By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – Starting in September, a list of Maine’s 100 worst drivers may be given to police as part of stepped-up efforts to get deadly drivers off Maine roads.

The 100 people on that who’s who of dangerous drivers in Maine “would be the worst of the worst,” Deputy Secretary of State Chip Gavin said. “We’re talking about people with repeated, multiple, perpetual violator records. People with multiple convictions, multiple suspensions, who are still out there,” Gavin said.

The top 100 would be a fraction of the 8,600 who lost their licenses last year in Maine, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap told a task force meeting Thursday at the State House.

The proposed top-100 list was one of more than nine preliminary recommendations by a task force dealing with the problem of deadly drivers who refuse to stop driving even though their licenses have been suspended.

The committee, called for by Gov. John Baldacci, is part of the aftermath of a fatal Maine Turnpike crash. On July 29, Caribou trucker Scott Hewitt’s tractor-trailer crushed a car driven by Tina Turcotte, 40, of Scarborough. Turcotte died several days later. At the time of the crash, Hewitt was driving with a suspended license and had more than 19 suspensions and 42 driving convictions. Eight days later, Hewitt was again arrested for driving after suspension in Presque Isle.

The crash and Hewitt’s record started a firestorm and focused state leaders on finding ways to get habitual and dangerous drivers off Maine roads.

Other ideas that received preliminary approval Thursday by the task force include:

• Strengthening fines and jail sentences to those who habitually drive after their licenses are suspended.

• Taking away someone’s license for life.

• Making it a crime for someone who contributed to a crash or fatality while driving with a suspended license.

• Immobilizing vehicles used by habitual offenders through the so-called “Denver boot.”

• Asking Maine’s Motor Carrier Review Board to review whether the trucking industry should take any new steps to ensure safe drivers.

Police at Thursday’s meeting said they liked the idea of getting a list of the 100 worst drivers every quarter, saying it would be a tool that would help them.

Police also said they’d like to share that list with the public. The public could play a big role in telling them about people driving who shouldn’t be, Maine State Police Col. Craig Poulin said. However, before that’s done, officials must ensure they’re not violating a federal law that limits public information about drivers’ records.

Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion agreed with Poulin that the public wants to help. After his call for the public’s help, Poulin’s office has in recent weeks received numerous e-mails, calls and letters from residents telling them about people illegally driving. One example was a man arrested and jailed this week for illegally driving after a resident contacted deputies. “We did get him off the road,” Dion said. “He has 14 suspensions, eight of them active. He had been involved in drunk driving, accidents.”

After compiling a list of the worst drivers in the county, Dion’s department launched “strike force operations” targeting habitual offenders.

“It’s important to take the drunk driver off the road. But if he or she learns once suspended they can (drive), we’ve lost what we’ve gained in the original arrest. We need to do random deterrent enforcement.”

The task force is planning to give its preliminary report to the governor on Monday. As planned, the proposals will be posted on Baldacci’s Web page for public feedback before legislation is proposed next year.

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