An Act To Require Motorists To Use Caution When Approaching a Safety Zone
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0837
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: BULL, DAMON, DUPLESSIE, RINES, USHER, STRIMLING
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2054

Legislative Document 
No. 837 
H.P.614 
House of Representatives, February 20, 2003 
An Act To Require Motorists To Use Caution When Approaching a 
Safety Zone 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BULL of Freeport. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAMON of Hancock and 
/J'l~ /h.7l/Ac~ 
Mll..LICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representati ves: ANDREWS of York, DUPLESSIE of Westbrook, McNEIL of Rockland, 
RINES of Wiscasset, USHER of Westbrook, Senator: STRIMLING of Cumberland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2054. sub-§9. as enacted by PL 200L c. 
360, §8, is repealed. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2054. sub-§10 is enacted to read.: 
10. 
Stationary 
authorized 
emergency 
vehicles. 
The 
following provisions govern the operator of a vehicle approaching 
or passing 
a 
stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is 
using an emergency light. 
A. 
With due regard to the safety and traffic conditions, an 
operator of a vehicle approaching or passing a stationary 
authorized emergency vehicle that is using 
an 
emergency 
light shall: 
B. 
(1) 
Reduce speed and maintain a speed throughout the 
incident area no greater than is reasonable and prudent 
under the conditions, 
including actual and potential 
hazards then existing; 
(2) 
Vacate any lane wholly or partially blocked; 
(3) 
Obey 
the directions of 
an authorized official 
directing traffic and all applicable traffic control 
devices; and 
{4} 
Pgss 
~n a 
lane 
nQt 
adjacent 
to 
thgt of 
the 
emgrgency vehicle, if possible, or, if passing 
~n a 
nongQja~ent lane is 
impo;;!;;!ible 
Qr 
unsafe, 
pass 
the 
gmergency vehicle at a reasonable and prudent speed. 
The 
fQllowing penalties apply to violations of this 
subsgctiQn. 
(l} 
A per;;!on who violgtes this subsection commits 
a 
Class E crime. 
(2} 
A persQn who violates this ;;!ubsection and at the 
time 
of 
the 
offen;;!e 
has 
a 
prior 
conviction 
for 
violating this subsection commits a Class E crime and 
is 
subject 
to 
a 
mandatory 
30-day driver's 
license 
suspension. 
Title 17-A, section 9-A governs the use of 
prior convictions 
in determining 
a 
sentence, 
except 
that for purposes of this subparagraph, 
the date of 
egch prior cQnviction may prgcede the cQmmission of the 
offense being enhanced by no more than 3 years. 
C. 
Paragraphs A and B do not apply to authorized emergency 
vehicles 
in 
an 
incident 
area. 
Operators 
of 
emergency 
vehicles in an incident area shall proceed at a reasonable 
and prudent speed, with due regard to the safety of all 
persons in the incident area. 
In addition to any other penalty imposed by law, if a violation 
of this subsection results in serious bodily injury or death to 
another person, the violator's driver's license must be suspended 
for at least 180 days and not more than 2 years. 
SUMMARY 
This bill adds to the safety requirements governing drivers 
approaching or passing a stationary authorized emergency vehicle 
that is using an emergency light and increases the penalties for 
violation. 
The bill also clarifies that an authorized emergency 
vehicle must exercise due regard to the safety of others but is 
exempted 
from 
the 
other 
operator 
requirements 
of 
the 
new 
provision.