Which laws are optional in Maine? (Portland, Augusta: leases, inspection, closing)

[swcejk2002]

Hello forum. I've lived here a while and drive around the area quite a bit. I always get frustrated when I see that "buckle up, It's the law" sign at toll booths. Is aggravates me because Maine public safety department has that law and oviously enforces it, but what about the MANY othes that so many drivers violate and police do not enforce. At some point the ones that DO follow the laws will start seeing so many others NOT violating the law (and getting away with it), that they too will start violating the laws.
Which ones are optional?

* In Maine is it ok to have GPS/Radar detector on your windshield (planted smack in the middle of your viewing, but you can't pass a inspection with a 1 inch crack in the glass! (anywhere, how does that make any sense)

* Right on red after STOP....what does that mean here in Maine? The right on red after stop has become a YIELD sign.

* Turn signals, did they become optional here in Maine?

* Handicapp parking, If I see a person parking in a handicapp parking spot without the sticker or pass, the local police won't do anyting, its up to the store or bussiness to act.

Massachusetts has (according to the AAA driving site) some of the worse (knowledge of laws) drivers, I believe that mentaility is bleeding its way up to southern Maine....what do you all think?

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by swcejk2002

Hello forum. ....that they too will start violating the laws.
Which ones are optional?
You might more correctly ask what the laws are.

* In Maine is it ok to have GPS/Radar detector on your windshield (planted smack in the middle of your viewing, but you can't pass a inspection with a 1 inch crack in the glass! (anywhere, how does that make any sense)

As far as I know having a radar detector on the windshield is not against the law, nor is a gps so located. IF these devices block the driver's vision then I suppose a police officer might say something, but I am also sure that most police officers are far too busy to check out windshield mounted gizzies on a random basis. Incidentally, radar detectors are worthless devices unless one happens to pick up the radar signal used to clock a nearby car. By the time a radar detector goes off, if it is aimed at your car, it is too late.

* Right on red after STOP....what does that mean here in Maine? The right on red after stop has become a YIELD sign.

It means that at a red stop light, unless the intersection is marked "no right on red", after stopping you can proceed around the corner without waiting for a green light. If you don't stop and merely roll around the corner you can be sited. In point of fact, there are so few police officers on foot or watching intersections that the chance of getting caught is small. But that law...actually traffic regulation...does not make red lights yield signs.

* Turn signals, did they become optional here in Maine?

I don't think that using turn signals is in the law. If they are in the car they must work at time of inspection.

* Handicapp parking, If I see a person parking in a handicapp parking spot without the sticker or pass, the local police won't do anyting, its up to the store or bussiness to act.

Handicap parking zones are not a part of traffic law I believe. They are a requirement by zoning and by legislation that came out of the Americans With Disabilities acts. Retailers must provide a certain number of handicap access parking space based on the size of the commercial building. Enforcing the parking in handicap spaces is at the request of the storekeeper.

Massachusetts has (according to the AAA driving site) some of the worse (knowledge of laws) drivers, I believe that mentaility is bleeding its way up to southern Maine....what do you all think?

If some of the objectional attitudes of people from out of Maine are "bleeing (their) way up to southern Maine it is probably because there are more than just a few people moving to Maine from those places.

[fxtrader]

My radar detector has saved me many tickets on all the bands including the new laser. I have had it go off and second guess it and then finally see a statie a mile or so away. It has paid for itself many times over!

[forest beekeeper]

I am not a native to Maine.

I am not aware of any problem with having a GPS/Radar, so long as it does not restrict your vision.

Turn signals are not used much here.

As for Handicapped parking. Is this on a public street or on private property?

LEO enforce laws on public property that might not be enforced on private land.

A street is public. If Fred ******* owns a lot and leases a part of that lot to Hannafords. The lot did not become a public roadway.

I do not care what Massachusetts has. This is a Maine sub-forum.

Let us avoid foreigners and their internal discussions.

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by fxtrader

My radar detector has saved me many tickets on all the bands including the new laser. I have had it go off and second guess it and then finally see a statie a mile or so away. It has paid for itself many times over!

This is because your radar detector picked up some signal...perhaps radar...that was being used ahead of you. You have been lucky.

The police in Maine almost uniformly use radar that is "instant on". The officer triggers the radar when he sees a car that he wants to clock. The vast majority of radar operations are conducted in moving radar equipped cars and if the police officer sees your car and decides to clock it, your radar detector will pick up the signal just as your speed is being displayed for the officer's consideration.

