AUGUSTA (AP) – A bill to ease a liability insurance crisis that Maine’s $300 million-per-year snowmobile industry has been facing has received a legislative committee’s unanimous endorsement.

The Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Monday in favor of a bill to give snowmobile clubs the same exemptions from liability that private landowners already have.

The committee’s strong vote of support bolsters its chances of quick House and Senate approval when the Legislature goes back into session in early January, which is also when snowmobilers hope to be back on the trails.

“It’s got to happen because a lot of the clubs’ insurance is expiring,” said Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, who is sponsoring the bill.

“This is a multi-multi-million dollar activity we have here and we don’t want to see it shut down,” Davis said.

Gov. John Baldacci has told Davis he will sign the bill if it’s sent to him, Baldacci spokesman Lee Umphrey said. Because it is an emergency bill, it would go into effect immediately.

Davis said the bill responds to threats by some insurers that they would no longer write liability policies for snowmobile clubs in Maine after a club and landowner were sued following a fatal accident in southern Maine last season.

Davis’ original bill sought to place a $100,000 limit on snowmobile clubs’ liability, but that idea was rejected. An amendment exempts the clubs from liability, just as private landowners who allow recreational use of their property are exempted.

Clubs would only be responsible if “intentional and reckless actions” cause an accident.

Bob Meyers of the Maine Snowmobile Association said Davis’ bill “may have averted a pretty serious situation.”

Meyers said the group is still working on providing affordable liability coverage for all clubs for their grooming and trail maintenance activities.

A separate snowmobile-related bill on the Legislature’s 2004 agenda would require power sled and all-terrain vehicle owners to get liability insurance for their vehicles.

AP-ES-12-03-03 1146EST



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