Maine Driving Records

Driving records are an essential tool for anyone navigating the roads in Maine. Think of your driving history report as your behind-the-wheel resume, documenting your road habits and milestones. Since every state maintains its own motor vehicle records, Maine drivers should be aware that access and use depend on local rules.

By staying informed about your driving record, you may avoid surprises, take control of your driving future, and make more confident decisions whether you're applying for a job or renewing your insurance.

What Is a Maine Driving Record?

A Maine driving record is a document that tracks a licensed driver's history behind the wheel, including traffic violations, accidents, convictions, and any actions taken against their license. While some states refer to these documents as driving abstracts, motor vehicle records (MVRs), or driving history reports, Maine officially calls them "driving records".

The official records come in different types and are created and maintained by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) of the Secretary of State and the state courts. They are also responsible for releasing these records to authorized members of the public when requested.

What Is The Difference Between Official Driving Records and Public Driving Records

State-issued driving records are official documents used for formal purposes, such as court cases or employment verification. They are maintained by the government and contain verified, up-to-date details.

In contrast, public driving records from third-party sites, such as RecordsFinder, pull from a variety of sources to provide summaries or background checks. While not a substitute for official documents, RecordsFinder is expected to provide users easy access and quick lookups. Just keep in mind that third-party sites often charge fees for subscriptions, registration, or per document retrieved.

Why Would You Need a Driving Record?

There are several practical reasons why you might need to request a driving record, whether for personal use or official purposes:

• Job applications: Employers may check your record for driving-related roles.
• Insurance rate reviews: Insurers use them to assess risk and set premiums.
• License reinstatement: Required to restore a suspended or revoked license.
• Court proceedings: Needed for traffic cases or legal matters involving driving.
• Personal monitoring: Helps you verify license status and correct errors.
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL) applications: Reviewed when applying for or renewing a commercial license.
• Rideshare services: Required by companies like Uber or Lyft for driver approval.
• Fleet or rental use: Used to evaluate driver eligibility for business vehicles.

What Information Is Included in a Driver Report?

The exact information that a driver report may have varies based on the record type and whether it's an official or a public version from a third-party service. In general, you may find:

• Full name and personal identification details
• Driver's license status (valid, suspended, revoked)
• License classification and endorsements
• Traffic violations and citations
• Convictions for driving-related offenses
• Accident history (if reported to the state)
• Points on the driving record
• Departmental actions (e.g., suspensions or cancellations)

Types of Driver Records Available in Maine

The Maine BMV offers two main types of driver records:

• 3-Year Driving History: This record includes a detailed summary of your driving history for the past three years. This record is commonly used for personal review or when applying for insurance, as it provides a recent snapshot of your driving habits.
• 10-Year Driving History: This record includes more extensive details of your driving behavior and is often used for any situation requiring a thorough history of your driving behavior over the last decade.

Each driving history record may be requested in two formats: certified and non-certified. Certified driving records are often sealed and suitable for legal purposes, employment checks, or insurance claims. Non-certified records lack the legal status of certified records and are typically for personal use or casual review.

Traffic Violations and Tickets in Maine

Maine's traffic code governs traffic violations. Violations range from minor infractions to serious felonies, and penalties may include fines, license suspensions, or even jail time. If you're cited for a traffic violation, understanding its classification and knowing how to respond can help minimize consequences.

Common Types of Traffic Violations

Traffic violations in Maine fall under two main categories:

• Moving Violations: Occur while the vehicle is in motion (e.g., speeding, running a red light).
• Non-Moving Violations: Related to parking, documentation, or vehicle condition (e.g., parking in a no-parking zone, expired registration).

Violations are further classified by severity:

• Felony Traffic Violations: These are the most serious offenses and may result in imprisonment, high fines, and license suspension. Common examples include:
  • Operating under the influence (OUI) or driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol
  • Vehicular Homicide
  • Aggravated OUI
• Traffic Misdemeanors: Less serious than felonies but still carry criminal consequences. Penalties may include fines, up to one year in jail, license suspension, and a criminal record. Common examples:
  • Operating without a license
  • Reckless driving
  • Speeding
  • Running a red light or stop sign
• Traffic Infractions: These are minor offenses, typically resulting in a fine but no jail time. Examples include:
  • Minor speeding violations
  • Driving without proof of insurance
  • Failing to signal
  • Improper lane changes

What To Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket

Receiving a traffic ticket in Maine requires timely action. Follow these steps to respond appropriately and avoid further penalties.

• Read Your Ticket Carefully: Review the citation for the violation details, fine amount, deadline to respond, and court information. Make note of the citation number and court location, they're important for paying or contesting the ticket.
• Choose How You Want to Respond: You generally have three options:
  • Pay the ticket (plead guilty or no contest)
  • Plead not guilty and request a hearing
  • Ignore (not recommended , may result in license suspension)
• Pay the Ticket (If You Accept the Violation): You may pay in one of three ways:
  • Online: Go to the Maine Judicial Branch Payment Site. Enter your citation and driver's license number. Review details, then select "Pay Fines". Complete the transaction and print your receipt.
  • By Mail: Send a check or money order with your citation number to the address listed on the ticket.
  • In Person: Visit the court listed on your citation. Pay with cash, check, or card.
• Plead Not Guilty (If You Wish to Contest the Ticket): Notify the court by the deadline on your citation. The court typically schedules a hearing date. Attend the hearing and present your defense. The judge will issue a verdict:
  • If not guilty, charges are dropped.
  • If guilty, you may be fined and penalized, but you can appeal if eligible.
• Consider Pleading No Contest (Optional): Pleading no contest results in a conviction without admitting guilt. You still pay the fine. This may be strategic if you're facing more serious charges or want to avoid a full trial.
• Follow Up: Confirm that your payment or plea has been processed. If you contested the ticket and were convicted, follow any court instructions (e.g., pay a fine or attend driver improvement classes). Check your driving record to see if points were added.

