Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 29-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2074 (2026)

Rates of speed

✓ current as of May 2026
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An operator shall operate a vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than is reasonable and proper having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the way and of other conditions then existing.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
1.  Rates of speed.  Except when conditions or other regulations require a lower speed, the following are maximum rates of speed:  
A. Fifteen miles per hour when traveling in a school zone:  
(1) During recess;  
(2) When children are going to or leaving school during school opening or closing hours. For purposes of this paragraph, school opening and closing hours are 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after the beginning of the school day and 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after the end of the school day;  
(3) When school speed limit signs are flashing during school opening or closing hours; or  
(4) At other times designated by a municipal traffic ordinance that regulates town ways that are classified as local by the Department of Transportation in accordance with the federal functional classification system.   [PL 2001, c. 145, §3 (RPR).]
B. Fifteen miles per hour when approaching within 50 feet and in traversing an intersection when the operator's view is obstructed except when preference is given to through movement of traffic in one direction by "stop" signs or other traffic control devices or by direction of a law enforcement officer. An operator's view is considered obstructed when at any time during the last 50 feet of an approach to an intersection there is not a clear and uninterrupted view of the intersection and of the traffic on all ways entering the intersection for a distance of 200 feet from it;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. Twenty-five miles per hour in a business or residential district or built-up portion unless otherwise posted; and   [PL 2025, c. 199, §1 (AMD).]
D. Forty-five miles per hour on all other public ways unless otherwise posted.   [PL 2025, c. 199, §2 (AMD).]
E. [PL 2025, c. 199, §3 (RP).]
F.   [PL 2005, c. 577, §31 (RP).]
[PL 2025, c. 199, §§1-3 (AMD).]
1-A.  Emergency zone.  A person shall operate a vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than is reasonable and proper when approaching or passing through an emergency zone, having due regard for the safety of any individual present in the emergency zone and the physical characteristics of the emergency zone.  
For purposes of this subsection, "emergency zone" means any portion of a way where at least one stationary ambulance or emergency medical service, fire department, hazardous material response or police vehicle is located with emergency lights in use for the purpose of rendering medical assistance or responding to an event when the situation presents a risk of harm to a person using the way or an area immediately adjacent to the way. An emergency zone may be identified by any method reasonably visible to an approaching operator, including, but not limited to, vehicle emergency lights, signs, traffic cones, flaggers or mobile lighting.  
A person who violates this subsection commits a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than $250.  
[PL 2009, c. 554, §1 (NEW).]
2.  Compact areas.  The compact or built-up portion of a municipality is the territory contiguous to a way that is built up with structures situated less than 150 feet apart for a distance of at least 1/4 of a mile. Municipal officers may designate a compact or built-up portion by appropriate signs.  
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
3.  Criminal offense.  A person commits a Class E crime if that person operates a motor vehicle at a speed that exceeds the maximum rate of speed by 30 miles per hour or more.  
The complaint for a violation of a speed limit must specify the speed at which the defendant is alleged to have operated a motor vehicle.  
[PL 1995, c. 584, Pt. B, §8 (AMD).]
3-A.  Minimum fine.  A person who operates a motor vehicle on the Maine Turnpike or the Interstate Highway System at a speed that exceeds the posted speed by less than 30 miles per hour commits a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than $50.  
[PL 2013, c. 107, §2 (AMD).]
3-B.  Fine doubled.  The penalty for a violation of subsection 1, paragraph A is twice the amount of the fine designated in accordance with Title 4, section 164, subsection 12 for a speeding violation under section 2073 involving a similar excessive rate of speed.  
[PL 1999, c. 308, §1 (NEW).]
4.  Exception.  This section does not apply to the operation of a vehicle:  
A. In racing events and exhibitions at which the public does not have access to the operating area; or   [PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §106 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]
B. On private land to which the public does not have access when used by or with authorization of the landowner.   [PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §106 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]
[PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §106 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 65, §A106 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 584, §§B8,9 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 308, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 145, §3 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 577, §§30,31 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 9, §1 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 554, §1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 415, §3 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 107, §2 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 199, §§1-3 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1995–2025 · leading case: Est. of Patrick P. Smith v. Cumberland Cnty., 2013 ME 13 (Me. 2013).
