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Chapter 1:Rules Governing the Use of the Maine Turnpike
Chapter 2: Regulations for the Installation of Logo Signs on the Maine Turnpike
Except within construction, transitional or reduced speed zones or during any period of adverse atmospheric or weather conditions or as provided in Section 1-A of this Rule, the maximum speed of motor vehicles on the Turnpike shall be limited to sixty-five (65) miles per hour, and the minimum speed shall not be less than forty-five (45) miles per hour. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum speed of motor vehicles on any portion of the Turnpike lying north of a point 1500 feet south of the southern acceleration or deceleration tapers of Exit 45 and south of 1500 feet north of the northern acceleration or deceleration tapers of Exit 53 shall be fifty-five (55) miles per hour. Maximum speeds within construction, transitional or reduced speed zones or during any period of adverse atmospheric or weather conditions shall be in accordance with signs displayed for such zones. All regulatory and zoning signs displayed on the Turnpike shall be obeyed. Speed zones through toll plaza lanes are reduced speed zones and shall be defined as the area 75 feet in front of a toll booth and shall continue to a point 75 feet beyond the rear of a toll booth. Speed zones for toll plaza lanes without booths shall be defined as an area beginning at the raised island at the left of the lane and ending at the terminus of the raised island. The maximum speed through these zones shall be ten (10) miles per hour. Regulatory signs for toll plaza speed zones shall be placed in advance of, at the beginning, and at the end of the defined speed zone. All regulatory signs displayed at the toll plaza shall be obeyed. Motor vehicles shall not be driven in excess of the mechanical limits of vehicles or tires. If traffic, weather, pavement or other conditions render the maximum allowable speed hazardous, the speed of motor vehicles shall be reduced consistent with such conditions.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 of this Rule, the maximum speed of motor vehicles traveling on portions of the Turnpike in York and Cumberland Counties shall be limited to fifty-five (55) miles per hour during the months of May through September if the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection certifies to the Executive Director of the Maine Turnpike Authority that Maine has failed to attain the federal ozone standard by the deadline in the Clean Air Act and that the 3% contingency plan requiring the lowering of the speed limit on the Turnpike to 55 miles per hour in York and Cumberland Counties must be implemented.
In order to improve the air quality in southern Maine, trucks, including truck tractors but excluding pickup trucks, all as defined in 29-A M.R.S.A. §101, may only operate in the two farthest right hand lanes on any section of the Turnpike south of Mile Marker 44, which mile marker is currently located in Scarborough, Maine, that consists of three lanes in each direction.
All traffic shall travel the dual or triple lanes to the right of the median strip; travel to the left of the median strip is prohibited. All traffic lanes, deceleration lanes, acceleration lanes, shoulders, and other travel ways on the Turnpike are one-way, and all motor vehicles leaving the traffic lanes, to a Toll Plaza or service station, shall leave from the right hand traffic lane to the deceleration lane to the right thereof, and follow the same one-way to such Toll Plaza or service station, and upon leaving a service station or entering the Turnpike from a Toll Plaza shall do so by way of the acceleration lane and shall enter the right traffic lane with care.
It is a violation of these rules for any person to allow or suffer a vehicle registered in his or her name to violate the provisions of this section regarding parking on Maine Turnpike Authority property. A vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be prima facie evidence that the registered owner of that vehicle parked or allowed the vehicle in question to be so parked. As used in this section, "parking area" means any Authority property on which parking is allowed, including but not limited to concession areas, park and ride lots, lots associated with other Authority facilities and the approaches thereto.
Parking or stopping of vehicles on any portion of the traveled portion of the Maine Turnpike, including any traffic lane, deceleration lane, acceleration lane, breakdown lane, interchange, ramp, crossover or bridge is prohibited.
If mechanical breakdown or another emergency requires that a vehicle be parked or stopped on the traveled portion of the Turnpike, then in such an event the vehicle will be parked on the shoulder to the right of any traffic lane. All wheels and projecting parts of the vehicle or load of a vehicle parked for emergency or breakdown purposes shall be completely clear of the traffic lane. During the period beginning one-half (1/2) hour after sunset and ending one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise or at any other time when insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric or weather conditions require, any vehicle parked for emergency or breakdown purposes shall display illuminated parking and tail lights, or lighted flares to indicate its location. The driver of a disabled vehicle shall arrange for its prompt removal from the Turnpike. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as granting any person the right to leave a vehicle on the traveled portion or shoulder of the Turnpike for any period of time, nor will anything in this paragraph limit the Authority's discretion to remove a disabled vehicle from the Turnpike under paragraph (E) below.
