PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Increase the Penalty for Failing To Carry Proof of Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1605, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
6. Operating without giving proof.   A person commits a Class ED crime if that person is required to maintain proof of financial responsibility and, without authorization from the Secretary of State and without that proof, operates a vehicle or knowingly permits a vehicle owned by that person to be operated by another on a public way.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §1605, sub-§6-A  is enacted to read:
 
6-A.  Serious bodily injury while operating without proof.     A person commits a Class C crime if that person is required to maintain proof of financial responsibility and, without authorization from the Secretary of State and without that proof, operates a vehicle or knowingly permits a vehicle owned by that person to be operated by another on a public way and that vehicle is involved in an accident that results in serious bodily injury while on that public way.
 
SUMMARY
This bill makes it a Class C crime if a person who is required to maintain proof of financial responsibility operates a vehicle, or knowingly allows the operation of that vehicle, on a public way without such proof and that vehicle is involved in an accident that results in serious bodily injury while being operated on the public way. This bill also increases from a Class E to a Class D crime the penalty for such a person operating a vehicle or knowingly allowing the operation of a vehicle without proof of financial responsibility.