How Does the Maine Point System Work?

The Maine point system is designed to monitor and discourage unsafe driving behaviors by assigning demerit points to a driver's record following traffic violations. Managed by the Secretary of State, this system aims to promote road safety by penalizing repeated offenses.

Each traffic violation has a specific point value based on its severity. For example, serious offenses like driving on the wrong side of the road or exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 mph carry 6 points. Lesser violations, such as failure to signal or improper turns, typically add 2 points.

When a driver accumulates 6 points, a warning is issued. If the total reaches 12 points, the driver's license may be suspended.

Points remain on the driving record for one year and are automatically removed after that period. If a suspension occurs, the driver is entitled to a hearing and may appeal the decision in Superior Court.

How Long Do Violations Stay on Your Driving History?

Maine traffic violations typically stay on a driver's record for up to 5 years, depending on the nature and severity of the offense. Most moving violations, such as speeding or failure to yield, are recorded for five years from the date of the violation or the court's adjudication.

However, more serious offenses like OUI/DUI or hit-and-run accidents may remain on a driving history for 10 years or more, depending on the circumstances and any additional violations.

Can You Remove Violations from Your Record?

In Maine, you generally cannot remove traffic violations from your driver record through expungement or sealing because the state does not have an expungement statute. This means there is no formal process for clearing traffic violations or infractions from your record.

For serious traffic violations classified as criminal offenses, such as driving to endanger or driving with a suspended license, convictions may be made confidential, but they are not removed. Even when made confidential, these records are still accessible to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

To restrict access to such records, you may:

• Request a pardon from the Governor, typically five years after the conviction. However, OUI convictions are not eligible for pardons.
• Apply for a court order, but only if the offense is a Class E misdemeanor. Even then, the court's approval is not guaranteed.

Ultimately, while you cannot fully erase violations, you may explore reducing points or limiting public access under strict conditions.

How To Check Your Vehicle History

You may check your vehicle driving history in Maine through three different methods:

• Online: You may request a non-certified copy of your driving history report through the BMV Driver Record Check portal. This option is convenient for quick access to either a 3-year or 10-year record.
• By Mail: To request your driving history by mail, send a written request to the BMV, Driver License Services Division at 29 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0029. Be sure to include your legal name, date of birth, current address, the record span you want (3 or 10 years), and the applicable fee. You may also request certified copies or faxed delivery by including the necessary information and additional fees.
• In Person: Driving records are available at any Maine BMV location. Simply bring valid identification and request either a 3-year or 10-year driving record. Certified copies are also available upon request.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Driving Record in Maine?

The cost of obtaining a driving record in Maine depends on the type of record you request and the delivery method you choose. Here is the breakdown:

• 3-Year Driving Record: $5 (by mail or in person) / $7 (online, non-certified only)
• 10-Year Driving Record: $10 (by mail or in person) / $12 (online, non-certified only)
• Certified Copy (add-on): Additional $1 if you need an official, certified version
• Faxed Delivery (mail requests only): Additional $2 if you want the record faxed to you

If you request online, pay with a credit or debit card. You may instantly view, save, or print your record. If you request by mail, include a check or money order payable to the "Secretary of State"; processing may take several days. In person, cash is accepted, and you'll usually get your record on the spot.

How To Check Your Driving History for Free

To check your Maine driving history for free, you may use the Odyssey Portal provided by the Maine Judicial Branch. This online system allows you to search for traffic violation records using details like a traffic ticket number, case number, or the name of a party involved in the case.

Another option is to visit or contact the court that handled your traffic case. At the courthouse, you may inspect records. Some locations also provide a Public Access Computer (PAC) for you to search records on your own. These PACs are usually available in courts that support eFiling services, giving you another free way to access your driving-related case information.

What Happens If You Have a Bad Driving Record?

A bad driving record in Maine generally includes multiple moving violations, such as speeding tickets, reckless driving, OUI/DUI, or driving with a suspended license. Accumulating too many points from these violations may result in penalties like fines, license suspension, or mandatory driving courses.

Non-moving violations, like parking tickets, generally do not go on your driving record, though failing to pay them can lead to other consequences like fines or registration issues. As for warnings, these do not appear on your official driving record in Maine. However, they may be noted by law enforcement and could influence future stops.

How Does a Bad Driving Record Affect Insurance and Employment?

A bad driving record may significantly impact your insurance premiums and employment opportunities.

In Maine, a single speeding ticket can increase your annual car insurance cost by $214, bringing the average premium to about $1,141 annually.

More serious offenses, like a DUI, carry even steeper consequences. Besides legal penalties and higher insurance rates, a DUI may have long-term effects on your career. A DUI conviction may prevent you from getting certain jobs, cause you to lose a professional license, and even result in immigration issues, especially when traveling to countries like Canada or Mexico.

Who Can Access Your Maine Driving History?

Maine driving history reports are generally public under the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA), but certain personal details are protected by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

Restricted information includes a driver's name, address, license number, phone number, and medical or disability data. This information can only be accessed with the driver's consent or if the requester has a legitimate reason under the DPPA.

FAQs About Maine Driving Records

Find the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Maine driving records below.

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