A study of Maine’s laws governing all-terrain vehicles is raising concerns for some state lawmakers, who question several of its sweeping proposals.
The controversial recommendations emerging from the study include imposing a single, higher registration fee for all ATVs and limiting the size of ATVs that operate on state-funded trails.
Deputy Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Tim Peabody says the trails are being damaged by larger machines and require higher maintenance costs.
“This is an important economic driver in rural Maine and without these trails I think it will start to deteriorate that ability of these towns to capture those economic values,” he says.
Republican Rep. Maryanne Kinney of Knox takes issue with the fee proposal.
“The Humvees that are out on the road versus the little Toyota Prius, they don’t pay the same excise tax. It shouldn’t be that hard for the state to come up with a tiered program,” she says.
Some lawmakers say that they have heard from constituents who object to many of the proposals. Task force members say the state must address the issues because of the economic importance of ATVs to Maine’s recreation industry.
The report, commissioned by Gov. Janet Mills will serve as the basis for new legislation.
