ME LD1189

State attorneys may charge eligible Class E crimes as civil violations instead of criminal charges, unless the defendant was arrested and objects to the substitution

Eligible Class E crimes exclude election law offenses (Title 21-A) and crimes that carry mandatory driver's license suspension or probation eligibility

Prosecutors must consider severity of conduct, victim impact, defendant's prior record, and whether criminal or civil sanctions better serve sentencing purposes

Maximum penalty for civil violations under this provision is $1,000, and the prosecutor's decision is not subject to judicial review

Appropriates $3,900 one-time funding for court programming costs; effective January 1, 2026