In a car crash or other incident involving multiple vehicles the police may investigate whether the driver of any of the vehicles is under the influence of or intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, and are not limited to investigating and arresting only the driver who was at fault in the accident, for example.
In Maine, when a car crash or other incident involving multiple vehicles occurs, law enforcement officers have the authority to investigate all drivers involved for potential impairment due to alcohol or drugs. This means that even if a driver is not at fault for the accident, they can still be subject to investigation and arrest if there is probable cause to believe they are under the influence. Maine's Operating Under the Influence (OUI) laws prohibit driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in Maine is 0.08% for drivers 21 and over, and lower for commercial drivers and those under 21. If an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect a driver is impaired, they may conduct field sobriety tests and/or chemical tests. Refusal to submit to a chemical test can result in license suspension and other penalties, independent of the outcome of the accident investigation.