An Act Regarding Driver's License Suspensions for Nondriving-related Violations
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1190
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: MOONEN, KEIM, HICKMAN, KINNEY, WARREN, WINSOR, DIAMOND, KATZ, WHITTEMORE
Amends: 14 MRSA §3141, 14 MRSA §3142, 14 MRSA §3146, 29-A MRSA §2605

Legislative Document
No. 1190
H.P. 827
House of Representatives, March 28, 2017
An Act Regarding Driver's License Suspensions for Nondriving-
related Violations
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MOONEN of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator KEIM of Oxford and
Representatives: HICKMAN of Winthrop, KINNEY of Limington, McLEAN of Gorham, 
WARREN of Hallowell, WINSOR of Norway, Senators: DIAMOND of Cumberland, KATZ 
of Kennebec, WHITTEMORE of Somerset.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  14 MRSA §3141, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1999, c. 587, §9, is further 
amended to read: 
7.  Remedies.  Failure to pay by the date fixed by the court's order or an amended 
order subjects the defendant to the contempt procedures provided in section 3142, 
suspensions under Title 29-A, section 2605, and all procedures for collections provided 
for in sections 3127-A, 3127-B, 3131, 3132, 3134, 3135 and 3136.  An installment 
agreement under this section must be considered an agreement under section 3125, and a 
court order to pay under section 3126-A.  In addition to other penalties provided by law, 
the court may impose on the defendant reasonable costs for any failure to appear. 
Sec. 2.  14 MRSA §3142, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §26 
and affected by c. 614, §9 and PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. A, §§51 and 52, is further amended to 
read: 
C.  The suspension of any license, certification, registration, permit, approval or other 
similar document evidencing the granting of authority to hunt, fish or trap or to 
engage in a profession, occupation, business or industry, not including a registration, 
permit, approval or similar document evidencing the granting of authority to engage 
in the business of banking pursuant to Title 9-B or a motor vehicle license or permit 
issued by the Secretary of State, the right to operate a motor vehicle in this State and 
the right to apply for or obtain a license or permit, as provided in Title 29-A.  
Licenses and registration subject to suspension include, but are not limited to: 
(1)  Licenses issued by the Commissioner of Marine Resources, as provided in 
Title 12, section 6409; 
(2)  Licenses issued by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, as 
provided in Title 12, section 10902, subsection 3; and 
(3)  Watercraft, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle registrations, as provided in 
Title 12, section 10902, subsection 3; and. 
(4)  Motor vehicle licenses or permits issued by the Secretary of State, the right to 
operate a motor vehicle in this State and the right to apply for or obtain a license 
or permit, as provided in Title 29-A, section 2605. 
Sec. 3.  14 MRSA §3146, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 414, §2, is repealed. 
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §2605, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 482, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Suspension by clerk.  If a person fails to appear in court on the date and time 
specified in response to a Uniform Summons and Complaint, a summons, a condition of 
bail or order of court for any criminal violation of Title 23, section 1980; a civil violation 
under Title 28-A, section 2052; a civil violation under this Title; or any criminal 
provision of this Title, or for any further appearance ordered by the court, including one 
for the payment of a fine, either in person or by counsel, or fails to pay a fine imposed for 
a criminal traffic offense, the clerk shall suspend the person's license or permit, the right 
to operate a motor vehicle in this State and the right to apply for or obtain a license or 
permit.  The court shall immediately notify that person of the suspension by regular mail 
or personal service.  Written notice is sufficient if sent to the person's last known address. 
If a person who is not an individual fails to appear or pay a fine in a civil violation under 
this Title or a criminal traffic offense, the clerk shall suspend the registration of the motor 
vehicle involved in the offense or that person's right to operate that vehicle in the State. 
SUMMARY 
This bill removes the provisions of law that allow driver’s license suspensions for 
failure to pay a fine in offenses not related to driving. This bill provides that the statutory 
exemptions from attachment and execution for certain property apply to the enforcement 
of fines owed to the State.