Maine OUI OWI DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in Maine is 0.08% per se
(effective from Aug 4th 1988)

Maine drunk driving cases are referred to as OUI (operating under the influence), OWI (operating while intoxicated), or DUI (driving under the influence).

(If you’ve been charged with Maine OUI, the law allows only 10 days for your Maine OUI Lawyer to make a request with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles for a hearing to save your driving license)

Maine OUI Laws and BAC limits

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of Maine it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.04% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.00% - ZERO TOLERANCE
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.00% - ZERO TOLERANCE.

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Maine and implied consent laws are enforced.

Maine BAC Calculator

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for OUI - Drunk Driving in Maine

Maine is a state with a ten-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after ten years. If it is ten years and one day since a driver was convicted of OUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a OUI within ten years of the first OUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

First OUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a first OUI - drunk driving conviction in Maine:

• up to $500 fine
• up to 90 days in jail
• minimum 90 days drivers license suspension
• possible vehicle seizure and forfeiture
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second OUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a second OUI - drunk driving conviction in Maine:

• up to $800 fine
• 7 days to 18 months in jail
• 18 months drivers license suspension (may be reinstated after nine months if the person installs an ignition interlock device for a period of 2 years)
• possible vehicle seizure and forfeiture
• SR22 insurance requirement

A conditional drivers license can be suspended for one year, without a preliminary administrative hearing, for operating a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in the blood.

Third OUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - Misdemeanor

The penalty for a third OUI - drunk driving conviction in Maine:

• $1,100 fine
• 30 days to 4 years in jail
• 4 years drivers license suspension (may be reinstated after 3 years if the person installs an ignition interlock device for a period of 3 years)
• you will be denied a work restricted drivers license
• you wont be able to register a motor vehicle
• possible vehicle seizure and forfeiture
• SR22 insurance requirement

Fourth OUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - FELONY

The penalty for a fourth OUI - drunk driving conviction in Maine:

• $2,100 fine
• 6 months to 6 years in jail
• 6 years drivers license suspension (mandatory ignition interlock restricted drivers license upon drivers license re-instatement for a period of 4 years)
• you will be denied a work restricted drivers license
• you wont be able to register a motor vehicle
• possible vehicle seizure and forfeiture
• SR22 insurance requirement

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Implied consent LAWS

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Maine and implied consent laws are enforced.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Maine

In Maine, if the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine, their drivers license will be suspended/revoked.

First chemical test refusal

• 90 days drivers license suspension
• $500 fine
• $96 hours in jail
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second chemical test refusal

• 18 months drivers license suspension
• $800 fine
• 7 days in jail
• SR22 insurance requirement

Third chemical test refusal

• 4 years drivers license suspension
• $1,300 fine
• 40 days in jail
• SR22 insurance requirement

Fourth Chemical Test Refusal

• 6 years drivers license suspension
• $2,400 fine
• 6 months and 20 days in jail
• SR22 insurance requirement

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Maine Auto insurance (High Risk DUI OUI SR22 Insurance)

Maine auto insurance quotes ZIP Code

Maine SR-22 auto insurance is usually required for a period of 3 years after a OUI - DUI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider. Some insurance companies will not even do an SR22 insurance filing. Get a FREE DUI auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for Maine auto insurance in a matter of minutes.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of Maine

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of Maine for private passenger vehicles is (50/100/25). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $50,000 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $100,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $25,000 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE Case evaluation & consultation by local Maine DWI / DUI Lawyer / Drunk Driving Attorney

OR

Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer Maine DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your Maine drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local Maine Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in Maine? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in Maine? • Does Maine have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with Maine laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in Maine? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local Maine criminal defense attorney specialising in Maine drunk driving laws today.

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Useful Maine OUI Links:

DUI - OUI - Drunk Driving Laws in Maine

Maine Drivers Manual

Maine SR22 Insurance Requirement

Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Maine Department of Transportation

Maine State Courts (Judicial Branch)

Maine Department of Insurance

Maine OUI - DUI Lawyers

Maine OUI - DUI discussion forum

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