Radar is basically "line of sight". Police radar is pretty low power stuff and signals received by a radar detector more than a quarter mile away may well not even be radar, but evidence that the detector is confused by several signals. If the police are really out to enforce speeding laws then no radar detector in the world will save a speeder from being caught. Now, having said that, there are very few places in Maine where police regularly sit in the bushes waiting to tag a speeder. The cost of a cruiser and an officer trained and current in radar systems is simply too high, so for the most part cruisers are roving and most often, speeders are stopped as an afterthought or when the officer has time to do it. I-95 below Augusta and below Portland are the most common areas where cruisers often park using radar. some local police in towns regularly park in outside the towns. I am not trying to start a "where are the speeding traps" thread here, but just making observations that most radar is used by moving cars and the radar is not constantly on, but in standby waiting to be triggered by the officer involved.

If the officer in the cruiser sees the speeder before he pushes the button, the speeder is caught.

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I am not a native to Maine.

I am not aware of any problem with having a GPS/Radar, so long as it does not restrict your vision.

Turn signals are not used much here.

As for Handicapped parking. Is this on a public street or on private property?

LEO enforce laws on public property that might not be enforced on private land.

A street is public. If Fred ******* owns a lot and leases a part of that lot to Hannafords. The lot did not become a public roadway.

I do not care what Massachusetts has. This is a Maine sub-forum.

Let us avoid foreigners and their internal discussions.

Forrest: This is an excellent answer. Accordingly, I am promoting you to the rank of Curmudgeon First Class.

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by swcejk2002

Hello forum. I've lived here a while and drive around the area quite a bit. I always get frustrated when I see that "buckle up, It's the law" sign at toll booths. Is aggravates me because Maine public safety department has that law and oviously enforces it, but what about the MANY othes that so many drivers violate and police do not enforce. At some point the ones that DO follow the laws will start seeing so many others NOT violating the law (and getting away with it), that they too will start violating the laws. Which ones are optional?
* In Maine is it ok to have GPS/Radar detector on your windshield (planted smack in the middle of your viewing, but you can't pass a inspection with a 1 inch crack in the glass! (anywhere, how does that make any sense)
* Right on red after STOP....what does that mean here in Maine? The right on red after stop has become a YIELD sign. * Turn signals, did they become optional here in Maine? * Handicapp parking, If I see a person parking in a handicapp parking spot without the sticker or pass, the local police won't do anyting, its up to the store or bussiness to act. Massachusetts has (according to the AAA driving site) some of the worse (knowledge of laws) drivers, I believe that mentaility is bleeding its way up to southern Maine....what do you all think?

Ok....bad driving habits like those you listed are definitely not limited to Maine nor does Maine have any special privilige type laws for them alone. Here in Connecticut, the most dangerous people on the road are those over 75 who can barely see over the wheel and merely FORGET to turn on the turn signal.

I have seen people cruise through a right on red opportunity but it is usually a young person with one of those small cars that sounds like a toy lawnmower in a tunnel with speakers booming so loud you can feel the vibration in your chest...they are more than likely choking me out with cigarette smoke anyhow so get the hell through the right on red and away from me anyhow!!

Handicap parking....never really have seen a big problem with that one here where I live. What I do see is a lot of people who probably should be in handicap parking but choose to walk the longer distance into the store...Kudos to them!! As far as who is responsible for chasing any non-handicappers out of the spots, it is up to the local police or the security folks who work these big parking lots. I have never seen anyone chased out of a spot but I just wish that the handicappers would learn to park properly in these spots and not take up their spot plus the one next to it!

Of bigger concern to me with regard to driving and parking is people who leave dogs in cars with the windows up!! Sorry, but if I see you, I am going to report it to someone in the store or call the Police myself!

AND...in closing....Massachusetts is still KING when it comes to bad drivers!

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

Forrest: This is an excellent answer. Accordingly, I am promoting you to the rank of Curmudgeon First Class.

Thank you so much

What an honour!

[Valley Living]

SWCEGK2002, The only laws in the state of Maine that are optional are the laws that the government must follow! It appears to me that they seem to do as they please and are above the laws.

Speeding is much more tolerated in Southern Maine.

In Northern Maine if you pass a State Police Officer doing 53 in a 50 you will probably get pulled over and maybe even a ticket.

[BoundtofindME]

Here's a link to Maine law regarding operation of a motor vehicle: Table of Contents for Chapter 19: OPERATION Please note turn signals ARE the law in Maine and
that is a pet peeve of mine on coastal route 1....grrrrr