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Est. of Patrick P. Smith v. Cumberland Cnty., 2013 ME 13 (Me. 2013). “§ 2414(3) (2012); criminal speeding by exceeding the maximum rate of speed by thirty miles per hour or more, 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(3) (2012); and driving to endanger, 29-A M.”
State v. LaPlante, 2011 ME 85 (Me. 2011). “§ 103 (2010); but see 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(3) (2010) (“A person commits a Class E crime if that person operates a motor vehicle at a speed that exceeds the maximum rate of speed by 30 miles per hour or more.”
State v. Martin, 2007 ME 23 (Me. 2007). · cites it 2× “” Martin argues (1) that the instruction misstates the law of speeding pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. § 2074 (2006); and (2) that informing the jury that operating a vehicle above the posted speed limit is unlawful constituted a “direct missive” to the jury to convict based on Martin’s…”
Judy Fulkerson v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 36 F.4th 678 (6th Cir. 2022). “Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 29-A, §§ 2074(3), 2413 (West 2022).”
State v. Berube, 669 A.2d 170 (Me. 1995). · cites it 2× “§ 1252(4) (1978) replaced by 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2074(3) (Pamph.1994) (effective Jan.”
State v. Bolduc, 1998 ME 255 (Me. 1998). “29-A M.R.S.A. § 2074(3) (1996 & Supp.1997).”
State v. Nugent, 2002 ME 111 (Me. 2002). “See 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2074 (1996 & Supp.2001). Nugent asserts that (1) he was not allowed to make a statement to the court but instead was required to proceed by questions and answers, and (2) he was improperly deprived of his right to a jury trial.”
State of Maine v. Dale M. Brackett, 2023 ME 51 (Me. 2023). “§ 2414(2), and criminal speeding (Class E), 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(3) (2023). The State argues that the trial court erred in concluding that the jury could not rationally have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brackett operated at “a reckless rate of speed”—a required element of…”
State v. Stoddard, 1997 ME 114 (Me. 1997). “§ 2414(2) (1996) (failing to stop); 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2074(3) (1996) (speeding in excess of 30 miles per hour); and 29-A M.”
State of Maine v. Zachariah J. Pelletier, 2019 ME 112 (Me. 2019). · cites it 2× “§ 2413(1) (2018) ; criminal speeding (Class E), 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(3) (2018) ; and operating after suspension (Class E), 29-A M.”
State v. Milne, 2011 ME 83 (Me. 2011). “Title 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(1)(C), (D) (2010) specifies that, where roads are not otherwise posted, the maximum speed in built-up portions of a town is twenty-five miles per hour, and the maximum speed on other roads is forty-five miles per hour.”
United States v. Cline, 58 F. App'x 249 (9th Cir. 2003). “§ 8-1560), Maine (Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit.29-A, § 2074), Maryland (Md.”
Show all 19 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2074(1)(C) — 1 case
State v. Milne, 2011 ME 83 (Me. 2011). “Title 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(1)(C), (D) (2010) specifies that, where roads are not otherwise posted, the maximum speed in built-up portions of a town is twenty-five miles per hour, and the maximum speed on other roads is forty-five miles per hour.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2074(3) — 11 cases
Est. of Patrick P. Smith v. Cumberland Cnty., 2013 ME 13 (Me. 2013). “§ 2414(3) (2012); criminal speeding by exceeding the maximum rate of speed by thirty miles per hour or more, 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(3) (2012); and driving to endanger, 29-A M.”
State v. LaPlante, 2011 ME 85 (Me. 2011). “§ 103 (2010); but see 29-A M.R.S. § 2074(3) (2010) (“A person commits a Class E crime if that person operates a motor vehicle at a speed that exceeds the maximum rate of speed by 30 miles per hour or more.”
Judy Fulkerson v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 36 F.4th 678 (6th Cir. 2022). “Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 29-A, §§ 2074(3), 2413 (West 2022).”
State v. Berube, 669 A.2d 170 (Me. 1995). “§ 1252(4) (1978) replaced by 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2074(3) (Pamph.1994) (effective Jan.”
State v. Bolduc, 1998 ME 255 (Me. 1998). “29-A M.R.S.A. § 2074(3) (1996 & Supp.1997).”
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