An Act to Improve Driver Safety by Requiring the Completion of a Defensive Driving Course for Certain Violations
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1374
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: MONTELL, FARRIN, ANKELES, CRAFTS, MASON, O'CONNELL, RISEMAN, THERIAULT, WHITE, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2118, 29-A MRSA §2119, 29-A MRSA §2121, 29-A MRSA §2458

Legislative Document
No. 1374
H.P. 888
House of Representatives, March 28, 2023
An Act to Improve Driver Safety by Requiring the Completion of a 
Defensive Driving Course for Certain Violations
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MONTELL of Gardiner.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, CRAFTS of Newcastle, MASON of Lisbon, 
O'CONNELL of Brewer, RISEMAN of Harrison, THERIAULT of Fort Kent, WHITE of 
Waterville, Senator: DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §2118, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
3.  Defensive driving course requirement.  A person adjudicated of violating this 
section must submit to the Secretary of State proof of completion of a defensive driving 
course approved by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Title 23, section 4208. 
The course must be completed subsequent to the date of the violation of this section. If the 
Secretary of State does not receive proof of completion of a defensive driving course within 
days of the date of adjudication of the violation, the Secretary of State shall assess 
additional demerit points under the system adopted pursuant to section 2458, subsection 3.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §2119, sub-§3, ¶C is enacted to read:
C.  A person adjudicated of violating this section must submit to the Secretary of State 
proof of completion of a defensive driving course approved by the Department of 
Public Safety pursuant to Title 23, section 4208. The course must be completed 
subsequent to the date of the violation of this section. If the Secretary of State does not 
receive proof of completion of a defensive driving course within 90 days of the date of 
adjudication of the violation, the Secretary of State shall assess additional demerit 
points under the system adopted pursuant to section 2458, subsection 3.
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §2121, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2019, c. 579, §2, is further 
amended to read:
3.  Penalty.  A person who violates this section commits a traffic infraction for which 
a fine of $50 for the first offense and $250 for a 2nd or subsequent offense may be adjudged.  
A person adjudicated of violating this section must submit to the Secretary of State proof 
of completion of a defensive driving course approved by the Department of Public Safety 
pursuant to Title 23, section 4208. The course must be completed subsequent to the date of 
the violation of this section. If the Secretary of State does not receive proof of completion 
of a defensive driving course within 90 days of the date of adjudication of the violation, the 
Secretary of State shall assess additional demerit points under the system adopted pursuant 
to section 2458, subsection 3.
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §2458, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended by enacting after the 3rd blocked paragraph a new blocked 
paragraph to read:
Assessment of points under this system must be consistent with sections 2118, 2119 and 
2121. The Secretary of State may amend the Secretary of State's rules to make them 
consistent with sections 2118, 2119 and 2121.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the completion of a defensive driving course for certain traffic 
infractions and requires the assessment of additional demerit points under the system 
adopted by the Secretary of State if the course is not completed within 90 days of 
adjudication of the traffic infraction. It also allows the Secretary of State to amend the 
Secretary of State's rules to make them consistent with those requirements.