Maine § 1900. - Swim areas

§ 1900.. Swim areas

1.  Definitions.  As used in this subchapter, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Camping area" means, in addition to the generally accepted interpretations, lakeshore places, picnic and lunch grounds or other premises where tents or recreational vehicles are permitted and licensed under Title 22, section 2495.   [PL 2009, c. 312, §1 (NEW).]

B. "Developed swim area" means an area delineated by line buoys in accordance with the aids to navigation system established pursuant to section 1894.   [PL 2009, c. 312, §1 (NEW).]

C. "Qualified entity" means a camping area, recreational camp or governmental entity or governmentally sponsored group.   [PL 2009, c. 312, §1 (NEW).]

D. "Recreational camp" means day camps, boys and girls camps and family, hunting, fishing and similar camps licensed under Title 22, section 2495.   [PL 2009, c. 312, §1 (NEW).]

E. "Swim line" means a line, rope or a series of buoys used to delineate an area of surface water for the purpose of swimming.   [PL 2009, c. 312, §1 (NEW).]

F. "Water safety zone" means the area of water within 200 feet of shoreline, whether the shoreline of the mainland or of an island.   [PL 2009, c. 312, §1 (NEW).]

2.  Property rights.  Nothing in this subchapter may be construed to affect private property rights or the State's ownership rights over inland waters.

3.  Swim area prohibition.  A person may not establish or maintain a swim line or a developed swim area without a permit issued under subsection 4.

A. [PL 2015, c. 252, §2 (RP).]

B. [PL 2015, c. 252, §2 (RP).]

4.  Issuance of permit; revocation.  The director may issue a permit to establish and maintain a swim line or a developed swim area within the water safety zone only to a qualified entity and only if the swim line or developed swim area is designed solely to provide recreational swimming opportunities for the public.

A. If the director determines, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, that a swim line or developed swim area is being used for purposes other than to provide recreational swimming opportunities for the public, the director may revoke the permit.   [PL 2015, c. 252, §2 (NEW).]

B. If the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife believes that a swim line or a developed swim area is being used for purposes other than to provide recreational swimming opportunities for the public and is interfering with boating or fishing, the commissioner shall notify the director and may request that the permit for the swim line or developed swim area be revoked pursuant to paragraph A.   [PL 2015, c. 252, §2 (NEW).]

The length of the area delineated by a swim line or of a developed swim area may not exceed 50% of the entire length of the shore frontage of the property from which the developed swim area or the area delineated by a swim line extends or 200 feet, whichever is greater, except that in no event may the developed swim area or the area delineated by a swim line extend beyond the shore frontage of the property. The length of the developed swim area or of an area delineated by a swim line must be measured parallel to the shore.  

5.  Fee; expiration.  Permits issued under subsection 4 expire 5 years after the date of issuance. The director shall establish by rule a fee for the permits. All revenues from fees must be deposited in the Boating Facilities Fund created under section 1896.

6.  Enforcement.  A municipally appointed inland harbor master, code enforcement officer or law enforcement officer is primarily responsible for the enforcement of this subchapter.

7.  Rules.  The director shall adopt rules to implement and carry out the purposes of this subchapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.