Maine considers size, weight restrictions for ATVs Maine has roughly 6,500 miles of ATV trails Share Updated: 6:14 PM EDT Apr 21, 2021 Maine has roughly 6,500 miles of ATV trails Share Updated: 6:14 PM EDT Apr 21, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript AND HE JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM LEWISTION. ROSS - HOW WOULD THESE REGULATIONS IMPACT RIDERS? MOTOR SPORTS IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ACTIVITIES IN MAINE... THANKS IN PART TO MACHINES LIKE THESE - CALLED SIDE BY SIDES BUT LAWMAKERS AND MANY RIDERS AGREE - SOME AR GETTING JUST TOO BIG TO BE USED SAFELY ON PUBLIC TRAILS. 15:09:16:15 CRAIG ANDERSON, CENTRAL MAINE POWERSPORTS OWNER "IT'S GOT BUCKET SEATS IN IT, SO IT IS MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE TRAIL. SIDE-BY-SIDE OFF ROAD VEHICLES ARE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON CRAIG ANDERSON'S SHOW ROOM FLOOR AT CENTRAL MAINE POWER SPORTS. 15:09:14:03 CRAIG ANDERSON, CENTRAL MAINE POWERSPORTS OWNER "YOU CAN USE IT I NTHE YARD. IT'S GOT A DUMPIONG BED IN IT." BUT WITH THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED A-T- V'S IN THE STATE RISING TO MORE THAN 70-THOUSAND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS... THERE'S CONCERN THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE GOTTEN TOO BIG TO SAFELY RIDE ON STATE TRAILS. 00:06:04:22 ED PINEAU, ATV MAINE "WE'RE HAVING MANUFACTURERS MAKE BIGGER AND HEAVIER MACHINES AND OUR TRAIL INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT TOLERATE IT." LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A NEW RESTRICTION THAT WOULD LIMIT THE SIDE AND WEIGHT OF NEW A- T-V'S ON THE TRAILS TO 65 INCHES WIDE AND 2- THOUSAND POUNDS. A BENCHMARK ANDERSON SAYS WILL ONLY RESTRICT THE VERY BIGGEST MACHINES ON THE MARKET. 15:09:41:07 CRAIG ANDERSON "THIS ONE WON'T GO EVERYWHERE, BUT IT'S STILL INSIDE THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED." THE PLAN HAS THE SUPPORT OF MAINE A-T-V... AND MANY OF THE LOCAL CLUBS THAT MAINTAIN THE ROUGHLY 65- HUNDRED MILES OF TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE STATE - MOST OF WHICH IS ON PRIVATE LAND OPENED UP TO THE PUBLIC. 00:06:04:13 MATTHEW LEGGETT, SANDORD ATV CLUB VP - ON THE PHONE "WE NEED TO MAKE SURE LAND OWNERS ARE HAPPY, ECAUSE WITHOUT LAND OWNERS WE HAVE NO WHERE TO RIDE." IF PASSED - THE NEW RULE WOULD ONLY APPLY TO NEW A-T-V'S... THE ROUGHLY 100 ALREADY- REGISTERED VEHICLES THAT TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROIWNG POPULARITY - LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO RAISE THE COST OF REGISTERING AN A- T-V... WITH THE ADDEND FUNDS GOING TOWARDS MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING TRAILS AROUND THE S