MOTORIZED VEHICLES ORDINANCE
MOTORIZED VEHICLES ORDINANCE
Permanent Ordinance enacted 4/4/78
Repealed 2/6/79
New Permanent Ordinance enacted 2/6/79
Repealed 2/4/86
New Permanent Ordinance enacted 2/6/86
SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Ordinance, the term “motorized vehicle” shall include any self-propelled, unregistered vehicle, other than farm vehicles as defined in 29 M.R.S.A. s255, powered by other than human power and shall specifically include, without limitation, those unregistered vehicles commonly known as “mini-bikes”, “trail bikes”. “go-karts” and “dirt bikes”, and motorized bicycles and snowmobiles, whether commercially manufactured or homemade; also be included in this definition, whether registered or not. Excluded from this definition are vehicles used in the care of gardens and lawns and vehicles engaged in construction, farm and forestry work.
SECTION 2 PROHIBITION
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, cause to be operated, or permit the operation of any motorized vehicle:
A. Over or upon the property of the Town of Gorham, Maine; except over or upon such motorized vehicle trails as may be approved by order of the Town Council; or
B. Over and upon any public way within the Town of Gorham, Maine; except as provided by law; or
C. Over and upon any privately owned parking areas or roadways open for public access; or
D. Within 200 feet of any dwelling or farm building, or on private property, unless the operator has obtained the permission, in writing, of the owner or occupant of said dwelling or land.
(1) Any person operating a motorized vehicle upon the land of another shall stop and identify himself and produce evidence of the owner’s consent or, in the case of an all-terrain vehicle, the state registration certificate required pursuant to 12 M.R.S.A. upon the request of the land owners, his duly authorized representative or a police officer.
(2) No person shall operate an all-terrain vehicle on the land of another after having been forbidden to do so by the owner thereof, the owner’s agent or a police officer, either personally or by appropriate notices posted conspicuously on that property. There shall be included within these prohibitions the use of any registered, motorized vehicle, as defined above, over or upon the property of the Town of Gorham except in such areas and at such times as the use of such vehicles is customarily permitted.
SECTION 3. PENALTIES
Any person of the age of 18 years or over who violates any of the provisions of Section 2 hereof shall upon adjudication, be punished by a fine of not less then $25 nor more than $100. If the Chief of Police is satisfied that a juvenile under the age of 18 years has operated a motorized vehicle in violation of any of the provisions of Section 2 hereof, he may impound the motorized vehicle for a period not to exceed 5 days for the first offense and for a period not to exceed 30 days for any subsequent offense. Further, any such vehicles operated in violation of any provision of this Article upon which a complaint has been issued or a fine is unpaid may, at the option of the police officer, be impounded and stored until all fees for all outstanding violations and any fees for impoundment, transfer and
storage have been paid. The police officer impounding the vehicle under this Article shall notify the operator, in writing, at the time of impoundment of the location of impoundment and the requirements for release.
All fines shall be recovered on complaint to the use of the Town of Gorham, Maine.
SECTION 4.
The Ordinance Regulating Motorized Vehicles, adopted by the Town Council and effective February 6, 1979 is repealed.
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