Maine § 1769. - Outdoor lighting

§ 1769.. Outdoor lighting

1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Direct light" means light emitted directly from a lamp off a reflector or through a refractor of a luminaire.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

B. "Fixture" means the assembly that holds the lamp and may include an assembly housing, a mounting bracket or pole socket, a lamp holder, a ballast, a reflector or mirror and a refractor or lens.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

C. "Footcandle" means an illuminance equal to one lumen per square foot.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

D. "Full cutoff luminaire" means a luminaire that allows no direct light emissions above a horizontal plane through the luminaire's lowest light-emitting part.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

E. "Glare" means direct light emitting from a luminaire that causes reduced vision or momentary blindness.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

F. "Illuminance" means the level of light measured at a surface.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

G. "Lamp" means the component of a luminaire that produces the light.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

H. "Light trespass" means light emitted by a luminaire that shines beyond the boundaries of the property on which the luminaire is located.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

I. "Lumen" means a unit of measurement of luminous flux.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

J. "Luminaire" means the complete lighting system, including the lamp and the fixture.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

K. "Permanent outdoor luminaire" means any luminaire or system of luminaires that is outdoors and that is intended to be used for 7 days or longer.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

L. "State funds" means any bond revenues or any money appropriated or allocated by the Legislature.   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

2.  Permanent outdoor luminaires.  A person may not use any state funds to install or replace any permanent outdoor luminaire unless:

A. The luminaire is a full cutoff luminaire when the rated output of the luminaire is greater than 1,800 lumens;   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

B. The luminaire's maximum illuminance does not exceed the minimum illuminance recommended for that purpose by the Illuminating Engineering Society of America or the federal Department of Transportation; and   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

C. The Director of the Bureau of General Services ensures that consideration is given to minimizing glare and light trespass.   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. B, §18 (AMD).]

3.  Exceptions.  Exceptions from the provisions of this section are permitted only when:

A. Federal laws, rules and regulations take precedence over these provisions; or   [PL 1991, c. 481, §1 (NEW).]

B. The Director of the Bureau of General Services determines that there is a compelling safety interest that can not be addressed by any other method.   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. B, §19 (AMD).]