Me. Stat. tit. 29-A § 2071

Current through 131st (2023-2024) Legislature Chapter 684
Section 2071 - Turning and signals
1.Prohibition. An operator may not turn a vehicle or move right or left on a public way unless the movement can be made with reasonable safety.

[1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5(AFF).]

2.Turn signal. An operator must give a turn signal as follows.
A. An operator may not turn a vehicle without giving an appropriate signal if other traffic may be affected by that movement. [2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]
B. A turn signal must be given continuously during at least the last 100 feet traveled before turning. [2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]

[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46(RPR); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]

3.Stop signal. An operator may not stop or suddenly decrease a vehicle's speed without first giving an appropriate signal to the operator of a vehicle immediately to the rear.

[1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5(AFF).]

4.Types of signals. A stop or turn signal must be given by the hand and arm, a signal light or mechanical signal device.
A. When a vehicle is constructed or loaded so that a hand and arm signal is not visible to the front and rear, then signals must be given by a light or device. [2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]
B. A light signal must emit a white or amber light to the front and a red or amber light to the rear for turn signals and red to the rear for stop signals. [2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46(NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]

[2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46(RPR); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2(AFF).]

5.Hand signals. Signals by hand and arm must be given by the left arm from the left side of a vehicle in the following manner:
A. To indicate a left turn, the hand and arm must be extended horizontally; [1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5(AFF).]
B. To indicate a right turn, the hand and arm must be extended upward, except that a person who is operating a bicycle or roller skis is not in violation of this subsection if the person signals a right turn by extending the person's right hand and arm horizontally; and [2009, c. 484, §8(AMD).]
C. To indicate a stop or a decrease in speed, the hand and arm must be extended downward. [1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5(AFF).]

A person operating a bicycle may return the hand used to signal a turn to the handlebars during the turn to maintain proper control of the bicycle. A roller skier may return the hand used to signal a turn to a position required to maintain proper control of the roller skis during the turn.

[2009, c. 484, §8(AMD).]

6.Fire departments exempted. This section does not apply to vehicles operated by organized fire departments.

[1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5(AFF).]

29-A M.R.S. § 2071

1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW) . 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF) . 1995, c. 371, § 2 (AMD) . 2001, c. 148, § 4 (AMD) . 2003, c. 452, §Q46 (AMD) . 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF) . 2009, c. 484, § 8 (AMD) .