On March 20, 2025, KRZ Attorney Lauri Boxer-Macomber won an appeal brought before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (sitting as the Law Court) on behalf of Christopher Ray, a bicycle rider who was improperly ticketed for not riding to the far right. The Law Court’s full opinion in State v. Ray can be found here.
Boxer-Macomber was pleased to see Maine’s highest court vacate the decision of the trial court against Mr. Ray. The Supreme Court’s decision sends an important reminder to law enforcement, trial courts, and the public that Maine law affords bicyclists extensive freedom to choose where to safely ride.
The decision also calls on the Maine Legislature to improve the text of the “riding to the right” statute (section 2063 of the Maine Motor Vehicle and Traffic Code). Although Boxer-Macomber believes most of the statute is unambiguous, she agrees that the Legislature could take this opportunity to offer more explicit protections and guidance for bicyclists and drivers. In the meantime, the statute makes it clear that there are many circumstances where riders may lawfully elect to ride in places other than the far right of the roadway.
Boxer-Macomber hopes that the State v. Ray decision will encourage bicyclists, drivers, police, district attorneys and others to familiarize themselves with section 2063 of the Motor Vehicle and Traffic Code and other bicycle safety laws so that there are fewer incidents of harm and conflict on Maine’s roadways in the future.