Maine Revised Statutes
Chapter 352: EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATION
25 §2932. Designated emergency telephone number

§2932. Designated emergency telephone number
1. Designated emergency telephone number. The primary telephone number to be used in a telephone exchange to request emergency services following the activation of E-9-1-1 services for that exchange, including the number for telecommunications devices for communication for persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, is 9-1-1. A person may not advertise or promote for emergency response services any telephone number other than 9-1-1.
[PL 2021, c. 348, §38 (AMD).]
2. Publishing of 9-1-1. A publisher of a directory of Maine telephone numbers for use by telephone subscribers in Maine must include in a conspicuous portion of the directory:
A. [PL 2015, c. 62, §2 (RP).]
B. The telephone number 9-1-1 as the primary telephone number to request emergency services. The number "9-1-1" must be accompanied by words indicating it is accessible by teletypewriter device, or TTY, such as "TTY/Voice." [PL 2015, c. 62, §2 (AMD).]
[PL 2015, c. 62, §2 (AMD).]
3. Commercial use of the number 9-1-1. The number 9-1-1 may not be used for commercial purposes in a manner that is deceptive or likely to produce confusion with respect to its use as the primary emergency telephone number to request emergency services.
[PL 1999, c. 651, §3 (NEW).]
4. Display of 9-1-1. When displayed on signs and in other formats designed to advertise the number and its use to the public printed after the effective date of this subsection or on emergency vehicles, 9-1-1 must be:
A. Printed in plain block numerals with a dash between the numerals; [PL 1999, c. 651, §3 (NEW).]
B. Accompanied by the word "emergency"; and [PL 1999, c. 651, §3 (NEW).]
C. Except in the case of emergency vehicles, accompanied by words indicating accessibility by teletypewriter device, such as "TTY/Voice." [PL 1999, c. 651, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 1999, c. 651, §3 (NEW).]
5. Penalty. A violation of subsection 1 or 3 is a civil offense for which a forfeiture of up to $500 may be adjudged. A forfeiture may not be imposed under this subsection unless the person alleged to have violated subsection 1 received notification from the bureau director that the person’s promotion or advertisement of a number other than 9-1-1 for emergency response services is, in the opinion of the bureau director, a violation of subsection 1 or the person alleged to have violated subsection 3 received notification from the bureau director that the person's commercial use of the number 9-1-1 is, in the opinion of the bureau director, a violation of subsection 3. A person alleged to have violated either subsection 1 or 3 must be provided an opportunity to respond to a notification of violation prior to the filing of an action pursuant to this subsection.
[PL 2015, c. 62, §3 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1999, c. 651, §3 (NEW). PL 2015, c. 62, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 348, §38 (AMD).