Maine state law: overnight parking and winter parking bans

Maine state vehicle law (Title 29-A) does not impose a uniform statewide rule prohibiting overnight on-street parking. The statewide baseline of 29-A MRS § 2068 (Stopping, standing or parking) requires that any parked vehicle leave a 10-foot clear width and a 300-foot approach sight line and prohibits parking in violation of any sign posted by the Department of Transportation. Beyond that, overnight parking rules are entirely municipal under 30-A MRS § 3001 (Ordinance Power) and 23 MRS § 2952 (Town way snow removal — authorizing municipal snow ordinances). Almost every Maine municipality with measurable winter snowfall (i.e. essentially every municipality outside the immediate coast) operates some form of winter parking ban — typically November 1 through April 1 or November 15 through April 15, prohibiting on-street parking between 10 PM (or midnight) and 6 or 7 AM to allow plows to clear curb-to-curb. Many municipalities issue overnight winter permits, designate municipal lots for overnight parking during storms, and tow violators. Outside winter-ban hours, year-round overnight on-street parking limits, alternate-side rules, and residential permit zones are also set by municipal ordinance. Per 29-A MRS § 2074 a law-enforcement officer may have a violating vehicle removed.

Winter parking ban violations: municipal fines typically $25-$100 per offense, with the vehicle towed at the owner's expense (commonly $150-$300 plus storage). Sustained or repeat violations may carry escalating fines under the local ordinance. Year-round overnight parking violations are enforced by the local police or Parking Enforcement Office under the municipal parking ordinance schedule.