Maine Driving Record

"One of life’s great rites of passage is the obtaining of one’s first driver’s license. It represents a milestone in independence; indeed, with the invention of the automobile, the ability to operate a motor vehicle represents the greatest level of freedom, flexibility, and mobility in human history." - Matthew Dunlap, Secretary of State

A license may not be issued to a person unless the person presents acceptable documentary evidence of the person’s residence or domicile in this State. The Secretary of State may exempt from the requirements a person who has established to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that the person is on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, the spouse or child of a person on active duty in the United States Armed Forces or a student enrolled in a university, college or school within the State.

Maine License Suspensions

Eluding a police officer is a serious offense. Anyone, after being requested or signaled to stop, who attempts to elude a law enforcement officer by driving a vehicle at a reckless rate of speed, resulting in a high-speed chase between the operator’s vehicle and any law enforcement vehicle using a blue light and siren, is guilty of a Class C crime. If any person suffers any serious bodily injury as a result of the operator’s attempt to elude a law enforcement officer, that operator commits a Class B crime.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident - Increase in classification for the offense of leaving the scene of a bodily injury accident from a Class D to a Class C crime, if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury or deathand the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly failed to stop at the scene of the accident.

The violation free credit system awards one point for each calendar year free of convictions or suspensions. One is permitted to accumulate up to four violation free credit points.

The Maine Driving Dynamics Course is an approved five-hour program designed to increase knowledge of driving hazards and the techniques to avoid these hazards. The focus is on the prevention of collisions despite adverse conditions and unsafe actions of other drivers. The course also emphasizes the dangers associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs in association with driving. Successful completion of a Maine Driving Dynamics Course or other approved driver improvement course will deduct three points from a driver’s point total. Anyone may, even with no record, receive credit for successful completion of this course, but points will be deducted only once in any twelve month period. Courses are conducted by trained instructors whenever and wherever there is sufficient demand. The courses are often part of the local adult and continuing education program. For further information please call the Bureau of Highway Safety at (207)626-3840.

Any person whose license has been suspended three times within a three-year period by the Secretary of State or by a court may be subject to a further suspension for a period up to 120 days.

Maine OUI Law

If you are the operator of a motor vehicle and are driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent by weight, you are guilty of a criminal offense of operating under the influence (see description below). You will, in most instances, be promptly arrested and taken off to jail. Following your arrest and based solely on the police report and a blood alcohol content (BAC) test result, the Secretary of State will immediately suspend your license. This suspension takes place prior to any court appearance, so while you are waiting for your appearance before a judge, you won’t be driving!

1st Court Conviction: If you are convicted of OUI and your blood alcohol content is .08 to .14 percent:

• you will receive a mandatory fine of at least $500.00, $600.00 with refusal
• you lose your license for at least 90 days
• pay a license reinstatement fee
• and be required to attend an alcohol and other drug education and treatment program

If you are convicted of OUI and your blood-alcohol content is .15 percent or more; or you are traveling 30 mph or more over the speed limit; or you attempt to elude an officer of the law; or you refuse to take a blood alcohol content (BAC) test; or you have a passenger under the age of 21 in the vehicle:

• you will spend at least 48 hours in jail (96 hours if you refuse a test)
• lose your license for at least 90 days
• pay a license reinstatement fee
• and be required to attend an alcohol and other drug education and treatment program

2nd Court Conviction: (a prior refusal to take a BAC test is considered a prior offense.) Upon conviction:

• you will receive at least seven days in jail (twelve days if you refuse the test)
• a mandatory fine of at least $700.00, ($900.00 if you refuse a test)
• loss of your license for at least 18 months (no work license)
• pay a license reinstatement fee
• and be required to attend an alcohol and other drug education and treatment program

3rd Court Conviction Upon conviction

• you will receive at least 30 days in jail (40 days if you refuse the test)
• a fine of at least $1,100. ($1,400 if you refuse a test)
• the loss of your license for at least four years (no work license)
• pay a reinstatement fee
• and be required to attend an alcohol and other drug education and treatment program

Maine Driving Laws

• Maine law requires every owner and operator of a motor vehicle to maintain motor vehicle liability insurance and to present evidence upon request of a law enforcement officer.
• By law, all automobile liability policies written in Maine include “uninsured motorist” coverage. This protects the insured for bodily injury damages up to the limits of the Maine Financial Responsibility Law with higher limits optional.
• All motor vehicles bearing a Maine registration must have a current Maine inspection before being operated on any public way.

Maine Driver License Points

By law, the Secretary of State is required to adopt rules establishing a uniform system of assigning demerit points for persons convicted of certain motor vehicle traffic offenses. Once certain point levels are reached (currently 6 points), a warning is issued by the Secretary of State, and if the point total reaches 12 points or more the driver’s license will be suspended. Points will be erased from a driver’s record when they become one year old. When a suspension occurs, a driver is entitled to a hearing by the Secretary of State’s office. The hearing examiner may continue, modify, or rescind the earlier action taken. The person under suspension may be represented by an attorney at any hearing and the hearing decision may be appealed to Superior Court.

Additional Maine Resources

• Maine Driver License Exam Manual [PDF]
• Drinking & Driving Violations
• Driving Without a License / With a Suspended License
• Driving Without Insurance / With Insufficient Insurance
• Driving Without Registration / With Expired Registration
• Illegal U-Turn
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident / Hit & Run
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident / Hit & Run
• Mechanical Violations
• Reckless Driving
• Running a Red Light / Stop Sign
• Seat Belt / Child Restraint Violations
• Speeding
• Unlawful Vehicle Modifications