The Attorney General shall establish for prospective motor vehicle owners a motor vehicle telematics system notice that includes, but is not limited to, the following features: A. An explanation of telematics systems and their purposes; [IB 2023, c. 3, §4 (NEW).] B. A …

This subchapter applies to a vehicle that is: [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).] 1. Towed at request of owner or driver. Towed at the request of the owner or driver; 2. Towed because illegally parked or left standing or at officer's discretion. …

For the purposes of this subchapter, a vehicle is considered "abandoned" if the owner or lienholder does not retrieve it and pay all reasonable charges for towing, storing and authorized repair of the vehicle within 14 days after the notices to the owner and lienholder are sent b…

If a person abandons a vehicle as described in section 1851, the owner of the premises or property where the vehicle is located may obtain a letter of ownership or a certificate of title by complying with this subchapter.

1. Notification in writing. Except as provided in subsection 1‑A, the owner of the premises where a vehicle described in section 1851 is located or the owner's agent shall notify the Secretary of State that the owner or the owner's agent is in possession of that vehicle. The noti…

1. Evidence of compliance. A person who has complied with section 1854, subsection 4 shall present evidence of compliance to the Secretary of State immediately after the 14-day notice period. The Secretary of State may not issue a letter of ownership or certificate of title until…

If the notification to the Secretary of State required by section 1854 is made more than 14 days after receipt of a vehicle described in section 1851 or if notification is not submitted to the Secretary of State, the person holding the vehicle may not collect more than 14 days of…

Abandonment of a vehicle on a public way is a traffic infraction for which a fine of not less than $250 must be assessed. A person who is found to have abandoned a vehicle under this section is responsible for any towing or other charges that are directly related to the abandonme…

Removal of a vehicle described in section 1851 or of any part or accessory from the vehicle without the written consent of the person in charge or the owner of the premises or property where the vehicle is located is a traffic infraction. This section applies to all persons, incl…

A person may not abandon a motor vehicle on any property on an island without consent of the owner of the property. The State, municipality or other political subdivision having jurisdiction over the island may order the owner of a vehicle illegally abandoned on an island to remo…

A person holding or storing an abandoned vehicle, holding or storing a vehicle towed at the request of the vehicle's operator, owner or owner's agent or holding or storing a vehicle stored at the request of a law enforcement officer may hold the vehicle and all its accessories, c…

1. Release of vehicle. An insurance company, financial institution or dealer may direct an independent entity that obtains possession of a vehicle to release the vehicle to the owner. The insurance company, financial institution or dealer shall provide the independent entity a re…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Commercial motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 390.5, as amended. [PL 2017, c. 120, §2 (NEW).] B. "Comm…

A person may not use a vehicle on a public way or sell or equip a vehicle for use on a public way with aftermarket equipment contrary to this Title or contrary to the rules of the Chief of the State Police.

1. General rule. A motor vehicle must have adequate brakes in good working order that are sufficient to control the vehicle. 2. Specific standards. Brakes must be adjusted so as to stop: A. A 2-wheel brake vehicle, within a distance of 45 feet, from a speed of 20 miles per hour; …

1. Signaling device required. A person may not operate a motor vehicle without a suitable and adequate horn or other device for signaling. 2. Unnecessarily sounded. A person may not unnecessarily sound a signaling device or horn.

1. General rules; headlights. A person may not operate a motor vehicle that does not meet the following requirements concerning headlights. A. A motor vehicle must be equipped with headlights. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §20 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).] B. Headlights mu…

1. Requirement. Except as provided in subsection 3, a motor vehicle with 3 or more wheels or a tiny home, trailer or semitrailer must have on the rear 2 lights, one on each side of the axis, each capable of displaying a red light visible for a distance of at least 100 feet behind…

1. Requirement. Except as provided in subsection 3, a motor vehicle, tiny home, trailer or semitrailer must be equipped with electric flashing turn signal lamps. A motor vehicle must emit white or amber light from the turn signals to the front of the vehicle and a motor vehicle, …

1. Requirement. All factory-installed brake lights or equivalent replacements on a motor vehicle, tiny home, trailer or semitrailer must be present and operating properly and must emit a steady red light when a slight pressure is placed on the brake pedal, and the light emitted m…

1. Requirements for vehicle 7 feet or more in width. A vehicle 7 feet or more in width must have a green or amber light attached to the extreme left of the front, adjusted to indicate the extreme left lateral extension of the vehicle or load and at least one red light on the extr…

