Bill addresses ATVs on Maine private land
Via WCSH (January 19, 2010):
All-terrain vehicle use on private land is on the agenda in a Maine legislative committee this week.
On Tuesday, the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee takes up a bill that would allow wardens to stop ATVs operated on privately owned property without a reasonable and articulable suspicion to believe a violation of the law has occurred.
That’s a change from the present law, which says a law enforcement officer must have a reasonable suspicion of a violation whether the ATV is on public or private land.
Rep. Ralph Sarty, a Denmark Republican, says he wants to change the law because that extra measure of enforcement is needed to foster good relations between private landowners and ATV users.
Some important information regarding the subject can be found in 2 recent Maine Supreme Court rulings. State v McKeen, and State v Bromiley.