Maine’s new hands-free law went into effect on Thursday, September 19, 2019. The fine was initially set at $230.00 for the first offense and at least $325.00 for any subsequent offense over a three-year period. Surprised by the amount of the fine, the sponsor of the bill, State Senator Bill Diamond, took action to get the fines lowered. For now, the total fine (including surcharges) is $85.00; however, the fine will go back to $230.00 in April of 2020, if the Legislature takes no action to change the language of the law currently in place.
