An Act To Reduce the Trafficking of Illegal Drugs in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1534
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: BURNS, ALFOND, DIAMOND, GERZOFSKY, HILL, WHITTEMORE, SIROCKI, TIMBERLAKE

Legislative Document 
No. 1534 
S.P. 596 
In Senate, January 6, 2016 
An Act To Reduce the Trafficking of Illegal Drugs in the State 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BURNS of Washington. 
Cosponsored by Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, DIAMOND of Cumberland, 
GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, HILL of York, WHITTEMORE of Somerset, Representatives: 
SIROCKI of Scarborough, TIMBERLAKE of Turner. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA c. 201 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 201 
MAINE STATE POLICE DRUG INTERDICTION UNIT 
§1751.  Maine State Police Drug Interdiction Unit 
1.  Maine State Police Drug Interdiction Unit.  The Maine State Police Drug 
Interdiction Unit, referred to in this chapter as "the drug interdiction unit," is established 
within the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police.  The purpose of the drug 
interdiction unit is to conduct drug trafficking patrols on state roads and ways and at 
access points to the State to prevent the trafficking of illegal drugs in the State. 
2.  Members of drug interdiction unit.  The drug interdiction unit must consist of at 
least 3 state police officers and a supervising state police officer, who must have attained 
at least the rank of sergeant in the State Police, all with training and experience in illegal 
drug interdiction techniques.  The members of the drug interdiction unit must be 
appointed by the Chief of the State Police in consultation with the Commissioner of 
Public Safety. 
3.  Report.  Beginning July 1, 2017, the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of 
State Police shall annually report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters regarding the implementation and 
effectiveness of programs and initiatives undertaken by the drug interdiction unit. 
Sec. 2.  Implementation of Maine State Police Drug Interdiction Unit; 
report.  The Maine State Police Drug Interdiction Unit, established pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 1751, must be implemented by the 
Commissioner of Public Safety no later than August 1, 2016.  The Chief of the State 
Police shall report to the Governor and the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice 
and Public Safety when the appointments to the drug interdiction unit have been 
completed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Maine State Police Drug Interdiction Unit in the Department 
of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police to conduct drug trafficking patrols on state roads 
and ways and at access points to the State to prevent the trafficking of illegal drugs in the 
State.  The drug interdiction unit consists of at least 3 state police officers and a 
supervising state police officer, all of whom must have training and experience in illegal 
drug interdiction techniques.