16 M.R.S. § 641
This is the official text of 16 M.R.S. § 641, part of Maine’s M.R.S — part of the compiled statutory law of Maine, published by the state as "M.R.S." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
16 §641. Definitions
Official statutory text
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).]
1. Adverse result. "Adverse result" means: A. Immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person; [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).] B. Flight from prosecution; [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).] C. Destruction of or tampering with evidence; [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).] D. Intimidation of a potential witness; [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).] E. Seriously jeopardizing an investigation; or [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).] F. Undue delay of a trial. [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).] G. [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (RP).] [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).]
2. Content information. "Content information," when used with respect to any wire, oral or electronic communication, includes any information concerning the substance, purport or meaning of that communication. [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).]
3. Electronic communication service. "Electronic communication service" means a service that provides to users the ability to send or receive spoken or electronic communications. [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).]
3-A. Electronic device. "Electronic device" means an electronic device that enables access to, or use of, an electronic communication service or remote computing service. [PL 2023, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]
4. Government entity. "Government entity" means a state or local government agency, including but not limited to a law enforcement entity or any other investigative entity, agency, department, division, bureau, board or commission or an individual acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of a state or local government agency. [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).]
5. Owner. "Owner" means the person or entity having the legal title, claim or right to an electronic device. [PL 2023, c. 499, §3 (AMD).]
6. Portable electronic device. [PL 2023, c. 499, §4 (RP).]
7. Remote computing service. "Remote computing service" means: A. The provision to the public over the Internet of on-demand computer storage; or [PL 2023, c. 499, §5 (NEW).] B. Processing services provided by means of an electronic communication service. [PL 2023, c. 499, §5 (NEW).] [PL 2023, c. 499, §5 (RPR).]
7-A. Serious physical injury. "Serious physical injury" means: A. Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death, serious, permanent disfigurement or loss or substantial impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ or extended convalescence for recovery of physical health; or [PL 2019, c. 489, §6 (NEW).] B. Any harm potentially caused by a violation of Title 17‑A, chapter 11 or Title 17‑A, section 282 , 301 , 302 or 303 . [PL 2019, c. 489, §6 (NEW).] [PL 2019, c. 489, §6 (NEW).]
8. User. "User" means a person or entity that uses an electronic device. [PL 2023, c. 499, §6 (AMD).]
Revisor's Note: §641. Definitions (As enacted by PL 2013, c. 409, §1 is REALLOCATED TO TITLE 16, SECTION 647)
1. Adverse result. "Adverse result" means: A. Immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person; [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).] B. Flight from prosecution; [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).] C. Destruction of or tampering with evidence; [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).] D. Intimidation of a potential witness; [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).] E. Seriously jeopardizing an investigation; or [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).] F. Undue delay of a trial. [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).] G. [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (RP).] [PL 2019, c. 489, §4 (AMD).]
2. Content information. "Content information," when used with respect to any wire, oral or electronic communication, includes any information concerning the substance, purport or meaning of that communication. [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).]
3. Electronic communication service. "Electronic communication service" means a service that provides to users the ability to send or receive spoken or electronic communications. [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).]
3-A. Electronic device. "Electronic device" means an electronic device that enables access to, or use of, an electronic communication service or remote computing service. [PL 2023, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]
4. Government entity. "Government entity" means a state or local government agency, including but not limited to a law enforcement entity or any other investigative entity, agency, department, division, bureau, board or commission or an individual acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of a state or local government agency. [PL 2013, c. 402, §1 (NEW).]
5. Owner. "Owner" means the person or entity having the legal title, claim or right to an electronic device. [PL 2023, c. 499, §3 (AMD).]
6. Portable electronic device. [PL 2023, c. 499, §4 (RP).]
7. Remote computing service. "Remote computing service" means: A. The provision to the public over the Internet of on-demand computer storage; or [PL 2023, c. 499, §5 (NEW).] B. Processing services provided by means of an electronic communication service. [PL 2023, c. 499, §5 (NEW).] [PL 2023, c. 499, §5 (RPR).]
7-A. Serious physical injury. "Serious physical injury" means: A. Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death, serious, permanent disfigurement or loss or substantial impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ or extended convalescence for recovery of physical health; or [PL 2019, c. 489, §6 (NEW).] B. Any harm potentially caused by a violation of Title 17‑A, chapter 11 or Title 17‑A, section 282 , 301 , 302 or 303 . [PL 2019, c. 489, §6 (NEW).] [PL 2019, c. 489, §6 (NEW).]
8. User. "User" means a person or entity that uses an electronic device. [PL 2023, c. 499, §6 (AMD).]
Revisor's Note: §641. Definitions (As enacted by PL 2013, c. 409, §1 is REALLOCATED TO TITLE 16, SECTION 647)
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Maine?
Find a Maine lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.