§ 12 §13068-A — Operating watercraft; prohibitions

Maine § 12 §13068-A

• Jurisdiction: Maine
• Title 12: CONSERVATION
• Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
• Ch. 935: WATERCRAFT AND AIRMOBILES

Text

1.
Launching contaminated watercraft.
A person may not place a watercraft that is contaminated with an invasive aquatic plant upon the inland waters of the State.
2.
Unlawfully permitting operation by another.
A person may not permit operation of a watercraft in violation of this subsection.
3.
Operating motorboat other than personal watercraft while underage.
A person under 12 years of age may not operate a motorboat propelled by machinery of more than 10 horsepower unless under the immediate supervision of a person located in the motorboat who is at least 16 years of age.
3-A.
Supervising young person.
Beginning January 1, 2024, a person born on or after January 1, 1999 may not supervise a person in accordance with subsection 3 unless that supervisor is 16 years of age or older and has completed a boater safety and education course.
4.
Operating watercraft without proper safety equipment.
Except as provided in paragraph B, a person may not operate a watercraft without proper safety equipment as described in paragraph A.
5.
Operating watercraft to endanger.
A person may not operate any of the following so as to endanger any person or property:
6.
Reckless operation of watercraft.
A person may not operate any of the following in such a way as to recklessly create a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another person:
7.
Operating watercraft at greater than reasonable and prudent speed.
A person:
8.
Imprudent operation of watercraft.
A person may not, while operating a watercraft on the inland or coastal waters of the State, engage in prolonged circling, informal racing, wake jumping or other types of continued and repeated activities that harass another person.
9.
Operating watercraft to molest wild animals or wild birds.
A person may not operate a watercraft so as to pursue, molest, harass, drive or herd any wild animal or wild bird, except as may be permitted during the open season on that animal.
10.
Operating motorboat that exceeds noise limits.
The following provisions govern noise limits.
10-A.
Operating airboat that exceeds noise limits.
The following provisions govern airboat noise limits.
11.
Operating motorboat without muffler.
A person may not operate a motorboat that is not equipped at all times with an effective and suitable muffling device on its engine or engines to effectively deaden or muffle the noise of the exhaust, except that motorboats that are operating in a regatta or race approved by the commissioner under section 13061 may use cutouts for these motorboats while on trial runs or competing in speed events, for a period not to exceed 48 hours immediately preceding or following such an authorized event.
12.
Tampering with motorboat muffler system.
A person may not modify a motorboat muffler system in any way that results in an increase in the decibels of sound emitted by that motorboat.
13.
Headway speed only.
The following provisions govern speeds in certain zones.
14.
Operating watercraft in swim areas.
The following provisions apply to operating a watercraft in a swim area.
15.
Violation of surface use restriction order.
A person may not operate, launch or remove a watercraft at a restricted-access site or refuse inspection of a watercraft in violation of an order issued under Title 38, section 1864.
16.
Operating motorboat in prohibited or restricted area.
The following provisions apply to operating a motorboat in prohibited or restricted areas.
17.
Operating motorboat without boater safety and education course certificate.
The following provisions apply to operating a motorboat.
18.
Operating motorboat for wakesurfing activity; minimum depth and distance from shore requirement.
A person may not operate a motorboat engaged in a wakesurfing activity in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline.

Legislative History

PL 2003, c. 655, §B380 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV). PL 2005, c. 397, §E16 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 211, Pt. B, §14 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 682, §38 (REV). PL 2019, c. 662, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 166, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 585, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 656, §§4, 5 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 206, §§4-6 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 209, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 228, §§13, 14 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 583, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 611, §3 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 646, Pt. A, §18 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 132, §14 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 148, §1 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 148, §2 (AFF). PL 2025, c. 390, Pt. A, §29 (AMD). RR 2025, c. 1, Pt. A, §25 (COR). RR 2025, c. 1, Pt. A, §26 (AFF).