blackdog of Portland, ME To expand on Mudhen's comments, not everyone who has had their license suspended is even aware of it. I was stopped by a very zealous traffic cop in Daytona Beach Florida for rolling a Stop sign, which I would have challenged had I been remaining there. I blew off the fine and life went on. One year later when I renewed my license I was informed by the clerk that I had been under suspension for a year. I had no idea. Never received a notice from either Florida or Maine. After paying up I was reinstated and life went on ... again.report abuse

mudhen of Limington, ME I understand that the law is the law, but the press blows this way out of proportion. Many of the people who are driving with suspended licenses are only guilty of not being able to pay fines received for non-moving violations, like expired inspection stickers. Every time someone with a suspended license is involved in any kind of accident you hear 'man/woman with xxx suspensions' involved in whatever. Not everyone who has a suspended license is an 'accident waiting to happen,' and many people with suspended licenses are better drivers because they are so afraid of being pulled over. Can't we dispense with the dramatics and reserve the big deal for people who have had their licenses suspended for serious violations? What about all those people with valid licenses who run red lights on a regular basis? Is it less of an offense if they kill someone because they don't have a suspended license?report abuse

Lucy of Worcester, MA My daughter is an alcoholic and lives in Maine. We have done everything we can to not let her drive. She has had three OUIs. After the first one, they gave her license back until she recieved notification that it was revoked. This was a period of about two weeks. That's when she received the other two OUIs. Are the people in Maine brain dead. Her license should have been taken right then and there and then the other two would not have happened. Her rationale is well I'm in trouble anyway, I may as well drink up and drive and not worry about it for the remaining time that I have my license.report abuse

John McKeen of Scarborough, ME Wouldn't drivers without licenses be very cautious and obey driving rules to avoid being stopped as they know if they are stopped, they'll be going to jail.report abuse

MaineHiker of ME This special issue report continues despite the fact that the last response here was in August 2008, the response before that was my own in February 2008... and the last "check point" monitoring of drivers for valid driver’s licenses was just implemented and reported no unlicensed drivers. "Check points," you know, "Check Points" like our military services set-up in Iraqi cities and towns.
Taking away driving licenses and using that sanction to force compliance with pet control, child support problems without a fair assessment of the circumstances by an actual judge rather that some DHS case worker just hired off the streets, or for any reason unrelated to the driver’s demonstrated menace to other drivers, is simply not tolerable.. Those who advocate such practices must be identified and removed from our Maine judicial system. I don’t care where they graduated from or who were in their cliquey little power groups at recess in elementary school.
I believe this space could be used to address real problems in Maine like the murders of Donald Gray and Michael Norton by inadequately trained cowboy killer cops who are clueless about handling people without lethal force who might just be having a hard time. Cowboy killer cops eager to apply for “service” in South Portland now knowing they’ll probably get to ride a brand new motorcycle and have an AG’s approved license to kill.
I know many great cops but I do not feel safe with cops who can’t see the difference between a person having a hard time and a real killer ready to “pop a cop” rather than be arrested. If they are obviously so “out of it” that they could be knocked down with a volley ball and couldn’t make out what you were yelling and commanding him to do, then murdering them with a shot to the neck and head is a clear and simple “no no.” Go learn to arrange flowers.
Speaking of "out of it" has anyone thought to take urine samples of all officers involved just before and just after the incident.report abuse

Thom218 of Nobleboro, ME If their cars are seized along with the license like in most other states it would at least abate the problem until the scoflaws figure a new way around. If a policeman can have the ability BY LAW to take the license from a drunk then have the car towed to a facility (impound yard) and charge the driver for the impound fee as long as it takes to clear the case - some MIGHT take it in the pocketbook or the other alternative is to throw them in prison for 5 - 10 years, no questions asked. If you're caught driving someone elses car them GO STRAIGHT TO JAIL DO NOT PASS GO. And charge both people with the illegal driving.report abuse

MaineHiker of Portland, ME Very clearly, our licenses for many things (e.g.: business, professional, fishing, etc.) can be revoked for many inappropriate reasons. And they can be used by many people such as some DHS and DHHS workers who do abuse that authority. Perhaps they want to be like Judge Judy. Also, just because the DMV says it sent you a notice does not mean that they in fact did. Just tap the yes button on a computer answering if the letter was sent. And they are not required to send the notice by classified mail (which is a scandal)and according to one DMV worker I spoke with, they are not really required to send a notice all.
Stand in any courtroom were these matters are handled and see what it feels like to be herded around like cattle where the presumption is that you are guilty and ready for slaughter. Yes, I believe people who get behind the wheel without a license because their driving habits put others at risk should be made to tow the mark. And I really don't care how many times your dog gets off her leash. Mandatory dog school, required enclosure equipment, what ever. But the punishment must fit the crime.
Just using license revocation to constrain cooperation on any matter whatsoever is simply not acceptable and people who think that way I think should move somewhere where their snotty little remarks will be tolerated. What's next, numb-chucks, water boarding?report abuse

reader of Portland-Boston, ME "Lara of Portland, ME
The only reason Maine has so many suspended drivers on the road is that there are too many ways to have your license suspended that have nothing to do with driving a car. You can actually get you DRIVERS license suspended for letting your DOG off his/her leash in an undesignated area. That is absurd! The only reason a license should be revoked/suspended is due to driver’s negligence or liability while actually using a car"


--True,licenses have been suspended for reasons that have nothing to do with a car/truck. However there are about 100,000 Mainers with 2 or more license suspensions,65000 of which 4 or more suspensions,34000 8 or more. Thats a lot of unleashed dog violations/suspensions. Some complain 'they never received a notice of suspesnsion because it went to an old address. Maybe true for one suspension,what about the other 4,8,20 times the license was suspended per person's license was suspended?

Unlike the image Mainers are a caring people for other Mainers in the state,Mainers like residents in other 49 state could care less about hopping in a vehicle with a suspended license and driving away.report abuse

Lara of Portland, ME Oh, and by the way Philip of Lewiston…raising the reinstatement fee from $35 will only ensure that there will be more drivers with suspended licenses on the road. An out of state driver with two speeding tickets can have their "driving privileges" revoked (a.k.a suspended) and not have clear communication that they need to pay $35 dollars to have their privileges reinstated. Six months later, bam! Driving under suspension. Please be aware that these "habitual traffic offenders" are your neighbors, doctors, teachers and most likely friends. Maine has an overzealous policy on revocation of driving privileges and that is why it seems to be pandemic.report abuse

Lara of Portland, ME The only reason Maine has so many suspended drivers on the road is that there are too many ways to have your license suspended that have nothing to do with driving a car. You can actually get you DRIVERS license suspended for letting your DOG off his/her leash in an undesignated area. That is absurd! The only reason a license should be revoked/suspended is due to driver’s negligence or liability while actually using a car, not as an arbitrary punishment for unrelated offences.report abuse