Maine traffic tickets
Points, traffic school, deadlines and what a ticket does to your insurance in Maine.
Speeding ticket$114–$278state schedule
License at risk12 ptsin 12 months
Driver improvement courseYesavailable, with limits
Insurance after 1 ticket+28%on $1,548 a year
What will my ticket really cost? Check my points
What kind of ticket did you get?
- Speeding
- School zone
- Work zone
- Red light
- Stop sign
- Texting
- No insurance
- Expired registration
- Seat belt
- School bus
- Failure to yield
- Parking
Which court is on your ticket?
One statewide schedule sets most fines. Pick the court named on your ticket.
What are your options with a Maine ticket?
Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Here is every route Maine offers, and what each one changes.
What does the Maine state schedule charge for speeding?
The amount on the schedule already includes all surcharges: 20 percent in percentage surcharges on the fine plus a $10 civil legal services fee and a $15 court technology fee.[4]
Every fine on the Maine schedule (20)
| Ticket | You pay |
|---|---|
| Speeding, 1–9 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 1 to 9 mph over the limitThe amount includes all statutory surcharges and fees. | $114[4] |
| Speeding, 10–14 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 10 to 14 mph over the limit | $129[4] |
| Speeding, 15–19 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 15 to 19 mph over the limit | $170[4] |
| Speeding, 20–24 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 20 to 24 mph over the limit | $230[4] |
| Speeding, 25–29 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 25 to 29 mph over the limit | $278[4] |
| Speeding, 30+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding 30 mph or more over the limitThis is a Class E crime, not a ticket you can pay by mail. | On your notice[2][4][8] |
| Speeding in a school zoneTwice the normal speeding fine. | $203[4][8] |
| Speeding in a construction zoneTwice the normal speeding fine. | $203[4][9] |
| Imprudent speed | $134[4] |
| Failure to stop for a red light | $146[4] |
| Failure to stop at a stop sign | $146[4] |
| Failure to yield to a vehicle on the rightMost other failure to yield charges are $154 too. | $154[4] |
| Following too closely | $152[4] |
| Leaving a travel lane unsafely | $152[4] |
| Using a handheld device or mobile phone while driving, first offense$325 for a second or later offense. | $85[4][10] |
| Driver not wearing a seat belt, first offense$175 for a second offense and $325 for a third or later. | $85[4] |
| Failure to produce evidence of insuranceIf you fix it: Dismissed. Send proof you were insured that day, before your answer is due.[4][15] | $186[4][15] |
| Vehicle registration expired more than 30 and less than 150 days, first offense$145 if expired 150 days or more. | $85[4] |
| Failure to obey a traffic control device | $121[4] |
| Passing a stopped school busFor the driver this is a Class E crime with a fine of at least $250, handled in court. | On your notice[4][12] |
How many points is a speeding ticket in Maine?
- Speeding, under 15 mph over4 pts[2]
- Speeding, 15–29 mph over6 pts[2]
- Running a red light4 pts[2]
- Running a stop sign4 pts[2]
- Failure to yield4 pts[2]
- Imprudent driving or imprudent speed4 pts[2]
- Unsafe lane change6 pts[2]
- Improper passing6 pts[2]
All 12 point values
How points work in Maine
Maine adds 2 to 8 demerit points when you are found to have committed a moving violation. Points drop off once the conviction is a year old. You get a notice at 6 points, and 12 points within a year can bring a suspension. Each calendar year with a clean record earns one violation-free credit, up to 4, which can cancel out points.[2][3]
Commercial driver? Points and disqualifications work differently. How tickets affect a CDL →
When can you lose your license?
- 6 ptsin 12 monthsWarning notice at half the suspension level[2][3]
- 12 ptsin 12 monthsSuspension of up to 15 days[2]
- Suspended 3 times in 3 years (within 36 months)[2]
- Speeding 30 mph or more over, or passing a stopped school bus[2]
- Second texting ticket within 3 years (within 36 months)[11]
- Not answering a ticket, missing trial or not paying the fine[13]
Full wording of each rule
- 6 points in 12 months: Warning notice at half the suspension level
- 12 points in 12 months: Suspension of up to 15 days
- Suspended 3 times in 3 years: a further suspension of up to 120 days for a new offense
- Speeding 30 mph or more over, or passing a stopped school bus: suspension of up to 30 days
- Second texting ticket within 3 years: at least 30 days of suspension (60 for a third, 90 for a fourth)
- Not answering a ticket, missing trial or not paying the fine: suspended until you do
Getting your license back after a suspension costs $50 in Maine, before any course or court costs.[14]
Drivers under 21
Not published
Can Driver improvement course keep a ticket off your record in Maine?
