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An Act To Impose a Three-month Loss of a Driver's License for Driving While Texting
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2119, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, c. 188, §1, is amended to read:
 
3. Penalties.   The following penalties apply to a violation of this section.
 
A. A person who violates this section commits a traffic infraction for which a fine of not less than $250 may be adjudged, and the Secretary of State shall suspend the license of that person for 90 days without right to hearing.
 
B. A person who violates this section after previously having been adjudicated as violating this section within a 3-year period commits a traffic infraction for which a fine of not less than $500 may be adjudged, and the Secretary of State shall suspend the license of that person for 90 days without right to hearing. The minimum periods of license suspension are:
 
(1) Thirty days, if the person has 2 adjudications for a violation of this section within a 3-year period;
 
(2) Sixty days, if the person has 3 adjudications for a violation of this section within a 3-year period; and
 
(3) Ninety days, if the person has 4 or more adjudications for a violation of this section within a 3-year period.
 
For the purposes of this paragraph, an adjudication has occurred within a 3-year period if the date of the new conduct is within 3 years of the date of a docket entry of adjudication of a violation of this section.
 
SUMMARY
This bill increases the penalty for text messaging while operating a motor vehicle by requiring the Secretary of State to suspend the person's driver's license for 90 days for each offense.