Maine Boating 2008 Laws & Rules
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Maine State Library Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Law Books Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 1-1-2008 Maine Boating 2008 Laws & Rules Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_law_books Recommended Citation "Maine Boating 2008 Laws & Rules" (2008). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Law Books. 479. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_law_books/479 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Maine State Documents. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Law Books by an authorized administrator of Maine State Documents. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STATE OF MAINE BOATING 2008 LAW S & RU L E S www.maine.gov/ifw STATE OF MAINE BOATING 2008 LAW S & RU L E S www.maine.gov/ifw MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR & COMMISSIONER With an impressive inventory of 6,000 lakes and ponds, 3,000 miles of coastline, and over 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, Maine is truly a remarkable place for you to launch your boat and enjoy the variety and beauty of our waters. Providing public access to these bodies of water is extremely impor- tant to us because we want both residents and visitors alike to enjoy them to the fullest. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife works diligently to provide access to Maine’s waters, whether it’s a remote mountain pond, or Maine’s Casco Bay. How you conduct yourself on Maine’s waters will go a long way in de- termining whether new access points can be obtained since only a fraction of our waters have dedicated public access. Respecting other boaters, keeping launch areas clean and being sensitive to property owners as you enjoy your sport will ensure continued cooperative use. I wish you well as you enjoy our Maine waters this season and thank you in advance for your continued support. John E. Baldacci Governor Dear Maine Boater, On behalf of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, I thank you for choosing Maine as your boating destination. Our state has a variety of exceptional water bodies waiting to accommodate your every need. Making sure that we have public access to Maine waters is one of our most important responsibilities and as a boater you are very helpful in this process. The excise taxes collected from the sale of fuel; as well as from the sale of boats and fishing equipment help fund the acquisi- tion, creation, and maintenance of access sites throughout the state. There are over 100 public boating access sites that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife built and continues to maintain and we are constantly trying to provide new ones. Our work has become increasingly difficult because the cost of property is spiraling upwards every year and there is less and less suitable land available. However, we stand committed to obtaining new sites so that we can provide you, our customers, with access to as many water bodies as we can. While you are enjoying your sport this season, be mindful of boater safety as an operator; respect other boaters and camp owners. Clean your boats before entering, and after coming out of, the water to eliminate the possibility of introducing invasive vegetation. By all doing our part, we help guarantee the availability of the resource for many years to come. Thank you for your help and enjoy our Maine waters. Roland D. Martin Commissioner 1 STATE of MAINE DEPARTMENT of INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE ROLAND D. MARTIN Commissioner PAUL F. JACQUES Deputy Commissioner MAIN OFFICE 284 State St., 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0041 (207) 287-8000 Visit our website: http://www.maine.gov/ifw Operation Game Thief - 1-800-ALERT US (253-7887) In State or (207) 287-6057 Out of State REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS Ashland .......... (207) 435-3231 Bangor ........... (207) 941-4440 Gray ............... (207) 657-2345 Greenville ....... (207) 695-3756 Sidney ............ (207) 547-5300 IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF THE SERVICES OF A GAME WARDEN OR MARINE PATROL OFFICER, CALL THE REGIONAL COMMUNICATION CENTER NEAREST YOU AT THE FOLLOWING TOLL-FREE NUMBERS Augusta .....1-800-452-4664 Houlton ......... 1-800-924-2261 Gray ...........1-800-482-0730 Orono ........... 1-800-432-7381 Members of the Commissioner’s Advisory Council Sheridan R. Oldham — Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Sagadahoc Counties ........(207) 872-7136 R. Leo Kieffer (Chair) — Aroostook County ............................................................(207) 493-3190 Ron Usher — Cumberland County .........................................................................(207) 854-8530 Stephen Philbrick— Franklin and Oxford Counties .................................................(207) 864-3671 Frank Dunbar — Hancock County .........................................................................(207) 469-2667 Michael Witte — Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo Counties ............................................(207) 677-2587 Joe Clark (ViceChair) — Penobscot County ..........................................................(207) 975-2056 Raymond Poulin, Jr. — Piscataquis and Somerset Counties ................................(207) 277-5033 Albion Goodwin — Washington County ..................................................................(207) 726-5574 Robert Savage — York County ...............................................................................(207) 637-2261 NOTE! The State Police numbers may be used to report a fire, ONLY if a fire warden or forest ranger cannot be reached. To report wildfire arson call 1-800-987-0257 — The Maine Forest Service, Department of Conservation 2 STATE OF MAINE 2008 BOATING LAW S AND RU L E S Accidents ....................................................26 Mooring to Buoys ........................................39 Age Requirements for Operation ................10 Motor Size Restrictions ..........................11-20 Airmobiles ...................................................38 Mufflers/Noise Limits ..................................36 Alcohol and Boating ....................................10 Navigation Requirements ......................30-35 Backfire Flame Arrestors ............................36 Operation, Unlawfully Permitting ................10 Boating Checklist ..........................................4 Personal Flotation Devices ....................28-29 Boating Restrictions ...............................11-20 Personal Watercraft Requirements.............37 Carrying Passengers for Hire .......................7 Personal Watercraft Prohibitions ...........11-20 Classification of Boats (Length) ..................30 Public Boat Launches ............................21-25 Dealer’s License ...........................................7 Reckless Operation ....................................10 Definitions .....................................................5 Regatta, Race, Boat or Water-Ski Discharge of Waste from Watercraft ...........39 Exhibition, Permit .....................................7 Display of Numbers & Stickers .....................8 Registration Requirements ........................6-8 Endanger, Operating to ..............................10 Renting or Leasing Watercraft ......................7 Fire Extinguishers .......................................36 Sewage Pump-out Facilities .......................39 Harbor Masters ...........................................38 Speed Regulations .....................................10 Imprudent Operation ...................................10 Stickers, Lake and River Protection .............4 Liability for Recreational Activity .................40 Swimming Areas .........................................10 Lights .....................................................33-35 Transfer of Ownership ..................................7 Littering .......................................................39 Uniform Water Marking System .............31-32 Marine Gas Tax ..........................................40 Ventilation ...................................................36 Message from Governor & Commissioner ...1 Visual Distress Signals ...............................37 Message from Boating Law Administrators ..9 Waterskiing .................................................27 Molesting Wildlife ........................................30 Whistle (Bell) and Sound Requirements .... 37 COMMENTS & COMPLAINTS — If you wish to make a comment about any member of the Department, please come to or call the closest office (listed on page 2) and talk to the appropriate staff member. Written comments should be mailed to: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife 284 State St., 41 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0041 Receipt of your correspondence will be formally acknowledged in writing. 3 LAKE AND RIVER PROTECTION STICKERS FEES cies Fund established in the Department of The fee for a sticker is $20 for a motorboat or Environmental Protection. personal watercraft not registered in the State • 40% of the revenues are credited to the of Maine and $10 for a motorboat or personal Lake and River Protection Fund* estab- watercraft registered in the State of Maine. lished in the Department of Inland Fisheries For residents, this sticker is part of the and Wildlife. registration sticker. For non-residents there is a seperate Lake and River Protection Sticker * The Lake and River Protection Fund is (see page 8), which must be permanantly af- funded from fees collected for lake and river fixed to each side of the bow of the watercraft protection stickers and from other funds above the waterline and approximately 3 accepted