Cases

  • State v. Spiegel, 72 A.3d 519 (2013)

    Following a conditional guilty plea after denial of motion to suppress, defendant was convicted in the Superior Court, Hancock County, of aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, operating after habitual offender revocation, and criminal operating under the influence (OUI). Defendant appealed. The Supreme Judicial Court held that: [1] police officer had subjective and objectively reasonable suspicion that defendant was operating automobile while under the influence of intoxicants, and [2] defendant was precluded from collaterally challenging administrative license revocation and habitual offender determination even though they were predicted on prior convictions that had been struck. Affirmed.

  • Turner v. Secretary of State, 12 A.3d 1188 (2011)

    Licensee sought judicial review of suspension of commercial driver’s license by the Secretary of State based in finding that licensee had operated a commercial vehicle with a blood-alcohol level in excess of 0.04%. The Superior Court, Somerset County, vacated decision. Secretary of State appealed. The Supreme Judicial Court held that officer had sufficient probable cause to require blood-alcohol test. Superior Court judgment vacated and license suspension affirmed.

Statutes

Code of Maine Rules
29 – DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
250 – BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 6 – RULES FOR THE SUSPENSION OF COMMERCIAL DRIVERS’ LICENSES

Current through 131st (2023-2024) Legislature Chapter 486

Commercial licenses1.Classifications. A Class A or Class B license, or a Class C license carrying an endorsement under subsection 3, is a commercial license.

 

 

 

Code of Maine Rules

Title 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

Chapter 11: DRIVER’S LICENSE

Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1253 – [Effective 1/1/2025]

Commercial licenses1.Classifications. A Class A or Class B license, or a Class C license carrying an endorsement under subsection 3, is a commercial license.

Adoption of Federal Regulations

  • 29-A M.R.S.A. § 1253
      • Compliance with federal law. The State must comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 and regulations adopted under those Acts in issuing or suspending a commercial license. In the case of any conflict between the federal statute or regulation and a statute or rule of this State, the federal statute or regulation must apply and take precedence. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules, administrative procedures, practices and policies, organizational structures, internal control mechanisms and resource assignments.
    • PART 383—COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES
    • PART 384—STATE COMPLIANCE WITH COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE PROGRAM

 

Definitions

  • 29-A M.R.S.A. § 1253
      • Compliance with federal law. The State must comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 and regulations adopted under those Acts in issuing or suspending a commercial license. In the case of any conflict between the federal statute or regulation and a statute or rule of this State, the federal statute or regulation must apply and take precedence. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules, administrative procedures, practices and policies, organizational structures, internal control mechanisms and resource assignments.
    • 49 CFR 383.5 Definitions.
      • Commerce
      • Commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
      • Conviction
      • Disqualification
    • § 384.105 Definitions.

 

Major Disqualifying Offenses

  • Compliance with federal law. The State must comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 and regulations adopted under those Acts in issuing or suspending a commercial license. In the case of any conflict between the federal statute or regulation and a statute or rule of this State, the federal statute or regulation must apply and take precedence. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules, administrative procedures, practices and policies, organizational structures, internal control mechanisms and resource assignments.
  • 49 CFR § 383.51 Disqualification of drivers.

 

Major Disqualifying Offenses (Alcohol)

  • Compliance with federal law. The State must comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 and regulations adopted under those Acts in issuing or suspending a commercial license. In the case of any conflict between the federal statute or regulation and a statute or rule of this State, the federal statute or regulation must apply and take precedence. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules, administrative procedures, practices and policies, organizational structures, internal control mechanisms and resource assignments.
  • 49 CFR § 392.5 – Alcohol prohibition
      • Driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol

 

Serious Traffic Violations

  • Compliance with federal law. The State must comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 and regulations adopted under those Acts in issuing or suspending a commercial license. In the case of any conflict between the federal statute or regulation and a statute or rule of this State, the federal statute or regulation must apply and take precedence. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules, administrative procedures, practices and policies, organizational structures, internal control mechanisms and resource assignments.
  • Disqualification for serious traffic violations.
    • 49 CFR 383.51(c)

Suspension of commercial driver’s license on conviction or adjudication for violation of an out of service order

 

Suspension of commercial driver’s license on conviction or adjudication for a railroad, grade, or track crossing violation

 

Masking Convictions

  • 29-A M.R.S.A. § 1253
    • Compliance with federal law. The State must comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 and regulations adopted under those Acts in issuing or suspending a commercial license. In the case of any conflict between the federal statute or regulation and a statute or rule of this State, the federal statute or regulation must apply and take precedence. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules, administrative procedures, practices and policies, organizational structures, internal control mechanisms and resource assignments.
  • 49 CFR § 384.226 – Prohibition on masking convictions

 

10-Day Posting Requirement    

  • Compliance with federal law. The State must comply with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, Title XII, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 and regulations adopted under those Acts in issuing or suspending a commercial license. In the case of any conflict between the federal statute or regulation and a statute or rule of this State, the federal statute or regulation must apply and take precedence. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of State shall adopt rules, administrative procedures, practices and policies, organizational structures, internal control mechanisms and resource assignments.
  • 49 CFR § 384.225 – CDLIS driver recordkeeping
  • 49CFR § 384.209 Notification of traffic violations
  • 49 CFR § 384.210 – Limitation on licensing

 

 

Other CDL Provisions

 

 

 

Resources

No additional resources for Maine at this time.