PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act Regarding the License Restrictions for New Drivers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1311, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 654, §3, is further amended to read:
 
2. Period of restrictions.   Except as provided in section 2116 and subsection 2-A and subject to extension pursuant to subsection 3, the license restrictions in subsection 1 are in effect for a period of 270 days from license issuance. The period of license restrictions may extend beyond the person's 18th birthday.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §1311, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:
 
2-A.  Waiver.     The Secretary of State may waive up to 90 days of the period of license restrictions under subsection 2 upon receipt of an application for a waiver of the period of license restrictions. The Secretary of State may not accept the application for a waiver of the period of license restrictions of a minor unless the application is:
 
A.  Signed by a parent or guardian;
 
B.  Signed by the spouse of the minor, as long as the spouse is 18 years of age or older;
 
C.  If the minor does not have a parent, guardian or spouse who is 18 years of age or older, signed by an employer of the minor if that employer is 18 years of age or older; or
 
D.  Accompanied by an attested copy of a court order of emancipation under Title 15, section 3506-A.
 
The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to establish the application criteria and process by which a person may qualify for a waiver of the period of license restrictions under this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Secretary of State to waive up to 90 days of the 270-day period of restrictions for a person with an intermediate license if that person applies for a waiver of the period of license restrictions. The bill directs the Secretary of State to adopt rules to establish the application criteria and process by which a person may qualify for a waiver of the period of license restrictions for a person with an intermediate license. The bill also provides that the Secretary of State may not accept the application of a minor for a waiver unless the application is signed by a parent or guardian; signed by the spouse of the minor, as long as the spouse is 18 years of age or older; if the minor does not have a parent, guardian or spouse who is 18 years of age or older, signed by an employer if the employer is 18 years of age or older; or accompanied by an attested copy of a court order of emancipation.