1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. “Roadblock” means a vehicle, a physical barrier or other obstruction placed on a way at the direction of a law enforcement officer. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. “Signal” includes, but is not limited to, the use of a hand signal, siren or flashing emergency lights. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

Attorney's Note

Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class B crimeup to 10 yearsup to $20,000
Class C crimeup to 5 yearsup to $5,000
Class E crimeup to 6 monthsup to $1,000
For details, see Me. Rev. Stat. Title 17-A § 1604

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 2414

  • Law enforcement officer: means a person who by virtue of public employment is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for crimes, whether that duty extends to all crimes or is limited to specific crimes. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
  • Motor vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle not operated exclusively on railroad tracks, but does not include:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
  • Operator: means an individual who drives or is in control of a vehicle or who is exercising control over or steering a towed vehicle. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, fiduciary, trust, estate or any other legal or commercial entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
  • Vehicle: means a device for conveyance of persons or property on a way. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
  • Way: means the entire width between boundary lines of a road, highway, parkway, street or bridge used for vehicular traffic, whether public or private. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
  • 2. Failure to stop. A person commits a Class E crime if that person fails or refuses to stop a motor vehicle on request or signal of a uniformed law enforcement officer.

    [PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §12 (AMD); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]

    3. Eluding an officer. A person commits a Class C crime if that person, after being requested or signaled to stop, attempts to elude a law enforcement officer by operating a motor vehicle at a reckless rate of speed that results in a high-speed chase between the operator‘s motor vehicle and a law enforcement vehicle using a blue light and siren.

    [PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §12 (AMD); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]

    4. Passing a roadblock. A person commits a Class C crime if the person, without authorization, operates or attempts to operate a motor vehicle past a clearly identifiable police roadblock.

    [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

    5. High-speed chase policies. All state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies must adopt written policies on high-speed chases.

    [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

    6. Aggravating factor; eluding an officer. A person commits a Class B crime if that person attempts to elude a law enforcement officer and another person suffers serious bodily injury, as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 23, as a result.

    [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §86 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

    7. Aggravating factor; passing roadblock. A person commits a Class B crime if that person passes or attempts to pass a roadblock and another person suffers serious bodily injury, as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 23, as a result.

    [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §87 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

    SECTION HISTORY

    PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 65, §C12 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §§Q86,87 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §Q87 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF).