2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 13: FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INSURANCE › Subchapter 2: GENERAL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY › 29-A §1603. Suspension

§1603. Suspension
(CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES)
1.  Suspension of license or registration following conviction or adjudication.
On receipt of an abstract of conviction or adjudication of a person for a violation of a motor vehicle law other than OUI, the Secretary of State may suspend the license of that person and the registration of a vehicle registered in the name of that person until that person gives proof of financial responsibility under section 1605.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
2.  Suspension of license or registration following OUI convictions.
On receipt of an attested copy of the court record of an OUI conviction when the person has been previously convicted within a 10-year period of OUI, the Secretary of State may not reinstate the person's license until the person gives proof of financial responsibility. The period of suspension under this subsection may not be less than the original period of suspension imposed for the conviction.
[PL 1995, c. 368, Pt. AAA, §2 (AMD).]
3.  Minimum.
After a conviction or adjudication of a person for a violation of a motor vehicle law and reinstatement of that person's license and registration, the person shall maintain proof of financial responsibility for at least 3 years.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
4.  Conviction or adjudication in another state.
The Secretary of State shall take action as required in this section upon receiving proper evidence of a conviction or adjudication in another state.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
5.  Waiver.
The Secretary of State may waive the demand for proof of financial responsibility after 3 years from the date of demand for proof.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
6.  General suspension.
After an accident, the Secretary of State, on reasonable grounds appearing on records in the Secretary of State's office, may suspend a person's license or registration until that person gives proof of financial responsibility for a period as the Secretary of State may require.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
7.  Unsatisfied judgment.
Upon receipt of a judgment against the owner or operator of a vehicle involved in an accident reported pursuant to section 2251, subsection 2 that resulted from a cause of action that arose from that accident, the Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the license and registration of the judgment debtor. Upon receipt of a judgment against the owner or operator of a vehicle resulting from an accident not reported pursuant to section 2251, subsection 2 that occurred on a public way or in a place where public traffic may reasonably be anticipated and caused bodily injury or death or property damage of at least $1,000, the Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the license and registration of the judgment debtor.
A. A suspension remains in effect until the owner or operator has obtained a written release, a discharge in bankruptcy or a judgment of no liability, has filed an installment payment of judgment agreement pursuant to section 1604 or has fully satisfied the judgment.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Prior to restoration, the owner or operator must provide proof of financial responsibility.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2013, c. 123, §1 (AMD).]
8.  Penalty.
A person commits a Class E crime if that person gives information required in a report of traffic accident or otherwise as provided in this section, knowing or having reason to believe that information is false.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
9.  (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1/01/24) Return license, certificates and plates.
A person whose license or registration has been suspended shall immediately return every license, registration certificate and registration plate issued to that person to the Secretary of State. A person commits a Class E crime if that person, after notice of suspension, fails or refuses to return every license, registration certificate and registration plate.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
9.  (TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/01/24) Return license, certificates and plates.
A person whose license or registration has been suspended shall immediately return every license, registration certificate and registration plate issued to that person to the Secretary of State. A person commits a traffic infraction if that person, after notice of suspension, fails or refuses to return every license, registration certificate and registration plate.
[PL 2023, c. 362, §1 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 362, §4 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 368, §AAA2 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 123, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 362, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 362, §4 (AFF).