Is It Illegal To Back Out Of Your Own Driveway in Maine?

I heard that it may be illegal to back out of your own driveway in Maine, and this little rumor created a seed in my brain that has grown into a very annoying bug.

It has become a persistent bother that has circulated in my mind, and I now have to investigate. This has also been a rumor in Maine for years: that it is illegal to back out of your own driveway. Is this true? We'll figure it out together.

Let's start by taking a little peek at Maine's driving laws.

Now, we all know that when you're behind the wheel, you've gotta be careful not to smash into any person or vehicle. And if necessary, give a friendly honk of your horn. But here's the kicker. There's NO law on the books (that I can find) saying it's illegal to reverse out of your own driveway, according to Maine.gov.

So you can breathe a sigh of relief and back that car right on up, my friends.

No need to worry about breaking the law and being thrown in the slammer for a "driveway violation." How weird would that be.

Now, at the same time, we still have to be careful, especially those of us who live on a busy public roadway. Backing out of your driveway could be dangerous if you are entering heavy, fast traffic.

But where did this rumor come from?

Maine state law does prohibit drivers from backing up on highways, which is understandable, as it could lead to a bad accident. However, this law does not apply to your private driveway.

Remember to drive responsibly to ensure that you aren't endangering you or other drivers.

In addition, there could be local ordinances that stop you from backing out onto a public road. That could be for another article.

Get our free mobile app

But as far as we're concerned, it is not illegal to back out of your own driveway in Maine.

You also may like, Is It Illegal to Conduct a Citizens Arrest in Maine?