Safety Laws

Seat Belts

Simply put, per Title 29-A, 2081 of the Maine Revised Statutes, all passengers of a vehicle must wear seat belts unless:

• The passenger is older than one year old and there are more people in the vehicle than seat belts.

• The driver or passenger has a disability or other medical condition that makes it unsafe or impossible to wear a seat belt (in which case the driver or passenger must have documentation from a physician).

• The driver is a mail carrier and in the process of delivering mail.

Note that taxicab and limousine drivers aren't responsible for making sure passengers wear seat belts.

Child Safety Seats

Title 29-A, 2081 of the Maine Revised Statutes also handles child safety seat laws. All children who weigh less than 40 pounds must ride in approved child safety seats.

For more information about child safety seats, check out DMV.ORG's How To Buy a Child Safety Seat and How To Install a Child Safety Seat.

Cellular Phones

Anyone with a learner's permit and under the age of 21 is prohibited from using a cellular phone while driving.

Maine's Graduated Driver License System Web page provides more laws for young drivers.

Helmets

DMV.ORG provides two special reports, Helmets: A Matter of Choice? and How To Buy the Right Helmet, regarding helmets. Read below for Maine-specific helmet laws.

Motorcycle Riders

If you are under the age of 15 and the passenger of a motorcycle or attached side car, or are the driver of an off-road motorcycle, you must wear protective headgear.

You must also wear protective headgear if you are using a learner's permit or are within one year of satisfying a driving test.

For more information, refer to Title 29-A, 2083 of the Maine Revised Statutes.

ATV Riders

All ATV riders under the age of 18, whether they are operators or passengers, must wear protective headgear.

The 2007 Maine ATV Laws and Rules thoroughly outlines all ATV-related safety laws.

Bicycle Riders

Per Title 29-A, 2323 of the Maine Revised Statutes, all bicycle riders under the age of 16 on public roadways and public bikeways must wear helmets.

For more information about bicycle safety laws, refer to Title 29-A, 2084 of the Maine Revised Statutes.

Headlights

As stated in Title 29-A, 2067 of the Maine Revised Statutes, you must use your headlights:

• A half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise.

• Whenever weather and other atmospheric conditions make it difficult to clearly see people and other vehicles 1,000 feet away.

• Whenever you use your windshield wipers.

For more information about headlights, such as location requirements and exemptions, refer to Title 29-A, 1904 of the Maine Revised Statutes.

Unattended Motor Vehicles

When you leave your motor vehicle unattended, it's best to:

• Turn off the engine.

• Lock the ignition.

• Set the brakes.

• Remove the key.

Title 29-A, 2068 of the Maine Revised Statutes provides more information about parking legally in Maine.

Unattended Children and Pets

Avoid leaving children and pets unattended in your vehicle. Besides the health risks of cold or hot weather, leaving them puts them at risk for kidnapping and tampering with the vehicle's controls.

If you witness a child or pet unattended in another motor vehicle and feel immediate danger is present, call 911 and await instructions.

Reporting Unsafe and/or Drunk Drivers

To report an unsafe and/or drunk driver, call 911. If you are reporting an unsafe driver that's not an immediate danger, contact the BMV or your local law enforcement agency. The Maine State Police even provide the option to report crime online.

More Safety Law Info

Thirsty for more safety law information? Check out:

• Maine's Motorist Handbook and Study Guide.

• Maine's Vehicle Code.

• The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

• Your local law enforcement agencies, such as the Maine State Police.