The Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) holds its annual meeting every June and, in addition to holding seminars and discussions regarding various issues, presents two awards: The President’s Award and the Unsung Hero Award.
Typically, when a motorist is pulled over on suspicion of Operating Under the Influence (OUI), a law enforcement officer will ask the driver to exit the vehicle and perform standardized field sobriety tests. Based on observations by the officer, he or she may ask the driver to submit to a breath test (known as a Breathalyzer or Intoxilyzer).
Under Maine law, if there is probable cause to believe a person has operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, that person shall submit to and complete a test. See 29-A §2521. This reading of the statute may leave some feeling as though the breath test is mandatory at the request of a law enforcement officer.
However, under Maine law there are provisions which increase the punishment for people who refuse to submit to an alcohol test. Therefore, it can be inferred that the tests are not absolutely mandatory if the driver is willing to incur increased penalties.
In short, it depends.
At the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, individuals looking to gain temporary access for work or other matters may be prohibited from entering if they have pending criminal charges. In fact, all misdemeanor and felony charges, except first-offense Operating Under the Influence (“OUI”), will prevent an individual from gaining access to the Shipyard until the case has been finally adjudicated.
Like our mascot Annie “The Bulldog” Fairfield, we are loyal bulldogs and tenacious advocates for out clients.