It can help. Gives a 3-point credit on your driving record.[2]
How often: One credit in any 12-month period.
Is it worth it for your ticket? Get a yes or no →
Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost
Gives a 3-point credit on your driving record. It does not dismiss the ticket. The credit drops off one year after you finish the course.[2]
Who can use it: The course must be approved by the Department of Public Safety or the Secretary of State.[2]
Do school and work zones cost more?
When is your ticket due?
- 35daysPay or respondfrom the ticket date[4][7][13]
Details
Pay (answer not contested) or contest the ticket with the Violations Bureau. If you miss it: Your license is suspended and a $50 late fee is added for each violation.
- 7daysAsk to move a trial datefrom the court date[7]
Details
Ask to move a trial date. If you miss it: Ask at least 7 days before the trial. The request may be denied.
- 30daysPay the fine after the court decides your casefrom conviction[6][7]
Details
Pay the fine after the court decides your case. If you miss it: A $50 late fee for each violation and a license suspension.
- Date on noticeLast day to appealset by the court[7]
Details
Appeal a decision
What happens if you don't respond
If you don't answer the ticket by the date on it, skip the trial or don't pay the fine, the court suspends your license and tells the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. A $50 late fee is added for each violation. The suspension lasts until you answer, appear or pay, and then you pay a $50 reinstatement fee.[6][13][14]
Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?
Will an out-of-state ticket follow you home?
- Shares convictions with other states (Driver License Compact)Yes[1]
- Can suspend you over unpaid out-of-state tickets (Nonresident Violator Compact)Yes[1]
Maine is in both compacts. It can add points for convictions in other states or provinces that would carry points in Maine. Online and phone payments only work from the United States.[1][3][7]
How out-of-state tickets work →
How much will it raise your insurance in Maine?
One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 28% on average in Maine[1], from a clean-record average of $1,548 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $1,300 on top of the fine.
Averages from ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026, not a quote. Insurers differ, and many look back three to five years.
Where are the official pages?
What else do people ask?
How do points work in Maine?
Maine adds 2 to 8 demerit points when you are found to have committed a moving violation. Points drop off once the conviction is a year old. You get a notice at 6 points, and 12 points within a year can bring a suspension. Each calendar year with a clean record earns one violation-free credit, up to 4, which can cancel out points.
How many points before your license is at risk in Maine?
12 points in 12 months: Suspension of up to 15 days.
Can traffic school keep a ticket off my record in Maine?
Driver improvement course: Gives a 3-point credit on your driving record. It does not dismiss the ticket. The credit drops off one year after you finish the course. Limit: One credit in any 12-month period.
How long do I have to pay or respond to a ticket in Maine?
35 days from the citation. If you miss it: Your license is suspended and a $50 late fee is added for each violation.
Will an out-of-state ticket follow me home to Maine?
Maine is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Maine. Maine is in both compacts. It can add points for convictions in other states or provinces that would carry points in Maine. Online and phone payments only work from the United States.
How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Maine?
About 28% on average for full coverage, according to ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026. Your insurer's rate can differ a lot from the average.
Sources
Maine law and DMV sources (16)
- AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
- 29-250 C.M.R. ch. 1, Rules for Administrative Suspension Relating to Demerit Point Accumulation, Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
- 29-A M.R.S. §2458 Suspension or revocation (demerit point system), Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- Violations Bureau Schedule of Amounts Due, traffic infractions on or after September 24, 2025, Maine Judicial Branch Violations Bureau.
- Traffic Violations, State of Maine Judicial Branch.
- Traffic Violations: Pay a Ticket, State of Maine Judicial Branch.
- Traffic Violations: Frequently Asked Questions, State of Maine Judicial Branch.
- 29-A M.R.S. §2074 Rates of speed, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §2075 Other speed regulations, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §2121 Use of mobile telephones and handheld electronic devices while operating motor vehicles prohibited, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §2119 Text messaging while operating motor vehicle, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §2308 Overtaking and passing school buses, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §2608 Suspension for failure to appear, answer or pay a fine in a traffic infraction offense, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §2486 Reinstatement fee, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §1601 Required maintenance of financial responsibility, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
- 29-A M.R.S. §2602 Jurisdiction, Maine Legislature (Office of the Revisor of Statutes).
Insurance sources (4)
- State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).