Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2118 (2026)

Failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle

✓ current as of May 2026

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(REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 29-A, SECTION 2117)

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Operation of a motor vehicle while distracted" means the operation of a motor vehicle by a person who, while operating the vehicle, is engaged in an activity:

(1) That is not necessary to the operation of the vehicle; and

(2) That actually impairs, or would reasonably be expected to impair, the ability of the person to safely operate the vehicle. [RR 2009, c. 1, §18 (RAL).]

[RR 2009, c. 1, §18 (RAL).]

2. Failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle. A person commits the traffic infraction of failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle if the person:

A. Commits either a traffic infraction under this Title or commits the crime of driving to endanger under section 2413 and, at the time the traffic infraction or crime occurred, the person was engaged in the operation of a motor vehicle while distracted; or [RR 2009, c. 1, §1 (RAL).]

B. Is determined to have been the operator of a motor vehicle that was involved in a reportable accident as defined in section 2251, subsection 1 that resulted in property damage and, at the time the reportable accident occurred, the person was engaged in the operation of a motor vehicle while distracted. [RR 2009, c. 1, §18 (RAL).]

A person may be issued a citation or summons for any other traffic infraction or crime that was committed by the person in relation to the person's commission of the traffic infraction of failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle.

[RR 2009, c. 1, §18 (RAL).]

SECTION HISTORY

RR 2009, c. 1, §18 (RAL).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases, 2012–2020 · leading case: United States v. Jenkins, 680 F.3d 101 (1st Cir. 2012).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

United States v. Jenkins, 680 F.3d 101 (1st Cir. 2012). “See Me. Rev.Stat. Ann. tit. 29-A, § 2118. Driving while distracted by a dashboard television, then, cannot provide a basis for Cejka’s continuing investigation.”

State of Maine v. Thomas E. Palmer, 2017 ME 183 (Me. 2017). · cites it 7× “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). · cites it 9× “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). · cites it 9× “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). · cites it 9× “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Rupert, 169 A.3d 423 (Me. 2017). “§ 2073(3) (2016), and failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle, see 29-A M.R.S. § 2118 (2016). [¶ 3] Rupert contested the alleged violations, and a nonjury trial was held in November 2016.”

State v. Rupert, 169 A.3d 423 (Me. 2017). “§ 2073(3) (2016), and failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle, see 29-A M.R.S. § 2118 (2016). [¶ 3] Rupert contested the alleged violations, and a nonjury trial was held in November 2016.”

State v. Rupert, 169 A.3d 423 (Me. 2017). “§ 2073(3) (2016), and failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle, see 29-A M.R.S. § 2118 (2016). [¶ 3] Rupert contested the alleged violations, and a nonjury trial was held in November 2016.”

Yerramsetty v. Dunkin' Donuts Ne. Inc (D. Me. 2020). “She argues first that 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2118(2)(B) applies, which provides that in the case of a reportable accident (this accident was reportable) resulting in property damage, if “the person was engaged in the operation of a motor vehicle while distracted,” then he has committed…”

State of Maine v. Benjamin J. Rupert, 2017 ME 181 (Me. 2017). “§ 2073(3) (2016), and failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle, see 29-A M.R.S. § 2118 (2016). [¶3] Rupert contested the alleged violations, and a nonjury trial was held in November 2016.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2118(1)(A) — 4 cases

State of Maine v. Thomas E. Palmer, 2017 ME 183 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2118(1)(A)(1) — 1 case

State of Maine v. Thomas E. Palmer, 2017 ME 183 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2118(2)(B) — 5 cases

State of Maine v. Thomas E. Palmer, 2017 ME 183 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

Yerramsetty v. Dunkin' Donuts Ne. Inc (D. Me. 2020). “She argues first that 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2118(2)(B) applies, which provides that in the case of a reportable accident (this accident was reportable) resulting in property damage, if “the person was engaged in the operation of a motor vehicle while distracted,” then he has committed…”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2118(l)(A)(l) — 3 cases

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

State v. Palmer, 169 A.3d 425 (Me. 2017). “See 29-A M.R.S. § 2118; 29-A M.R.S. § 103 (2016); M.”

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