An Experienced Team of Lawyers Serving Portland, Maine
Introduction:
Speeding is one of the very common driving offenses in Maine. While it may be tempting to speed, specially when running late or trying to get somewhere fast, it is very important to consider that speeding may have serious consequences. In some instances, a speeding violation can lead to a criminal conviction and even jail time. So what are the risks associated with getting caught maine dui laws? Let’s take a look.
Maine’s Speed Limits
The speed limit on roads and highways through the entire state of Maine is posted and enforced by local police force agencies. In general, the maximum speed limit on residential streets is 25 miles per hour (mph). On highways and interstates, the utmost speed limit is 65 mph but might be lower based on road conditions. It is essential to see that these speed limits are absolute—meaning that if you go over them, you will undoubtedly be considered to be speeding regardless of how even faster you are getting than other vehicles on the road.
Consequences of Speeding Violations
Speeding violations are classified as either civil or criminal offenses, depending on how far above the posted speed limit you had been going. Civil violations include any speeds as much as 19 mph over the posted limit while criminal violations involve speeds 20 mph or older above the posted limit. For both forms of violations, first-time offenders face fines ranging from $50-$1000 and points being added with their license (1-3 points for civil violations; 2-6 points for criminal convictions). Depending in your driving record and other mitigating factors (such as whether you had been associated with an incident or had any previous driving offenses), additional penalties could also apply such as for instance license suspension or revocation, mandatory driver’s education classes, community service hours, probation, etc. Additionally, if your violation was particularly egregious (e.g., exceeding 90 mph), you may even face jail time.
Mitigating Factors
If you do be given a speeding ticket in Maine, there are certain mitigating factors that will help lessen your punishment or keep it from learning to be a criminal offense altogether. These include proof that you’re unaware of your excessive speed at the time of one’s violation (e.g., unfamiliarity with area); evidence that mitigating circumstances were present such as for instance heavy traffic or poor weather conditions; evidence of significant financial hardship; good driving record; willingness to take part in traffic school; and/or insufficient prior convictions/violations within past seven years.
Conclusion:
At the end of the afternoon, avoiding a criminal speeding conviction in Maine requires a variety of understanding road rules and limits along with being mindful about how fast you are getting constantly when behind the wheel. Should you get facing prices for excessive speeding however, there are many steps which can help lessen your sentence including presenting mitigating evidence and benefiting from any available programs such as traffic school or driver’s education courses provided by local courts or agencies. Ultimately though every situation is exclusive so it’s very important to consult having an attorney who understands both traffic laws and your individual circumstances prior to making any decisions about how precisely best to proceed with any potential legal action against you because of excessive speeding charges in Maine.