§ 2483 Hearing request

Codes > Maine Revised Statutes > Title 29-A > Chapter 23 : Subchapter 3 > Article 3 : 2483

§ 2483. Hearing request

    1. Request for hearing. A person may make a written request for a hearing to review the determination of the Secretary of State.

    The request must be made within 10 days from the effective date of the suspension.

    2. Issuance of decision. The Secretary of State shall conduct a hearing and issue a decision within 30 days of receipt of a written request for hearing.

    3. Delayed requests. If a request is made after the 10-day period and the Secretary of State finds that the person was unable to make a timely request due to lack of actual notice of the suspension or due to factors of physical incapacity, the Secretary of State shall waive the period of limitation, reopen the matter and grant the hearing request, except a stay may not be granted.

    4. Stay. Any stay must continue until a decision is issued. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, a stay does not apply during a delay caused or requested by the petitioner, except that, if the petitioner is unable to attend the hearing due to circumstances beyond the petitioner's control, the Secretary of State may continue, one time only, the stay of suspension. The petitioner must submit to the Secretary of State a written request for delay, or an electronically transmitted facsimile of a written request for delay, stating the circumstances, at least 24 hours before the scheduled hearing. A request for a hearing does not stay a suspension unless specifically provided for in this chapter.

    4-A. Stay after failure to submit to test. When a hearing is requested by a petitioner under this section and the petitioner is not entitled to a stay of the suspension pending the hearing due to failure to submit to a test at the request of a law enforcement officer, if the hearing is postponed or otherwise continued by a person other than the petitioner or a cause not attributable to the petitioner, the suspension must be stayed until a hearing is held and a decision is issued. A stay does not apply during a delay caused or requested by the petitioner.

    5. Suspensions during appeal. If a person appeals an OUI conviction or administrative determination, the suspension remains in effect during the appeal, unless the court orders otherwise or the Secretary of State restores the license.