Section 1478 - Motor vehicles and equipment sold at state auction1.Exemption of State from liability. Whenever motor vehicles and equipment of a state agency as defined in Title 5, section 8002, subsection 2 are sold at a state auction, the State or any state employee shall not be liable for any personal injury or death or any property damage sustained as a result of the use of that vehicle following the sale of that vehicle at auction. At any auction held pursuant to this section, a statement shall be made at the beginning of the auction that the State is not liable for any damage, injury or death resulting from the use of the vehicle or equipment following the sale at auction. A. For the purposes of this section, "state agency" includes the Maine community colleges. [1989, c. 443, §20 (AMD); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 (AMD); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §4 (AFF).] [1989, c. 443, §20 (AMD); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 (AMD); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §4 (AFF).]
2.State agencies to maintain documents for each vehicle. Each state agency shall maintain records for each vehicle in the possession of and assigned for primary use by the agency. The records must contain the information identified in section 1475, subsection 2-A, paragraphs B, C, D and F. Each state agency shall use the disclosure forms as provided by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section 1475, subsection 2-A. A. In the event that a uniform disclosure form prepared by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is not available for state agency use, each agency shall devise a form until a uniform form becomes available. [1991, c. 837, Pt. A, §26 (AMD).]B. This subsection applies to motor vehicles purchased on or after July 1, 1986. [1985, c. 569, §2 (NEW).] [2021, c. 676, Pt. A, §19 (AMD).]
3.Transfer of vehicles among agencies. Whenever a motor vehicle or an article of equipment, subject to the provisions of this section, is transferred from one state agency to another state agency, the disclosure form for the transferred motor vehicle or equipment shall be transferred with the motor vehicle or article of equipment. [1985, c. 569, §2 (NEW).]
4.Disclosure at auction. At the time that a motor vehicle or article of equipment is provided to the auction for sale, the disclosure form must be attached to that vehicle or equipment in a place visible to the general public. The disclosure form must also indicate the last known date on which the vehicle passed inspection pursuant to Title 29-A, chapter 15.A. In the event that a motor vehicle submitted by a state agency to the state auction does not possess a valid inspection certificate that has been issued within 180 days previous to the auction, the motor vehicle is subject to inspection pursuant to Title 29-A, chapter 15. If the motor vehicle passes inspection, a current and valid inspection certificate must be affixed to the vehicle. [1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §22 (AMD); 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]B. In the event that a motor vehicle subjected to a vehicle inspection pursuant to this subsection does not pass the inspection, the provision of section 1474, subsection 4 applies to the motor vehicle. [1985, c. 569, §2 (NEW).] [1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §22 (AMD); 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]
5.Temporary certification. Any motor vehicle for which there is no current and valid certificate of motor vehicle inspection at the time of sale at a state auction and that does not pose a serious threat to the general public, as determined by the Office of Procurement Services from the form required in subsection 2 and from an inspection of the vehicle, may be provided a temporary certificate authorizing the operation of the motor vehicle from the auction site to a point designated by the purchaser. [2023, c. 516, Pt. B, §42 (AMD).]
Amended by 2024, c. 516,§ B-42, eff. 8/9/2024.Amended by 2022, c. 676,§ A-19, eff. 5/2/2022.1985, c. 569, § 2 (NEW) . 1989, c. 443, § 20 (AMD) . 1991, c. 837, §A26 (AMD) . 1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF) . 1995, c. 65, §A22 (AMD) . 2003, c. 20, §OO2 (AMD) . 2003, c. 20, §OO4 (AFF) .