Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 2071 (2025) – 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.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
2. Turn signal An operator must give a turn signal as follows.
1. A. An operator may not turn a vehicle without giving an appropriate signal if other traffic may be affected by that movement.
  [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2. B. A turn signal must be given continuously during at least the last 100 feet traveled before turning.
  [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46 (RPR); PL 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.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 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.
1. 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.
  [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2. 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.
  [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §46 (RPR); PL 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 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.
1. A. To indicate a left turn, the hand and arm must be extended horizontally;
  [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
2. 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
  [PL 2009, c. 484, §8 (AMD).]
3. C. To indicate a stop or a decrease in speed, the hand and arm must be extended downward.
  [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 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.
[PL 2009, c. 484, §8 (AMD).]
6. Fire departments exempted This section does not apply to vehicles operated by organized fire departments.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

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