An Act To Allow Ignition Interlock Devices on Vehicles Operated by First-time Offenders of Operating Under the Influence
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2411, sub-§5, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 447, §41, is further amended to read:
(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 90 180 days; and
(3) A period of incarceration as follows:
(a) Not less than 48 hours when the person:
(i) Was tested as having an alcohol level of 0.15 grams or more of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath;
(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;
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2486, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 654, §15, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §2508, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 335, §13, is further amended to read:
summary
Current law requires the license of a person convicted of operating under the influence, or OUI, to be suspended for 90 days if it is the person's first OUI conviction within 10 years. At the end of the suspension, the person must pay a license reinstatement fee of $50.
This bill amends the OUI laws for a first-time offender to:
1. Increase the license suspension period to 180 days;
2. Allow the license of a person to be reinstated immediately if the person has an ignition interlock device installed in the motor vehicle that person operates. The device must remain installed for 180 days or the number of days remaining in the suspension period, whichever is shorter; and
3. Increase the reinstatement fee to $100 if the person chooses to have an ignition interlock device installed in the motor vehicle the person operates.