Restraining Orders

Maybe. If your order is not entered into the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) database (a national database of protection orders that some states keep records in), and you do not have a copy of your order with you when the police officer arrives, it may be difficult to for the ME police officer to make sure that your order is real. If the officer cannot verify that your order is real, s/he may not be able to enforce your order.

If you do not register your order, it is a good idea to keep a copy of your order with you at all times. If you do not register your order and you do not have a copy with you, you can ask officer who arrives on the scene to either call the court that issued your order or the law enforcement authority that gave you your order to verify it.

Note: If you have a copy of your protection order with you, and if it is listed in the NCIC, then it may not matter if your protection order is registered in Maine or not.

If you are unsure about whether registering your order is the right decision for you, you may want to contact a local domestic violence organization in your area. An advocate there can help you decide what the safest plan of action is for you in Maine. To see a list of local domestic violence organizations in ME, go to our ME Advocates and Shelters page.