Maine statute
17-A M.R.S. § 453 — Unsworn falsification
Current through First Special Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature (current through October 1, 2025)
Part of Chapter 19: Falsification in Official Matters, Maine Revised Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of 17-A M.R.S. § 453
Statutory text current through the First Special Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature (current through October 1, 2025). This publication reproduces the statutory text of the Maine Revised Statutes from the Revisor of Statutes' official published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Maine and has not been certified by the Secretary of State.
1. A person is guilty of unsworn falsification if:
A. He makes a written false statement which he does not believe to be true, on or pursuant to, a form conspicuously bearing notification authorized by statute or regulation to the effect that false statements made therein are punishable;
B. With the intent to deceive a public servant in the performance of his official duties, he
(1) makes any written false statement which he does not believe to be true, provided, however, that this subsection does not apply in the case of a written false statement made to a law enforcement officer by a person then in official custody and suspected of having committed a crime, except as provided in paragraph C; or
(2) knowingly creates, or attempts to create, a false impression in a written application for any pecuniary or other benefit by omitting information necessary to prevent statements therein from being misleading; or
(3) submits or invites reliance on any sample, specimen, map, boundary mark or other object which he knows to be false; or
C. With the intent to conceal his identity from a law enforcement officer while under arrest for a crime, after having been warned that it is a crime to give false information concerning identity, he gives false information concerning his name or date of birth, including, but not limited to, a signature.
2. Unsworn falsification is a Class D crime.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.