Opinion ID: 2065107
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Validity of the Fines

Text: The defendants argue that the penalties imposed by the presiding Justice under the authority of 12 M.R.S.A. § 4451 were invalid in that they exceed the limits applicable to Class E crimes fixed by 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1301(1)(C). We find that section to have been inapplicable at the time in question. The new Maine Criminal Code (with certain exceptions) became effective in May of 1976. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1(2). [10] Then, as now, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 4-A [11] provided that with regard to crimes specified under 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1(2), the crime classifications provided in 17-A M.R.S.A. § 4-A(3) would be applicable as of May 1, 1976. Section 1(2) of 17-A M.R.S.A. refers only to crimes repealed by this code. Since 12 M.R.S.A. § 4451 was not repealed upon the enactment of the new criminal code, we must consult 17-A M.R.S.A. § 4-A(1)(B). At the time of the offense alleged in the case at bar, September 17, 1977, that subsection provided that [f]or all other purposes, that is, for the purposes of construing those statutes not repealed by the enactment of Title 17-A, this section shall become effective 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 108th Legislature. 1977 Me. Acts c. 564, § 84. The Legislature adjourned on July 23, 1977, and accordingly 17-A M.R.S.A. § 4-A(1)(B) became effective October 24, 1977. Thus, at the time of the apprehension of the defendants, the crime classifications provided in 17-A M.R.S.A. § 4-A and referred to in 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1301 were not applicable to 12 M.R.S.A. § 4451. That being the case, the presiding Justice correctly followed 12 M.R.S.A. § 4451(1)(A) in arriving at the amount of the fines. Finally, the defendants assert that they are indigent, that they will be unable to pay the fines assessed, and that they face incarceration as a consequence of their inability to pay the fines. This is said to constitute a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution, as construed in Tate v. Short, 401 U.S. 395, 91 S.Ct. 668, 28 L.Ed.2d 130 (1971), and Williams v. Illinois, 399 U.S. 235, 90 S.Ct. 2018, 26 L.Ed.2d 586 (1970). We find the question controlled by our recent opinion in State v. Briggs, Me., 388 A.2d 507 (1978). The defendants' claim is premature as there has been no finding of an actual inability to pay, nor is there any indication of what action will be taken by the Superior Court in the event that the fines are not paid. The entry is: Appeal denied. Judgments affirmed.