Signs will be posted at parking areas prohibiting, restricting or indicating the length of time that a motor vehicle may remain parked in those areas, the purposes for which a vehicle may be parked in such area or placing other conditions upon the use of said area for parking. Use of any posted parking area constitutes agreement to abide by the conditions or restrictions posted and it is a violation of these rules to park or allow one's vehicle to be parked in violation of any posted condition or restriction. Any motor vehicle parked or standing in an Authority parking area will be parked in designated spaces wholly within the lines provided and not otherwise. Unless otherwise posted, parking at concession areas is permitted only for the use of the facilities there and only for so long as use of the facilities requires. Unless otherwise posted, parking at Park and Rides is permitted only for the purpose of commuting as posted or as otherwise defined in the Authority's then current Park and Ride Policy, a copy of which available at http://www.Maineturnpike.com or by contacting the Maine Turnpike Authority. Parking at other Authority facilities is only allowed for persons there on Authority business and only for as long as the conduct of that business requires.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any motor vehicle which has been abandoned or illegally parked on Authority property or which is parked in a manner which represents a safety hazard or which interferes with Authority operations, including but not limited to maintenance and snow removal operations, may be removed from Authority property at the owners' expense, including but not limited to the payment of any towing and storage fees. The Authority shall not be liable for any damages resulting from such removal and nothing in this section will limit the Authority's power to remove vehicles from its property which are, in the Authority's judgment, abandoned, illegally parked, parked in a manner which represents a safety hazard or which interferes with Authority operations.
These rules do not apply to Maine Turnpike Authority personnel, State Police or other emergency personnel parked in the course of their official duties or to other persons specifically exempted by written permit from the Authority for the purposes of performing work on Authority property.
Violation of this section will be enforced in accordance with 23 MRSA §1980(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Authority from enforcing this section through any other means available to it in law or equity.
The median strip is the area between the dual or triple traffic lanes for the purpose of separating traffic proceeding in opposite directions. Crossing, driving, parking or stopping on the median strip is prohibited. Openings through the median strip are provided for official use of maintenance, operational, police vehicles, or fire and rescue vehicles when responding to an incident, and shall not be used by the public.
U-Turns at any point on the Turnpike are prohibited.
Pedestrians are not permitted on the Turnpike, on any Interchange or at any Toll Plaza. Solicitation of rides or “hitchhiking”, passing of hand bills, displaying signs, or attempting to sell merchandise is prohibited on the Turnpike, any Interchange or at any Toll Plaza. Loitering in or about Toll Plazas or upon any Turnpike property is prohibited.
No person shall operate any of the following on the Turnpike: A. Bicycles or tricycles, with or without motors, and motor driven cycles, including motor scooters. B. Animal drawn vehicles. C. Animals – led, ridden, or driven. D. Vehicles loaded with animals or poultry not properly confined. E. Vehicles with flat pneumatic tires. F. Farm implements. G. Vehicles in the charge of intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated operators. H. Vehicles with improperly secured loads which may shift or litter the highway. I. Vehicles with metal tires or which have solid tires worn to metal.
J. Rollers, graders, power shovels, or other construction equipment, either self-propelled or in tow of another vehicle, unless such equipment is either (i) truck mounted and such truck can be operated at a minimum speed of forty-five (45) miles per hour while traveling on the Turnpike, weather and road conditions permitting, or (ii) owned or controlled by the Authority or by any contractor in connection with the performance of work authorized by the Authority.
K. Vehicles exceeding the maximum weights allowed on State highways under the motor vehicles laws of the State of Maine in effect from time to time, unless accompanied by an overweight permit issued by the State of Maine Department of Transportation.
L. Vehicles including any load thereon exceeding the following maximum dimensions, unless permitted pursuant to Rule 10 of the Rules Governing Use of the Maine Turnpike:
Height 13 feet 6 inches Width 8 feet 6 inches
Length The maximum allowable lengths permitted on Interstate highways and other limited access roadways in Maine pursuant to the motor vehicle laws of the State of Maine, as in effect from time to time, without overlength permit.
M. Disabled vehicles in tow by tow-rope or chain.
N. Any vehicle which may be unsafe or hazardous to persons or property, except as permits for the transportation of radioactive material may be issued in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 11.
O. Any vehicle whose use is banned on similar interstate highways in Maine under state or federal law or regulation, whether because of the controlled access nature of the highway, the speed limit of the highway, or any other factor.
P. Any class of vehicle which may be prohibited by resolution of the Authority from time to time due to a finding by the Authority that said class of vehicle presents a safety hazard, is liable to cause unwarranted damage to the highway or otherwise interferes with the operation of the Maine Turnpike.
Entering or leaving the Turnpike or any part of its right of way except through the regular Toll Plaza lanes, or committing any act with intent to defraud or evade payment of fare is prohibited.
Cutting, mutilating or removing trees, shrubs, or plants located within the Turnpike right of way is prohibited.
Vehicles or combinations in excess of the permitted length or width provided in Rule 7(L) of these Rules Governing Use of the Maine Turnpike may be admitted to the Turnpike by permit, subject to all other applicable provisions of these Rules Governing Use of the Maine Turnpike and such other limitations and conditions as may be provided in the permit.
A. Permits will be valid for one day only and will be issued pursuant to application submitted on forms provided by the Authority. In addition to the applicable fare in the regulator Fare Schedule, a permit fee of ten ($10.00) dollars, shall be paid at the time of such application.
B. Permits will not be issued for any vehicles which, with the load thereon, exceeds 14 feet six inches (14’6”) in overall width.
