Maine criminal charge
Refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer in Maine
Refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 29-A M.R.S. § 2414. Its classification is not fixed: Maine assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by 29-A M.R.S. § 2414.
What is the penalty for refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Failure to stop for law enforcement officer — A person fails or refuses to stop a motor vehicle on request or signal of a uniformed law enforcement officer.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(E)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Failure to stop for law enforcement officer — A person fails or refuses to stop a motor vehicle on request or signal of a uniformed law enforcement officer.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(5)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Eluding an officer — After being requested or signaled to stop, a person attempts to elude a law enforcement officer by operating at a reckless rate of speed resulting in a high-speed chase with a law enforcement vehicle using blue light and siren.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Eluding an officer — After being requested or signaled to stop, a person attempts to elude a law enforcement officer by operating at a reckless rate of speed resulting in a high-speed chase with a law enforcement vehicle using blue light and siren.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Passing a roadblock — A person, without authorization, operates or attempts to operate a motor vehicle past a clearly identifiable police roadblock.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Passing a roadblock — A person, without authorization, operates or attempts to operate a motor vehicle past a clearly identifiable police roadblock.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Eluding an officer causing serious bodily injury — A person attempts to elude a law enforcement officer and another person suffers serious bodily injury as a result.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(B)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Eluding an officer causing serious bodily injury — A person attempts to elude a law enforcement officer and another person suffers serious bodily injury as a result.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(2)); organizations up to $40,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Passing roadblock causing serious bodily injury — A person passes or attempts to pass a roadblock and another person suffers serious bodily injury as a result.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(B)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Passing roadblock causing serious bodily injury — A person passes or attempts to pass a roadblock and another person suffers serious bodily injury as a result.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(2)); organizations up to $40,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to stop for law enforcement officer | Class E Crime | A person fails or refuses to stop a motor vehicle on request or signal of a uniformed law enforcement officer. | 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(2) |
| Eluding an officer | Class C Crime | After being requested or signaled to stop, a person attempts to elude a law enforcement officer by operating at a reckless rate of speed resulting in a high-speed chase with a law enforcement vehicle using blue light and siren. | 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(3) |
| Passing a roadblock | Class C Crime | A person, without authorization, operates or attempts to operate a motor vehicle past a clearly identifiable police roadblock. | 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(4) |
| Eluding an officer causing serious bodily injury | Class B Crime | A person attempts to elude a law enforcement officer and another person suffers serious bodily injury as a result. | 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(6) |
| Passing roadblock causing serious bodily injury | Class B Crime | A person passes or attempts to pass a roadblock and another person suffers serious bodily injury as a result. | 29-A M.R.S. § 2414(7) |
Common questions about refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer in Maine
What class of crime is refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer ranges from a Class E Crime to a Class B Crime in Maine under 29-A M.R.S. § 2414.
Failure to stop for law enforcement officer: Class E Crime (29-A M.R.S. § 2414(2)) · Eluding an officer: Class C Crime (29-A M.R.S. § 2414(3)) · Passing a roadblock: Class C Crime (29-A M.R.S. § 2414(4)) · Eluding an officer causing serious bodily injury: Class B Crime (29-A M.R.S. § 2414(6)) · Passing roadblock causing serious bodily injury: Class B Crime (29-A M.R.S. § 2414(7))
What are the penalties for refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer in Maine?
Penalties for refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class E Crime up to a Class B Crime — with the ranges set by 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Maine statute covers refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer?
Refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer is governed by 29-A M.R.S. § 2414 (Refusing to stop for a law enforcement officer).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.