1. Appointment; compensation. The municipal officers of a town that borders or contains inland waters but does not border or contain territorial waters may appoint a harbor master for a term of not less than one year and may establish the harbor master’s compensation. Except as provided in subsection 2?A, the harbor master is subject to all the duties and liabilities of that office as prescribed by state law, municipal ordinances and rules promulgated by the municipality. The municipal officers may remove the harbor master from office for cause, declared in writing, after due notice to the harbor master and a hearing, if requested.
For purposes of this subsection, “territorial waters” has the same meaning as provided in section 6001, subsection 48?B.

[PL 2005, c. 492, §2 (AMD).]

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 13072

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Firearm: means any instrument used in the propulsion of pellets, shot, shells or bullets by action of gunpowder, compressed air or gas exploded or released within it. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
  • in writing: include printing and other modes of making legible words. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • Inland waters: means all waters within the State above the rise and fall of the tide and wholly or partially within the territorial limits of the State, except private ponds as defined in subsection 51. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
  • 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.
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Person: means a human being or an organization. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
  • Town: includes cities and plantations, unless otherwise expressed or implied. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • Watercraft: means any type of vessel, boat, canoe or craft capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, other than a seaplane, including motors, electronic and mechanical equipment and other machinery, whether permanently or temporarily attached, that are customarily used in the operations of the watercraft. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 13001
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
2. Authority and responsibility. Except as provided in subsection 2?A, a harbor master appointed under this section shall enforce the watercraft laws of the State and the municipality on any water within the jurisdiction of the municipality.

[PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 627, §4 (AMD).]

2-A. Authority to enforce invasive aquatic species laws. A municipality may appoint a harbor master whose only duties are to enforce the provisions of section 13058 and section 13068?A, subsections 1 and 15 on any water within the jurisdiction of the municipality.

[RR 2003, c. 2, §22 (COR).]

3. Jointly appointed harbor masters. The municipal officers of 2 or more municipalities that border on the same inland waters may jointly appoint a single harbor master who has authority over the jurisdictions of all the participating municipalities.

[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

4. Power to arrest for assault. The municipal officers may prohibit a harbor master from making an arrest or carrying a weapon. A harbor master who is not prohibited from making arrests may arrest and deliver to the law enforcement authorities on shore any person committing an assault upon the harbor master or another person acting under the harbor master’s authority. A harbor master may not make arrests or carry a firearm unless the harbor master has successfully completed the training requirements prescribed in Title 25, section 2804?I.

[PL 2005, c. 492, §3 (NEW).]

5. Mooring sites. The regulation of moorings in inland waters is governed by Title 38, except that Title 38 may not be construed to require the municipal officers of a town that does not border or contain territorial waters to appoint a harbor master upon the request of a person desiring mooring privileges or the regulation of mooring privileges. Nothing in this subsection limits or expands a municipality’s authority to regulate moorings under Title 38 or as otherwise provided in law.

[PL 2005, c. 492, §3 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

RR 2003, c. 2, §22 (COR). PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 627, §§4,5 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 492, §§2,3 (AMD).