1. Prohibitions. Prohibitions on the abuse of another person‘s property are as follows.
A. A person may not:

(1) Tear down or destroy any fence or wall on another person’s land;
(2) Leave open any gate or bars on another person’s land;
(3) Trample or destroy any crop on another person’s land;
(4) Damage or destroy a tree on another person’s land by inserting into that tree any metallic or ceramic object to be used as, or as part of, a ladder or observation stand unless the person has the permission of the landowner;
(5) Erect or use either a portable or permanent ladder or observation stand on the land of another person unless:

(a) That person has obtained oral or written authorization to erect and use a ladder or observation stand from the landowner or the landowner’s representative; and
(b) The ladder or observation stand is plainly labeled with a 2-inch by 4-inch tag identifying the name and address of the person or persons authorized by the landowner to use the ladder or observation stand.
This subparagraph does not apply to a portable ladder or observation stand that is located on land within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission and attended by the person who owns the ladder or observation stand. For purposes of this subparagraph, “observation stand” does not include a portable blind utilized at ground level that remains in the physical possession of the hunter; or

(6) Destroy, tear down, deface or otherwise damage a property posting sign under Title 17?A, section 402, subsection 4. [PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (AMD).]
B. [PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (RP).]
C. [PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (RP).]
Except as otherwise provided, a person may not possess any wild animal or wild bird taken by hunting or trapping in violation of this subsection.

[PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (AMD).]

Attorney's Note

Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class E crimeup to 6 monthsup to $1,000
For details, see Me. Rev. Stat. Title 17-A § 1604

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10652

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: means a human being or an organization. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Wild animal: means a species of mammal, wild by nature, whether or not bred or reared in captivity, as distinguished from the common domestic animals, and includes any physical part of that species of animal. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
  • Wild bird: means a species of bird wild by nature, whether or not bred or reared in captivity, as distinguished from common domestic birds, and includes any physical part of that species of bird. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime and may be ordered to pay restitution to the landowner for damages.

[PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B68 (RPR). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 253, §7 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 682, §38 (REV). PL 2017, c. 50, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 54, §2 (AMD).