Updated: August 15, 2024
Most roads and streets have posted speed limit markers. If a driver fails to obey the speed limit laws, they may be subject to a traffic infraction. In some circumstances, however, a driver can go over the speed limit restrictions by so much that they will face criminal charges. This is referred to as Criminal Speeding.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled OUI & criminal defense attorneys today.
Table of Contents
What is Criminal Speeding in Maine?
According to Criminal Code Title 29-A section 2074.3, a person who operates a vehicle more than 30 miles per hour (mph) over the speed limit can be charged with criminal speeding.
In order for a criminal speeding charge to be placed, police must document three facts:
- The stated speed limit of the road
- The actual speed that the driver was operating at
- That the actual speed the driver was operating at was 30 mph or more over the legal speed limit
Maine law Title 29-A section 2075.4 lists the ways that a driver’s speed can be measured. They include:
- Radar;
- An electronic device that measures speed by radio microwaves, laser or otherwise; or
- A device that measures, in any sequence, a selected distance traversed by a motor vehicle operated by the law enforcement officer and the time required by another motor vehicle to traverse that same distance, and computes therefrom the average speed of the other vehicle.
Penalties for criminal speeding charges in Maine
Criminal speeding in Maine is a Class E offense. The recommended sentencing for a Class E conviction is as follows:
- A maximum of 6 months of incarceration and/or
- A maximum fine of $1,000 and/or
- A maximum length of one year of probation
- An administrative license suspension of at least 30 days
It will be up to a judge to decide exactly how a person is sentenced. Their decision will be influenced by factors like the driver’s criminal history, the circumstances of the offense and the prosecution’s recommendation. In addition, a criminal speeding conviction counts towards habitual violator status which can lead to license revocation.
Criminal Speeding and OUI Charges
If a driver is convicted of operating under the influence (OUI) in Maine, and they were also speeding 30 mph or more over the limit, they will face additional penalties. For example, a first-time OUI offender faces no minimum jail sentence if convicted, but will face a minimum of 48 hours of jail time if they were also “exceeding the speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more”.
Contact The Maine Criminal Defense Group Today
If you have been arrested for criminal speeding in Maine, call our office right away. Criminal defense attorneys at The Maine Criminal Defense Group can assist you in fighting the charges that you face.
Every case has defense options, and an experienced attorney is the best way to make sure you have the strongest defense. Call us at (207) 571-8146 or contact us directly online.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled OUI & criminal defense attorneys today.
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