Maine Driving Offenses Attorneys

Defending Against Maine Driving Offenses

If you are facing charges for a driving offense in Maine, it is important to be proactive. You may think that a driving offense is nothing serious. Some of these charges, however, carry very serious penalties. Driving offenses commonly result in a suspension of a driver’s license. Additionally, it is important to prevent these charges from becoming a conviction on your record. Once you have one conviction – for example, Operating Under the Influence – the penalties become far steeper for future offenses.

Our experienced criminal defense lawyers will fight to get your charges dismissed. If your case does go to trial, we will pull out every stop to challenge the charges against you and make sure that you are found not guilty.

Maine Driving Offenses

There are several driving offenses outlined in the Maine Revised Statutes. These statutes include both civil and criminal offenses. These criminal offenses include the following:

• Operating Under the Influence (OUI) – A person can be charged with OUI if they operate a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or if they have a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) over .08. Some states refer to OUI as Driving While Intoxicated/Impaired (DWI) or DUI (Driving Under the Influence).
• Operating a Vehicle with a Suspended or Revoked License – If a person has actual or constructive knowledge that their license has been revoked and they operate a vehicle on any Maine roadway or in a parking lot, they can be charged with this crime. Significant jail time and further suspensions can result.
• Driving to Endanger (DTE)- A driver can be charged with driving to endanger if they drive in a manner that endangers other drivers and vehicles, occupants of the vehicle being driven, or the property of another person. DTE is a Class E crime, but it is elevated to a Class C crime if the driver causes serious bodily injury due to reckless driving. Serious prison time, loss of license, and fines can be imposed.
• Refusing to Stop for Law Enforcement. Failure to stop constitutes a Class E crime, but it can be aggravated to a Class C crime for eluding an officer or avoiding a roadblock. If a high-speed chase or serious bodily injury occurs as a result of the driver’s attempt to elude officers, this will further aggravate the charges.
• Suspended Registration. It is a Class E crime to operate a vehicle in Maine while your vehicle registration has been revoked or suspended.

Contact STEVE SMITH Trial Lawyers

If you are facing criminal charges for a Maine driving offense, the experienced criminal defense attorneys at STEVE SMITH Trial Lawyers are ready to fight to get your charges dismissed or reduced. We will build an excellent defense strategy to ensure that you have the best possible outcome in your case. Contact STEVE SMITH Trial Lawyers, located in Augusta, Maine, today to schedule a consultation.