Maine is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the most Northeastern state in the U.S. Maine is known for its beautiful scenery, including rocky coastlines, scenic waterways and low rolling mountains. With nearly 90% of the land forested, it has been nicknamed "The Pine Tree State."

With 320 miles of coastline, Maine boasts an abundance of seafood such as lobster and clams. New England clam chowder is a popular dish in this locality. Maine is one of the oldest territories with the landing of the Plymouth Company in 1607. Dating back to 1860, Maine is divided into 16 counties, with Cumberland and York Counties being the most populated.

Residents of Maine have troubles with the law, just like everywhere else. That being said, Maine has the lowest incarceration rate in the country with a rate of 150 per 100,000 residents compared to a national rate of 502. One reason for this low rate is thought to be due the low incidence of large cities and welfare projects in the state, however this is only speculation.

OUI Laws
In Maine, DUI laws are referred to as OUI, or "Operating Under the Influence." This refers to the operation of any vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Any driver operating a vehicle with blood alcohol content greater than .08 is in violation of the law. Refusing to submit to an alcohol or substance test can further complicate your case due to the Implied Consent Law of the state.

All first time OIU offenders receive a 90 day driver's license suspension and must pay between $400-500 in fees. Further offenses will result in jail time, additional license suspension and fees, and other penalties.

Record Sealing
The sealing of criminal records may be possible when expungement is not an option. Record sealing allows for some ongoing access to criminal records, while expungement allows no access. Maine laws make it possible for certain types of records to be sealed. Juveniles who have a criminal record are eligible for a sealing of their record after three years have passed.

Juveniles may also be considered for this if no conviction was reached on their case. The third circumstance that may qualify an individual to have their record sealed is when the person doesn't have current adjudicatory proceedings for adult or juvenile crimes.

Strange Laws
Most states have some weird laws on their books, and Maine has its fair share. For example, it is illegal to step out of a plane in flight. Remember that the next time you are tempted to step off your flight. In the city of Augusta, it's illegal to stroll down the street while playing a violin, and in Biddeford, it's illegal to roller-skate down the sidewalk.