In Maine, What Happens to Tourists Who get Traffic Tickets?

Have you ever gotten a ticket out-of-state?

Depending on what part of the country you're in, I've heard it can be anywhere from no big deal, to a total nightmare when it comes to out-of-state tickets. You hear plenty of stories on social media and the news where people are all but harassed and extorted when it comes to trying to clear their names.

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Other states basically tell you to be about your business and simply pay the fine online. As a state that attracts tourists from all over the world, Maine is no stranger to having to deal with tracking down fines from people who aren't from here. That said, what does happen to a tourist who gets a ticket or whatnot, while they're here?

You definitely cannot hide from the violation.

There was a time, in our lifetime, when it would've been almost impossible to track something as basic as a speeding or parking ticket. And likely, people probably never really spent a lot of time worrying about it. I bet my grandfather's generation just tossed them in the ditch as they rode away.

These days, the Driver's License Compact and the Nonresident Violator Compact exist. In a nutshell, most states in the US have all chosen to share information about traffic violations, including those that occurred in a state different than the one the driver is from. So trying to simply ignore a violation in another state, won't work. Unless it's related to one of the handful of states that don't participate.

So what happens?

Once these violations are reported, a few things could happen. But basically, whatever would happen to you in your home state, is how it'll likely shake out. So if you don't pay that ticket in New York and you're from Maine, you could end up getting demerit points on your Maine license.

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It works the same way in reverse too. Violations here could equal penalties in the state you live in. Ultimately, it's worth your time and effort to just follow the rules and try not to get a ticket. Sure, things happen. But if you do end up with one, you're best bet is to just pay it and move on.

And definitely try not to get tickets on haunted roads. They're the worst...