Maine § 13065. - Personal watercraft rental agent certificate

§ 13065.. Personal watercraft rental agent certificate

1.  Prohibition.  A person may not rent or lease a personal watercraft in violation of this section. This subsection does not apply to:

A. A campground licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services that offers the personal watercraft owned by that campground exclusively for use by campground clientele;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]

B. A commercial sporting camp. For the purposes of this subsection, "commercial sporting camp" means a business consisting of primitive lodging facilities that offers the public the opportunity to pursue primitive hunting, fishing, boating or snowmobiling activities;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

C. A person lawfully engaged in guiding activities under section 12853 who accompanies others on guided trips that include the use of personal watercraft; or   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

D. A property owner who offers a person renting or leasing that property the use of a personal watercraft registered to the property owner.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

1-A.  Penalty.  The following penalties apply to violations of subsection 1.

A. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §376 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]

B. A person who violates subsection 1 after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime.   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §376 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]

2.  Registration and issuance.  Except as provided in this section, a person or business may not rent or lease a personal watercraft unless that person or business:

A. Registers with the department as a personal watercraft rental agent and is issued a personal watercraft rental and leasing agent certificate from the commissioner;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. Obtains a Maine certificate of number for each personal watercraft being offered for rent or lease in the name of the person or business holding a personal watercraft rental and leasing agent certificate; and   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

C. Provides each person who rents or leases a personal watercraft with written instructions on how to operate the personal watercraft.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

3.  Fee.  The fee for a personal watercraft rental and leasing agent certificate is $25. The certificate is valid from January 1st to December 31st.

4.  Revocation of certificate.  The commissioner may revoke a personal watercraft rental and leasing agent certificate issued pursuant to subsection 2 if the commissioner determines that the certificate holder:

A. Rented or leased a personal watercraft that was unsafe;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. Failed to instruct a person intending to rent or lease a personal watercraft on personal watercraft safety. The department shall provide each certificate holder with written materials and instructional guidelines on personal watercraft safety that the certificate holder shall review with each personal watercraft renter or lessor before that person operates that personal watercraft.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]