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

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2451 (2026)

Suspensions for OUI

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Recording and notice by Secretary of State.  On receipt of an attested copy of the court record of a suspension of a license for OUI, the Secretary of State shall immediately record the suspension and send written notice of the suspension to the person whose license has been suspended.  
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
2.  Court failure to suspend. 
[PL 1995, c. 368, Pt. AAA, §16 (RP).]
3.  Suspension period.  Unless a longer period of suspension is otherwise provided by law and imposed by the court, the Secretary of State shall suspend the license of a person convicted of OUI for the following minimum periods:  
A. One hundred fifty days, if the person has one OUI conviction within a 10-year period;   [PL 2015, c. 329, Pt. A, §17 (RPR).]
B. Three years, if the person has 2 OUI offenses within a 10-year period;   [PL 2015, c. 329, Pt. A, §17 (RPR).]
C. Six years, if the person has 3 OUI offenses within a 10-year period;   [PL 2017, c. 229, §35 (AMD).]
D. [PL 2009, c. 54, §3 (RP); PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF).]
E. Eight years, if the person has 4 or more OUI offenses within a 10-year period; or   [PL 2017, c. 229, §35 (AMD).]
F. Ten years, if the person has a prior conviction for a Class B or Class C OUI offense pursuant to section 2411, subsection 1‑A, paragraph D, subparagraph (2).   [PL 2017, c. 229, §35 (NEW).]
For the purposes of this subsection, a conviction or suspension has occurred within a 10-year period if the date of the new conduct is within 10 years of a date of suspension or imposition of sentence. The 10-year limitation does not apply to a prior conviction for a Class B or Class C OUI offense; the conviction may have occurred at any time.  
[PL 2017, c. 229, §35 (AMD).]
4.  Consecutive suspensions.  A suspension under this section is consecutive to a suspension for failure to submit to a test required by this chapter.  
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
5.  Additional period of suspension for transporting passengers under 21 years of age.  Unless a court orders an additional period of license suspension of 275 days pursuant to section 2411, subsection 5, paragraph G, the Secretary of State shall impose an additional suspension period of 275 days for any failure to submit to a chemical test or for OUI if the person was operating the motor vehicle at the time of the offense with a passenger under 21 years of age.  
[PL 1997, c. 737, §12 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 65, §B22 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 368, §§AAA16,17 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 737, §12 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 54, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 54, §7 (AFF). PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. C, §§2, 3 (AFF). PL 2013, c. 459, §5 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 604, §4 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 329, Pt. A, §17 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 229, §35 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1996–2021 · leading case: State v. Stade, 683 A.2d 164 (Me. 1996).
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State v. Stade, 683 A.2d 164 (Me. 1996). · cites it 4× “29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451(3) (1996). Hence, if convicted of OUI on the basis of the results of the blood-alcohol test, Stade would be eligible for a work-restricted license 60 days after his conviction.”
DiPietro v. Sec'y of State, 802 A.2d 399 (Me. 2002). · cites it 6× “) held that: (1) 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451 grants the Secretary of State the authority to impose the proper statutorily-delineated suspensions; (2) the administrative license *402 suspension imposed by the Secretary of State did not violate the double jeopardy provisions of the Maine…”
Beale v. Sec'y of State, 693 A.2d 336 (Me. 1997). · cites it 2× “See 29-A M.R.S.A. §§ 2451(3), (4) (1996). Pursuant to the law as amended, the two previous convictions, because they were within ten years of the date of Beale’s present conviction, were utilized in determining the period of suspension.”
Greenawald v. Sec'y of State (Me. Super. Ct 2018). · cites it 4× “In a letter dated June 23, 2017, the Director of Driver License Services within the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, denied the Petitioner's request for a reduction of her license suspension, stating: "I have reviewed this matter and find that the offense count is correct and the…”
Bodwell v. Maine Bureau of Motor Vehs. (Me. Super. Ct 2021). · cites it 2× “Bodwell a "Notice of Suspension and Opportunity for Hearing" informing him that, effective January 24, 2021, his driver's license would be suspended for a period of 6 years pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. §§ 2451(3)(C) and 2453(3) & (6), because he had "3 OUI offenses within a 10-year…”
Fickett v. State of Maine, Off. of the Sec'y of State (Me. Super. Ct 2003). “Upon receipt of notice of this conviction, the Bureau once again suspended the petitioner’s license for a minimum of 18 months effective July 5, 2002, pursuant to the mandatory suspensions set forth in 29-A M.”
Gourdouros v. Sec'y of State (Me. Super. Ct 2006). “The Secretary of State's powers regarding license suspensions, following receipt of the court records establishing a conviction for operating under the influence, are stated at 29-A M.R.S.A. §2451(3). The statute states, 3.”
Pelkey v. State of Maine, Off. of the Sec'y of State (Me. Super. Ct 2000). “See 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451(3)(B) (1996). The respondent notified the petitioner of this suspension via a notice that was “mailed no later than 4/14/98.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2451(1) — 1 case
DiPietro v. Sec'y of State, 802 A.2d 399 (Me. 2002). “) held that: (1) 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451 grants the Secretary of State the authority to impose the proper statutorily-delineated suspensions; (2) the administrative license *402 suspension imposed by the Secretary of State did not violate the double jeopardy provisions of the Maine…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2451(3) — 4 cases
State v. Stade, 683 A.2d 164 (Me. 1996). “29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451(3) (1996). Hence, if convicted of OUI on the basis of the results of the blood-alcohol test, Stade would be eligible for a work-restricted license 60 days after his conviction.”
DiPietro v. Sec'y of State, 802 A.2d 399 (Me. 2002). “) held that: (1) 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451 grants the Secretary of State the authority to impose the proper statutorily-delineated suspensions; (2) the administrative license *402 suspension imposed by the Secretary of State did not violate the double jeopardy provisions of the Maine…”
Beale v. Sec'y of State, 693 A.2d 336 (Me. 1997). “See 29-A M.R.S.A. §§ 2451(3), (4) (1996). Pursuant to the law as amended, the two previous convictions, because they were within ten years of the date of Beale’s present conviction, were utilized in determining the period of suspension.”
Gourdouros v. Sec'y of State (Me. Super. Ct 2006). “The Secretary of State's powers regarding license suspensions, following receipt of the court records establishing a conviction for operating under the influence, are stated at 29-A M.R.S.A. §2451(3). The statute states, 3.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2451(3)(B) — 1 case
Pelkey v. State of Maine, Off. of the Sec'y of State (Me. Super. Ct 2000). “See 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451(3)(B) (1996). The respondent notified the petitioner of this suspension via a notice that was “mailed no later than 4/14/98.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2451(3)(C) — 2 cases
Greenawald v. Sec'y of State (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “In a letter dated June 23, 2017, the Director of Driver License Services within the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, denied the Petitioner's request for a reduction of her license suspension, stating: "I have reviewed this matter and find that the offense count is correct and the…”
Bodwell v. Maine Bureau of Motor Vehs. (Me. Super. Ct 2021). “Bodwell a "Notice of Suspension and Opportunity for Hearing" informing him that, effective January 24, 2021, his driver's license would be suspended for a period of 6 years pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. §§ 2451(3)(C) and 2453(3) & (6), because he had "3 OUI offenses within a 10-year…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2451(3)(D) — 1 case
DiPietro v. Sec'y of State, 802 A.2d 399 (Me. 2002). “) held that: (1) 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2451 grants the Secretary of State the authority to impose the proper statutorily-delineated suspensions; (2) the administrative license *402 suspension imposed by the Secretary of State did not violate the double jeopardy provisions of the Maine…”
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