2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 23: MAJOR OFFENSES - SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION › Subchapter 5: HABITUAL OFFENDER › 29-A §2557-A. Operating after habitual offender revocation

§2557-A. Operating after habitual offender revocation
1.  Operating after habitual offender revocation.
A person commits operating after habitual offender revocation if that person:
A. Operates a motor vehicle on a public way, as defined in Title 17‑A, section 505, subsection 2, when that person's license to operate a motor vehicle has been revoked under this subchapter or former Title 29, chapter 18‑A and that person:
(1) Has received written notice of the revocation from the Secretary of State;
(2) Has been orally informed of the revocation by a law enforcement officer;
(3) Has actual knowledge of the revocation; or
(4) Is a person to whom written notice was sent in accordance with section 2482 or former Title 29, section 2241, subsection 4; or   [PL 2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
B. After having one or more prior convictions for violating former section 2557, this section or section 2558, violates section 2412‑A.   [PL 2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
[PL 2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
2.  Penalties.
The following penalties apply.
A. A person is guilty of a Class D crime if the person violates subsection 1 and:
(1) The person has not been convicted for operating after revocation under this section or under former Title 29, section 2298 within the previous 10 years; and
(2) The person has not received an OUI conviction within the previous 10 years.
The minimum fine for a Class D crime under this paragraph is $500 and the minimum term of imprisonment is 30 days, neither of which may be suspended by the court.   [PL 2009, c. 54, §5 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF).]
B. A person is guilty of a Class C crime if the person violates subsection 1 and:
(1) The person has one conviction for operating after revocation under this section or under former Title 29, section 2298 within the previous 10 years; or
(2) The person has one OUI conviction within the previous 10 years.
The minimum fine for a Class C crime under this paragraph is $1,000 and the minimum term of imprisonment is 6 months, neither of which may be suspended by the court.   [PL 2009, c. 54, §5 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF).]
C. A person is guilty of a Class C crime if the person violates subsection 1 and:
(1) The person has 2 convictions for operating after revocation under this section or under former Title 29, section 2298 within the previous 10 years; or
(2) The person has 2 OUI convictions within the previous 10 years.
The minimum fine for a Class C crime under this paragraph is $1,000 and the minimum term of imprisonment is 9 months plus a day, neither of which may be suspended by the court.   [PL 2009, c. 54, §5 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF).]
D. A person is guilty of a Class C crime if the person violates subsection 1 and:
(1) The person has 3 or more convictions for operating after revocation under this section or under former Title 29, section 2298 within the previous 10 years; or
(2) The person has 3 or more OUI convictions within the previous 10 years.
The minimum fine for a Class C crime under this paragraph is $1,000 and the minimum term of imprisonment is 2 years, neither of which may be suspended by the court.   [PL 2009, c. 54, §5 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF).]
[PL 2009, c. 54, §5 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF).]
3.  Strict liability.
Violation of this section is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17‑A, section 34, subsection 4‑A.
[PL 2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
4.  Relief from habitual offender status.
The Secretary of State may not grant relief from habitual offender status under section 2554 until at least 3 years have passed after the original date scheduled for eligibility to apply for relief of that status.
[PL 2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
5.  Presumption of identity.
If the name and date of birth of a person being prosecuted are the same as those of the habitual offender whose privilege to operate has been suspended, it is prima facie evidence that it is the same person.
[PL 2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
6.  Notice to Secretary of State.
A law enforcement officer who has arrested a person for or charged a person with violating this section shall notify the Secretary of State of that action.
[PL 2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2005, c. 606, §A11 (NEW). PL 2009, c. 54, §5 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF).