Opinion ID: 2321747
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Passing a Roadblock

Text: [¶ 11] Pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(1)(A), a roadblock is defined as a vehicle, a physical barrier or other obstruction placed on a way at the direction of a law enforcement officer. Pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(4), the Class C crime of passing a roadblock is committed if a person without authorization, operates or attempts to operate a motor vehicle past a clearly identifiable police roadblock. [¶ 12] The evidence regarding the roadblock is that the second deputy parked his cruiser, with blue lights and siren activated, in the northbound lane. There was no evidence that the deputy gave any other signal or indication that the parked vehicle was a police roadblock, and there was no physical barrier or other obstruction placed on or near the southbound roadway to indicate a roadblock. The deputy remained in his cruiser. As Milne, driving in the southbound lane, was approaching the second deputy's cruiser, there was no physical barrier or obstruction in the southbound lane and no evidence of any hand signal or other signal given from the deputy, parked in the northbound lane, directing Milne to stop. [¶ 13] Not every police vehicle parked on a roadway, with blue lights and siren activated, constitutes a roadblock requiring all vehicles in an unobstructed opposite travel lane to stop. [2] Penal statutes must be strictly construed. See State v. Dana, 517 A.2d 719, 721 (Me.1986) (applying this rule of construction to a prior passing a roadblock statute, 29 M.R.S.A. § 2501-A(4) (Supp.1985)). Without more, and there was no evidence of anything more here, the law enforcement vehicle parked in the northbound travel lane, with its blue lights and siren activated, did not constitute a clearly identifiable police roadblock for vehicles operating in the unobstructed southbound lane. While vehicles operating in the southbound lane may have been obligated to pass with considerable caution, something Milne did not do in the course of committing the eluding an officer offense, there was no clearly identifiable police roadblock, pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(4), requiring vehicles in the southbound lane to stop. Accordingly, the available evidence in the record is insufficient to support a finding, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Milne committed the offense of passing a roadblock. Accordingly, Milne's conviction for passing a roadblock is vacated. The entry is: Judgment of conviction for passing a roadblock vacated. In all other respects, the judgments are affirmed. Remanded for reconsideration of sentence, if the trial court deems such appropriate, in light of the vacated conviction.