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2025 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 21: WEIGHT, DIMENSION AND PROTECTION OF WAYS
Subchapter 3: PROTECTION OF WAYS
29-A §2396. Certain substances on public ways

Universal Citation:
29-A ME Rev Stat § 2396 (2025)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
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§2396. Certain substances on public ways

1.  Injurious substances.  A person may not place on a way a tack, nail, wire, scrap metal, glass, crockery or other substance that may injure feet, tires or wheels.  

[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §75 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

1-A.  Duty to clear way.  If a person accidentally places an injurious substance on a way, that person shall immediately make all reasonable efforts to clear the way of that substance.  

[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §76 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

2.  Unsecured load.  A person may not operate on a public way a vehicle with a load that is not fastened, secured, confined or loaded to reasonably prevent a portion from falling off.  

For the purposes of this section, "load" includes, but is not limited to, firewood, pulpwood, logs, bolts, snow, ice or other material, but does not include loose hay, pea vines, straw, grain or cornstalks.  

When the load consists of sawdust, shavings or wood chips, and a reasonable effort has been made to completely cover the load, minor amounts blown from the vehicle while in transit do not constitute a violation.  

A violation of this section is a traffic infraction subject to a fine of not less than $150 nor more than $500.  

[PL 2023, c. 107, §2 (AMD).]

3.  Gravel.  A load of gravel, sand, crushed stone, rubbish, building debris or trash must be covered or otherwise secured or confined to prevent any portion of the load from falling from or spilling out of the vehicle.  

[PL 2001, c. 267, §16 (AMD).]

4.  Snow.  A person may not place and allow to remain on a public way snow or slush that has not accumulated there naturally.  

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 144, §2 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 360, §16 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §§Q75,76 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 107, §2 (AMD).

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