C. Vehicles which, with the load thereon, exceed ten (10) feet in overall width will be allowed to enter or exit the Turnpike only at Toll Plazas designated by the Authority, from time to time, as accommodating wide loads.
D. The right is reserved to deny permits to any vehicle which may be unsafe or hazardous to persons or property and to limit the validity of any permit with respect to speed, times of travel, weather, or traffic conditions. Otherwise, the State of Maine statutes, rules and regulations from time to time in effect governing the movements of vehicles and load in excess in eight feet, six inches (8’6”) in width, shall apply to all vehicles operated on the Turnpike pursuant to permits issued under this section, subject to the following exceptions:
1. If the destination cannot be reached before sunset, the vehicle must depart at the neares allowable exit.
2. Vehicles will not be allowed to park at Turnpike concession areas overnight or for extended periods of time.
3. Vehicles will not be allowed to travel on the Turnpike during those periods of time when paving, repaving, bridge work, construction work or other type of maintenance is under way which will require the restriction of the movement of vehicles and loads in excess of 8 feet 6 inches (8’6”) in width, unless specifically authorized by a permit issued by the Maine Turnpike Authority. 4. Vehicles will only be permitted if such vehicles can be operated in a safe and adequate manner, at a minimum speed of forty-five (45) miles per hour while traveling on the Turnpike, weather and road conditions permitting, and construction equipment will only be permitted if such equipment is truck mounted and such truck as so loaded can be operated in a safe and adequate manner at a minimum speed of 45 miles per hour. 5. Notwithstanding the above, the State Police Commander for Troop G and the Authority may jointly authorize night moves of vehicles in excess of the permitted length or width at such times and in such areas where public safety will not be adversely affected. In all such cases, Maine State Police personnel, one or more, will be present to escort such vehicles performing the night moves. E. The operator of a vehicle operated on the Turnpike pursuant to a permit issued under this section also must have in his or her possession any corresponding permit for the operation of such vehicle on the State highways required by Maine law.
Permits for the transportation of radioactive material will be issued by the Executive Director, the Secretary-Treasurer or their authorized representatives, on the following terms and conditions: A. Permits for a single trip only will be issued pursuant to applications submitted to the Authority not later three (3) days prior to the date of the proposed shipment on the Turnpike. Such application shall be submitted on forms provided by the Authority. In addition to the applicable fare in the regular Fare Schedule, a permit fee of ten ($10.00) dollars shall be paid at the time of such application. B. Each such shipment shall conform in all respects to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including but not limited to applicable regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the Authority reserves the right to require evidence of such compliance. C. Such shipments shall be in compliance with all other applicable provisions of these Rules Governing Use of the Maine Turnpike. The Authority reserves the right to limit the validity of any permit with respect to speed, times of travel, weather, travel or other conditions affecting the safe transit on the Turnpike of such materials. D. For purposes of this rule and Paragraph N of Rule 7 of these Rules Governing the Use of the Maine Turnpike, the term “radioactive material” is defined as fissile radioactive material which, under the applicable regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, when transported on a public highway must be labeled by placards on each load of such material.
Records filed with the Maine Turnpike Authority pursuant to 26 M.R.S.A. §1311 are public records pursuant to the Maine Freedom of Access Act and shall be made available if requested pursuant thereto, except that Social Security numbers and taxpayer identification numbers contained in those records will be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed.
All laws, rules and regulations in the State of Maine pertaining to the use of public highways and policing thereof shall apply to the Turnpike, except insofar as they may be supplemented by these Rules Governing the Use of the Maine Turnpike.
Pursuant to section 1980 of Title 23 of the Maine Revised Statutes, any violation of these Rules Governing the Use of the Maine Turnpike shall be deemed a traffic infraction and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $250.00, except that any person who operates a motor vehicle at a speed which exceeds, by 30 miles an hour or more, the speed fixed by the Authority shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. Any failure or neglect to pay tolls, fares, or charges for use of the Turnpike shall be deemed a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or by imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or by both.
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The following services shall be available on site.
Eligible lodging services such as hotels, inns, motels, cabins, or bed and breakfasts shall:
Eligible camping services shall:
The following criteria shall be used to determine whether any portion of a particular interchange has physical characteristics capable of supporting logo signage without detriment to motorist safety:
Logos shall be limited to a symbol or trademark, and/or a legend message identifying the name or abbreviation of the specific business under which it commonly operates. Logos shall not be approved that resemble an official traffic control device, for example a stop or yield sign. There shall be no other trade name, trademark, or enterprise other than the specific business name under which it commonly operates, in conjunction with the design or layout of a logo sign.
The Authority may survey services for which an application is submitted to determine eligibility for logo signs. Information relative to the eligibility of a specific interchange or exit ramp may be obtained from the Authority. No more than one logo sign per business shall be permitted along an approach to an interchange regardless of the number of services provided by a business.
Duration of logo permits will be pursuant to the terms of a rental agreement between the Authority, or its designee, if any, under section 13, and the applicant.
The Authority may contract for the provision of services relating to the logo sign program including recruitment and qualification of businesses, review of applications, permit issuance, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of logo signs.