CCW in Restaurants: Maine

[OF]

Folks,

I know I should be contacting a lawyer, and I will soon. But I figured it was worth the time to ask here first: It was my understanding (via packing.org and others) that in the state of Maine, you could not carry in establishments licensed for on-premesis consumption of liquor.

This is the typical sentence I ran into describing places off limits: "Establishment licensed for on-premesis consumption of liquor."

This was, obviously, a major bummer, as one of the only reasons I ever go into the city (Portland in this case) is to go out for a nice dinner.

However, upon careful perusal of the actual law as written, it appears to me that to bar me and my heater, the establishment must be 'posted to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of patrons' or I must be 'under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs or with an excessive blood-alcohol level'. I see no restriction on carrying, say, sober in an unposted restaurant that serves alcohol.

So, as long as the place isn't conspicuously posted, and I'm not drunk, it's me and roscoe out for a night on the town, right?

Any thoughts?

Thanks folks,

- Gabe


http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec1057.html

Title 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODE
Part 2: SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES
Chapter 43: WEAPONS

§1057. Possession of firearms in an establishment licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor

1. A person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm if:
A. Not being a law enforcement officer or a private investigator licensed under Title 32, chapter 89 and actually performing as a private investigator, the person possesses any firearm on the premises of a licensed establishment posted to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of patrons, in violation of the posted prohibition or restriction; or [1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

B. While under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs or with an excessive blood-alcohol level, the person possesses a firearm in a licensed establishment. [1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]
[1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

2. For the purposes of this section, "licensed establishment" means a licensed establishment as defined by Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, the license for which is held by an on-premise retail licensee, as defined by Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 27, paragraph B. For the purposes of this section, "premises" has the same meaning as set forth in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 24. [1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

3. It is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection 1 that the person holds a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued under Title 25, chapter 252. [1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

4. A law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that a person has violated subsection 1, paragraph B, may require that person to submit to chemical testing to determine blood-alcohol level or drug concentration. If the court is satisfied that the law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe that the defendant was in violation of subsection 1, paragraph B, and that the person was informed of the requirement to submit to chemical testing, the person's failure to comply with the requirement to submit to chemical testing is admissible evidence on the issue of whether that person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. [1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

5. For purposes of this section, "under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs or with an excessive blood-alcohol level" has the same meaning as "under the influence of intoxicants" as defined in Title 29-A, section 2401, subsection 13. "Excessive blood-alcohol level" means 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol in the blood. Standards, tests and procedures applicable in determining whether a person is under the influence or has an excessive blood-alcohol level within the meaning of this section are those applicable pursuant to Title 29-A, sections 2411 and 2431; except that the suspension of a permit to carry concealed firearms issued pursuant to Title 25, chapter 252, or of the authority of a private investigator licensed to carry a concealed firearm pursuant to Title 32, chapter 89, is as provided in those chapters. [1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §57 (amd); §153 (aff); Pt. C, §15 (aff).]

6. Criminal possession of a firearm is a Class D crime. In addition, as part of every judgment of conviction and sentence imposed, the court shall:
A. Revoke any permit to carry a concealed firearm issued to the person so convicted; and [1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

B. If the person so convicted is licensed as a private investigator, suspend for a period of 5 years that person's right as a private investigator to carry a concealed firearm. [1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

A person convicted of a violation of this section is not eligible to obtain or apply for a permit to carry a concealed firearm for 5 years from the date of that conviction.

[1989, c. 917, §2 (new).]

 

[Blackhawk]

Seems like you've got it figured out about right, Gabe.

However, I'm not a Mainiac (okay, okay, I'm not a N'oreaster)....