Maine Drunk Driving Statistics

Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
166
94
56
83
50
1983
224
135
60
122
54
1984
232
132
57
118
51
1985
206
112
54
92
45
1986
214
113
53
94
44
1987
232
119
51
95
41
1988
256
103
40
88
34
1989
194
70
36
64
33
1990
213
94
44
75
35
1991
205
83
41
59
29
1992
214
90
42
78
36
1993
185
77
42
64
35
1994
188
66
35
55
29
1995
187
58
31
52
28
1996
169
65
38
52
31
1997
192
65
34
58
30
1998
192
55
28
49
25
1999
181
60
33
53
29
2000
169
51
30
43
25
2001
192
65
34
61
32
2002
216
50
23
47
22
2003
207
75
36
69
33
2004
194
70
36
58
30
2005
169
59
35
50
30
2006
188
70
37
51
27
2007
183
76
41
66
36
2008
155
47
30
43
28
2009
159
53
33
47
29
2010
161
48
30
38
23
2011
136
39
29
23
17
2012
164
62
38
49
30
2013
145
54
37
42
29
2014
131
49
38
44
33

The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the Maine, alcohol-related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).

All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer’s observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)

The second offense is called “illegal per se”, which is driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08% or higher.

 

It is important to note that the Maine drunk driving statistics, as shown above, include data from individuals who were in an alcohol-related crash, but not driving a motor vehicle at the time. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines alcohol-related deaths as “fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or pedalcyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value.”

The fatality rates shown above refer to the number of people killed in all traffic accidents and, separately, in alcohol-related traffic accidents, per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Criminal status of DUI laws in Maine

In Maine, 1st , 2nd and 3rd offenses are class D crime, 4th or subsequent offenses are class C crime. Citation:17-A MRSA ?1252, and 29-A MRSA ?2411 (5)(D) (2)

Sources for Maine drunk driving information and statistics

US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12/02

(2) National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004

National drunk driving statistics in the US