1. A person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm if:
A. Not being a law enforcement officer or a professional investigator licensed under Title 32, chapter 89 and actually performing as a professional investigator, the person possesses any firearm on the premises of a licensed establishment posted to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of patrons, in violation of the posted prohibition or restriction; or [PL 2011, c. 366, §2 (AMD).]
B. While under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs or with an excessive alcohol level, the person possesses a firearm in a licensed establishment. [PL 2009, c. 447, §18 (AMD).]

[PL 2011, c. 366, §2 (AMD).]

Attorney's Note

Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class D crimeup to 1 yearup to $2,000
For details, see Me. Rev. Stat. Title 17-A § 1604
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Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 17-A Sec. 1057

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
2. For the purposes of this section, “licensed establishment” means a licensed establishment as defined by Title 28?A, section 2, subsection 15, the license for which is held by an on-premise retail licensee, as defined by Title 28?A, section 2, subsection 27, paragraph B. For the purposes of this section, “premises” has the same meaning as set forth in Title 28?A, section 2, subsection 24.

[PL 1989, c. 917, §2 (NEW).]

3. It is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection 1 that the person holds a permit to carry a concealed handgun issued under Title 25, chapter 252.

[PL 2015, c. 329, Pt. B, §1 (RPR).]

4. A law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that a person has violated subsection 1, paragraph B, may require that person to submit to chemical testing to determine an alcohol level or drug concentration. If the court is satisfied that the law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe that the defendant was in violation of subsection 1, paragraph B, and that the person was informed of the requirement to submit to chemical testing, the person’s failure to comply with the requirement to submit to chemical testing is admissible evidence on the issue of whether that person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

[PL 2009, c. 447, §19 (AMD).]

5. For purposes of this section, “under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs or with an excessive alcohol level” has the same meaning as “under the influence of intoxicants” as defined in Title 29?A, section 2401, subsection 13. “Excessive alcohol level” means an alcohol level of 0.08 grams or more of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath. Standards, tests and procedures applicable in determining whether a person is under the influence or has an excessive alcohol level within the meaning of this section are those applicable pursuant to Title 29?A, sections 2411 and 2431; except that the suspension of a permit to carry concealed handguns issued pursuant to Title 25, chapter 252, or of the authority of a professional investigator licensed to carry a concealed handgun pursuant to Title 32, chapter 89, is as provided in those chapters.

[PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §17 (RPR).]

6. Criminal possession of a firearm is a Class D crime. In addition, as part of every judgment of conviction and sentence imposed, the court shall:
A. Revoke any permit to carry a concealed firearm issued to the person so convicted; and [PL 1989, c. 917, §2 (NEW).]
B. If the person so convicted is licensed as a professional investigator, suspend for a period of 5 years that person’s permit to carry a concealed firearm. [PL 2011, c. 366, §4 (AMD).]
A person convicted of a violation of this section is not eligible to obtain or apply for a permit to carry a concealed firearm for 5 years from the date of that conviction.

[PL 2011, c. 366, §4 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1989, c. 917, §2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 65, §A57 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF). PL 2009, c. 447, §§18-20 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 298, §§2, 3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 366, §§2-4 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 394, §2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §17 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 329, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).