Maine DWI Attorneys and Laws

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If you have been charged with a Maine DWI there are two things that you need to consider:

1) Take the charge seriously.
A conviction for a Maine DWI will have long lasting consequences. A criminal record can affect your employment, your future and your personal freedom.

2) Hire an experienced Maine DWI Lawyer.
Understanding the Maine DWI laws and courtroom proceedings can be a challenge. Hiring a qualified Maine DWI Lawyer from DWI.com who focuses on DWI defense can make a difference in the outcome of your case.

The Maine DWI Defense Lawyers at DWI.com offer an initial review of your case. Your inquiry is both free and confidential.

To begin fighting your Maine DWI, use the drop-down menu above to locate a Maine Attorney in your county. But do it now, as time is very critical in a Maine DWI case.

Maine DWI

If you are arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Operating Under the Influence (OUI) in Maine you will have to undergo two separate proceedings. The first is a criminal proceeding for the actual Maine DWI charge that has to be handled with in a court setting. The second is a civil proceeding regarding your driver's license, this is done through the Maine Department of Motor Vehicles. You may be arrested for DWI in Maine regardless of whether or not you have submitted to a breath, blood, or urine test. If you did take the breath test you may still be arrested for DWI in Maine regardless of whether or not the results of the test are .08% or higher.

When you are arrested for DWI in Maine you will usually receive notice of your license suspension via mail, you have only 10 days after the date of your Maine DWI arrest to appeal this suspension. It is important to remember that you are only given a 10 day window to file for an additional temporary license for work purposes until the hearing is conducted and the outcome determined.

It is important to hire an experienced Maine DWI defense attorney to help walk you through the necessary actions and to help you receive the best possible outcome.

Maine OUI / DWI Laws

1. Offense.[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §77 (rp); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

1-A. Offense. A person commits OUI if that person:

A. Operates a motor vehicle:

(1) While under the influence of intoxicants; or

(2) While having a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or more;

[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §78 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

B. Violates paragraph A and:

(1) Has one previous OUI offense within a 10-year period;

(2) Has 2 previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period; or

(3) Has 3 or more previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period;

[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §78 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

C. Violates paragraph A, failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer and:

(1) Has no previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period;

(2) Has one previous OUI offense within a 10-year period;

(3) Has 2 previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period; or

(4) Has 3 previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period; or

[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §78 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

D. Violates paragraph A, B or C and:

(1) In fact causes serious bodily injury as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 23 to another person;

(1-A) In fact causes the death of another person; or

(2) Has either a prior conviction for a Class C crime under this section or former Title 29, section 1312-B or a prior criminal homicide conviction involving or resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or greater.

[2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §1 (amd).]

2. Pleading and proof. The alternatives outlined in subsection 1-A, paragraph A may be pleaded in the alternative. The State is not required to elect between the alternatives prior to submission to the fact finder. In a prosecution under subsection 1-A, paragraph D, the State need not prove that the defendant's condition of being under the influence of intoxicants or having a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or more caused the serious bodily injury or death alleged. The State must prove only that the defendant's operation caused the serious bodily injury or death. The court shall apply Title 17-A, section 33 in assessing any causation under this section.[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §79 (amd); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

3. Investigation. After a person has been charged with OUI, the officer shall investigate whether the charged person has prior OUI offenses. As part of the investigation, the officer shall make necessary inquiries of the Secretary of State.[1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (new); Pt. B, §5 (aff).]

4. Arrest. A law enforcement officer may arrest, without a warrant, a person the officer has probable cause to believe has operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants if the arrest occurs within a period following the offense reasonably likely to result in the obtaining of probative evidence of blood-alcohol level or drug concentration.[1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (new); Pt. B, §5 (aff).]

5. Penalties.[2003, c. 673, Pt. TT, §3 (amd); c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (rev); 2005, c. 397, Pt. B, §7 (rp); §8 (aff).]

5. Penalties. Except as otherwise provided, violation of this section is a Class D crime, which is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A. The following minimum penalties apply and may not be suspended:

A. For a person having no previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period:

(1) A fine of not less than $500, except that if the person failed to submit to a test, a fine of not less than $600;

(2) A court-ordered suspension of a driver's license for a period of 90 days; and

(3) A period of incarceration as follows:

(a) Not less than 48 hours when the person:

(i) Was tested as having a blood-alcohol level of 0.15% or more;

(ii) Was exceeding the speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more;

(iii) Eluded or attempted to elude an officer; or

(iv) Was operating with a passenger under 21 years of age; and

(b) Not less than 96 hours when the person failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer;

[2003, c. 673, Pt. TT, §4 (amd).]

B. For a person having one previous OUI offense within a 10-year period:

(1) A fine of not less than $700, except that if the person failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer, a fine of not less than $900;

(2) A period of incarceration of not less than 7 days, except that if the person failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer, a period of incarceration of not less than 12 days;

(3) A court-ordered suspension of a driver's license for a period of 18 months; and

(4) In accordance with section 2416, a court-ordered suspension of the person's right to register a motor vehicle;

[2003, c. 673, Pt. TT, §4 (amd).]

C. For a person having 2 previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period, which is a Class C crime:

(1) A fine of not less than $1,100, except that if the person failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer, a fine of not less than $1,400;

(2) A period of incarceration of not less than 30 days, except that if the person failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer, a period of incarceration of not less than 40 days;

(3) A court-ordered suspension of a driver's license for a period of 4 years; and

(4) In accordance with section 2416, a court-ordered suspension of the person's right to register a motor vehicle;

[2005, c. 438, §1 (amd).]

D. For a person having 3 or more previous OUI offenses within a 10-year period, which is a Class C crime:

(1) A fine of not less than $2,100, except that if the person failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer, a fine of not less than $2,500;

(2) A period of incarceration of not less than 6 months, except that if the person failed to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer, a period of incarceration of not less than 6 months and 20 days;

(3) A court-ordered suspension of a driver's license for a period of 6 years; and

(4) In accordance with section 2416, a court-ordered suspension of the person's right to register a motor vehicle;

[2003, c. 673, Pt. TT, §4 (amd).]

D-1. A violation of subsection 1-A, paragraph D, subparagraph (1) is a Class C crime, which is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A. The sentence must include a period of incarceration of not less than 6 months, a fine of not less than $2,100 and a court-ordered suspension of a driver's license for a period of 6 years. These penalties may not be suspended; [2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §2 (amd).]

D-2. A violation of subsection 1-A, paragraph D, subparagraph (1-A) or (2) is a Class B crime, which is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A. The sentence must include a period of incarceration of not less than 6 months, a fine of not less than $2,100 and a court-ordered suspension of a driver's license for a period of 10 years. These penalties may not be suspended; [2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §3 (new).]

E. If a law enforcement officer failed to provide the warnings required by section 2521, subsection 3, the increase in minimum penalties required because of a refusal to submit to a test is not mandatory; [1997, c. 737, §9 (amd).]

F. For a person sentenced under paragraph B, C or D, the court shall order the defendant to participate in the alcohol and other drug program of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse. The court may waive the program pursuant to Title 5, section 20073-B, if the court finds that the defendant has completed an alcohol or other drug treatment program subsequent to the date of the offense; and [2001, c. 511, §3 (amd); 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (rev).]

G. The court shall order an additional period of license suspension of 275 days for a person sentenced under paragraph A, B, C, D, D-1 or D-2 if the person was operating the motor vehicle at the time of the offense with a passenger under 21 years of age. [2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §4 (amd).]

[2005, c. 606, Pt. A, §§2-4 (amd).]

5-A. Notice and custody. The court shall give notice of a license suspension and shall take physical custody of the driver's license.[1995, c. 368, Pt. AAA, §9 (new).]

5-B. Additional period of suspension. The Secretary of State may impose an additional period of suspension under section 2451, subsection 3 or may extend a period of suspension until satisfaction of any conditions imposed pursuant to chapter 23, subchapter III, article 4.[1995, c. 368, Pt. AAA, §9 (new).]

6. Aggravated punishment category.[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §83 (rp); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

7. Surcharge. A surcharge must be charged for a conviction under this section. The surcharge is $30, except that, when the person operated or attempted to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs, the surcharge is $125. For the purposes of collection procedures, the surcharge is considered a fine. Notwithstanding section 2602, this surcharge accrues to the Highway Fund for the purpose of covering the costs associated with the administration and analysis of blood-alcohol tests.[1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (new); Pt. B, §5 (aff).]

8. Juvenile crime. References in this Title to this section include the juvenile crime in Title 15, section 3103, subsection 1, paragraph F, and the disposition, including a suspension, for that juvenile crime in Title 15, section 3314, subsection 3, except as otherwise provided or except where the context clearly requires otherwise.[1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (new); Pt. B, §5 (aff).]