An Act To Protect Young Drivers and Passengers
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1439
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: USHER, DAMON, HATCH, WOODCOCK, JODREY, PARADIS, SNOWE-MELLO
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1304, 29-A MRSA §1310, 29-A MRSA §1311, 29-A MRSA §2471, 29-A MRSA §2472

Legislative Document 
No. 1439 
S.P.477 
In Senate, March 26, 2003 
An Act To Protect Young Drivers and Passengers 
Submitted by the Secretary of State pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator SA V AGE of Knox. 
Cosponsored by Representative USHER of Westbrook and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: DAMON of Hancock, HATCH of Somerset, WOODCOCK of Franklin, 
Representatives: JODREY of Bethel, McKENNEY of Cumberland, McNEIL of Rockland, 
PARADIS of Frenchville, SNOWE-MELLO of Poland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1304, sub-§I, ,H, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
545, §l, is further amended to read: 
l4 
H. 
A person under 21 years of age may not apply for a 
license unless: 
(1) 
A period of -J- b months has passed from the date 
the person was issued an instruction permit; and 
(2) 
The person has completed a minimum of 35 hours of 
driving, 
including 
hours of night driving, 
while 
accompanied by a parent, guardian or licensed driver at 
least 
years 
of age. 
The parent, 
stepparent or 
guardian, or a spouse or employer pursuant: to section 
1302, subsection 1, paragraphs Band C, must certify 
the person's driving time on a form prescribed by the 
Secretary of State. 
A person 21 years of age or older is not required to submit 
certification of driving time to the Secretary of State. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §1310, as amended by PL 2001, c. 361, §29, 
is repealed. 
Sec.3. 29-A MRSA §1311 is enacted to read: 
§13ll. 
Intermediate license 
1. 
Restricted license. 
A person under 18 years of age who 
has been issued a driver's license may not: 
A. 
Carry passengers other than immediate family members 
unless accompanied by 
a 
licensed operator who 
meets the 
requirements of section 1304. subsection I. paragraph E; or 
B. 
Operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 12 a.m. and 
a.m. 
2. 
Period of restrictions. 
Unless extended pursuant to 
subsection 3. the license restrictions in subsection 1 are in 
effect for a period of 180 days from license issuance. 
3. 
Extension of restrictions. 
A person who is adjudicated 
for violating this section must have the license restrictions in 
subsection 1 extended for an additional period of 180 days. 
The 
additional period of license restrictions may extend beyond the 
person's 
18th 
birthday. 
Any 
violation 
of 
the 
license 
restrictions during the period of this extension must result in a 
further extension of the license restrictions pursuant to this 
section. 
4. 
Penalty. 
A person who violates this section comrni ts a 
traffic infraction. 
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §2471, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
737, §14, is further amended to read: 
2. 
Suspension 
terms. 
If 
a 
person 
is 
convicted 
or 
adjudicated of a 
moving motor vehicle violation that occurred 
during the period of the provisional license, the Secretary of 
State shall suspend the license without right to hearing: 
A. 
For 60 days on the 1st offense; 
B. 
For 90 days on the 2nd offense; and 
C. 
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For 120 daysT-waieaever-is-±eH~eFT on the 3rd offense. 
A-~~-waese-~~~~~-~~€e££e--i&-£~£~~ay-~~--a 
aeariH~-p~F6~aH~-~e-see~ieH-648aT 
Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §2472, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
737, §16, is further amended to read: 
2. 
Suspension terms for moving violations. 
If a person who 
has 
not yet attained the 
age 
of 
years is 
convicted or 
adjudicated of a 
moving motor vehicle violation that occurred 
within 
~ae--~ir&~-~--fFem--~&e-~~-B~--issae-~--~--j~veHi±e 
FrevisieBa±-~~~-iss~ea-~~~--~-A~~~~--~r-±ggg-~--wi~aiH 2 
years from the date of issue of a juvenile provisional license 
i66~ea-~~~~-~~-~~r-1998, the Secretary of State shall suspend 
the license without right to hearing: 
A. 
For 60 days on the 1st offense; 
B. 
For 90 days on the 2nd offense; and 
C. 
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For 120 daysT-waieaeveF-is-±eH~eFT on the 3rd offense. 
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req~es~-a-aeariH~-F~rs~aH~-~e-see~ieH-648aT 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a 3-step graduated licemsing system 
for new drivers under 21 years of age. 
The graduated licensing 
system 
places 
certain driving 
restrictions 
at 
the 
first 
levels. 
By successfully completing each level, the young driver 
can graduate to the next, less restrictive phase of the licensing 
process. 
The graduated licensing system consists of a supervised 
instruction permit, an intermediate license and an unrestricted 
license. 
This bill makes 
the following specific 
changes 
to 
implement the graduated licensing system. 
1. 
It extends the period a person under 21 years of age 
must hold an instruction permit from 3 months to 6 months before 
making application for a driver's license. 
2. 
It repeals the existing interim license laws. 
3. 
It enacts a 
new intermediate license law. 
The 
new 
provisions prohibit a new licensee under 18 years of age from 
carrying passengers, 
except 
designated 
individuals, 
and 
from 
driving between the hours of 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. for a period of 
days. 
The 
new provisions also require extension of the 
intermediate license in cases of violations of the conditions by 
the licensee. 
4. 
It requires mandatory license suspensions for violations 
occurring during the term of provisional licenses.