Do You Have to Report Elderly Maine Drivers Who Shouldn’t Drive?

I remember when my grandfather stopped driving.

He called it a day all on his own. He was always super concerned with the safety of others when he was behind the wheel. He'd always say, I'd rather hit another car all day long, than hit a pedestrian." And it was true. Sometimes it felt like it took him 100 years to back out of the driveway.

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But, there came a point when he thought that he couldn't turn his head as far or as quickly as he'd like, plus a few other minor issues, so he pulled the plug. However, we all know that some folks don't want to make that decision at all, whether or not it's probably best for them and everyone else on the road.

But, are you required to report someone if they should stop driving?

One could certainly make the argument that morally, you should probably do something about it, if you know specifically someone shouldn't be behind the wheel. It could be a medical condition. Or a cognitive issue. There are any number of legit reasons why someone should give up driving.

But, in Maine, you aren't required by law to report someone. However, there are legal channels within the state to do so. So it comes back to the moral issue. Maybe a relative or a close friend of the family just won't stop. You can go through the state and fill out a Driver Medical Evaluation form.

What happens then?

At that point, the person in question will need to submit to some kind of health evaluation with a medical professional, who will assess the person and make a decision about whether the person needs to have their license taken away. Sometimes it's only temporary. And yes, there is a process for getting a license reinstated, if applicable.

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But, you can't just call the cops and tell them grandma can't drive anymore. It's definitely not that simple. Nor will be the conversation had with the person who may lose their license. No one likes to lose their privileges they've had for decades. But it can be necessary. But you aren't legally responsible to do anything, even if you should.

Go ahead and get some serious sticker shock from the old days...