A vehicle must be equipped with at least one adequate reflector securely attached to the rear. The reflector: [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).] 1. Part of rear light. May be a part of the rear light; 2. Color. Must be red; and 3. Reflection. Mu…

On a vehicle 7 feet wide or wider, all rear lights, reflectors and signal lights must be within 12 inches of the extreme extension of the vehicle. On flat-body dump trucks, rear lights and signal lamps may be mounted on the rear of the frame. This section does not apply to unregi…

A vehicle must have a white light capable of illuminating the rear registration plate so that the characters on the plate are visible for a distance of at least 50 feet. This section does not apply to unregistered farm tractors or vehicles with valid temporary plates issued by li…

1. Fog lights. A motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 fog lights upon the front of the motor vehicle that emit amber or white light as long as the rays from the lights do not shine more than 2 feet above the road at a distance of 30 feet. A fog light mounted higher than the cente…

1. General restrictions. Except as otherwise provided by section 2054 and any other law or rule, a vehicle may be equipped with or display an auxiliary light, as defined by section 2054, subsection 1, paragraph C, only if it conforms to the requirements of this section. 2. Color.…

An animal‑drawn vehicle operated on a public way must be equipped with the following: [PL 2023, c. 301, §1 (AMD).] 1. Light. During nighttime, an oil lantern or electric lights attached to the left side of the vehicle that displays a red light toward the rear of the vehicle and a…

The Chief of the State Police may adopt rules governing the adjustment, use and operation of lights on vehicles.

1. Definition. "Hydraulic brake fluid" means the liquid medium through which force is transmitted to the brakes in the hydraulic brake system of a vehicle. 2. Requirement. Hydraulic brake fluid must be distributed and serviced with due regard for the safety of the occupants of th…

1. Muffler required. A person may not operate a motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler properly maintained to prevent excessive or unusual noise. For purposes of this subsection, “excessive or unusual noise” includes motor noise emitted by a motor …

1. Mirrors required. A person may not operate on a public way a vehicle so constructed, equipped, loaded or used that the operator is prevented from having a constantly free and unobstructed view of the way immediately to the rear, unless there is attached a mirror or reflector p…

1. Safety seat belts required. A person may not buy, sell, lease, trade or transfer from or to a resident at retail a model year 1966 or later motor vehicle, unless that vehicle is equipped with safety seat belts installed for use in the left and right front seats.

1. Safety glass. A motor vehicle must be equipped with safety glass wherever glass is used in partitions, doors, windows or windshields. "Safety glass" means a product composed of glass or of other materials, manufactured, fabricated or treated to prevent shattering and flying of…

1. Windows to be unobscured. A person may not operate a motor vehicle required to be registered in this State and an inspection mechanic may not issue a certificate of inspection for a motor vehicle, if: A. A window is composed of, covered by or treated with any material that is …

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Tread depth" means the amount of tread design on the tire. "Tread depth" includes original, retread and recap tread design and, in respect to a sp…

A person commits a traffic infraction if that person distributes, has for sale, offers for sale, sells or uses on a motor vehicle a pneumatic tire that has been regrooved below the original tread depth, unless that tire was originally manufactured with extra undertread material.

1. Prohibited May 1st to October 1st. Except as provided in subsections 2 and 3, from the first day of May to the first day of October, a person may not operate a vehicle with tires having metal studs, wires, spikes or other metal protruding from the tire tread. Pneumatic tires t…

1. Minimum and maximum frame end heights. A motor vehicle may not be operated on a public way or receive a certificate of inspection with a frame end height of less than 10 inches or with the frame end height lower than the vehicle was originally manufactured if originally manufa…

A person may not operate a motor vehicle in which there is a television viewer, screen or other video device, other than an allowable device, that is receiving or showing video content visible to the operator. For the purposes of this section, "video content" includes, but is not…

1. Prohibition. Except as provided in this section, an owner or operator may not operate on a public way a motor vehicle to which is affixed an illuminated advertisement. 2. Display rules. For purposes of vehicle identification, in addition to the provisions of section 1951, a mo…

An operator may not read printed material including but not limited to, a newspaper, book, brochure or pamphlet, while operating a motor vehicle. Printed material does not include a map or written directions to a specific location.

Chains attached to the tires or wheels of a skidder must be removed prior to operation on a paved way.

1. Equipment required. A low-speed vehicle registered pursuant to section 501, subsection 11 must be equipped with: A. Brakes for each wheel; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).] B. Headlights that comply with section 1904; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).] C. An odometer; [PL 2003, c. 397, §…