A Summons Instead of Arrest
17-A M.R.S. § 15-A — a written summons to appear, and a promise to come signed on the spot
An officer with probable cause that a person committed a crime may hand that person a written summons to appear in court, on the Uniform Summons and Complaint, giving the alleged crime, its time and place, and the time, place and date to appear. The person signs a written promise to appear.
Who handles this in Maine: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.Holding a paper like this? Read my paper can read one for you, free with an account.
Refusing to sign is its own crime. A person who refuses to sign the summons after an officer orders it commits a Class E crime.
- A person getting a summons who intentionally will not give reasonably credible evidence of their correct name, address or date of birth, after the officer explains this rule, commits a Class E crime.
- While the officer checks evidence that does not seem credible, the person may be kept for up to 2 hours, which is not an arrest, and patted down for weapons if the officer reasonably believes safety requires it.
- If the name, address and date of birth turn out to have been accurate after an arrest under this rule, the person is released, and the record says that was why.
Sources for this section (1)
- 17-A M.R.S. § 15-A — Issuance of summons for criminal offense
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.