Maine Statutes
§ 17-A §103 — Competing harms
Maine·Title 17-A MAINE CRIMINAL CODE·Part 1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES·Ch. 5 DEFENSES AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES; JUSTIFICATION
1.Conduct that the person believes to be necessary to avoid imminent physical harm to that person or another is justifiable if the desirability and urgency of avoiding such harm outweigh, according to ordinary standards of reasonableness, the harm sought to be prevented by the statute defining the crime charged. The desirability and urgency of such conduct may not rest upon considerations pertaining to the morality and advisability of such statute.
2.When the person was reckless or criminally negligent in bringing about the circumstances requiring a choice of harms or in appraising the necessity of the person's conduct, the justification provided in subsection 1 does not apply in a prosecution for any crime for which recklessness or criminal negligence, as the case may be, suffices to es
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Legislative History
PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 2007, c. 173, §18 (AMD).
Nearby Sections
15
§ 17 §1
Abduction of women§ 17 §1001
Penalty§ 17 §101
Penalty; cohabitation after divorce§ 17 §1011
Definitions§ 17 §1013
Unlawful production of motion pictures§ 17 §1015
Surcharge imposed§ 17 §1021
Possession of animals§ 17 §1022
Prevention of cruelty§ 17 §1023
Investigation and reporting of cruelty§ 17 §1024
Impeding the performance of an officer§ 17 §1025
Handling of animals seized or held§ 17 §1026
Penalty for violation