Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors

Maine Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor’s Program

Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors (TSRPs) coordinate an inter-agency, multidisciplinary approach to the investigation and prosecution of impaired driving and other traffic crimes. They do so by providing training, education, and technical support to prosecutors and law enforcement personnel throughout their states and encouraging positive information-sharing relationships and interagency cooperation to increase the effectiveness of traffic safety crime investigation and prosecution throughout Maine.

The TSRP program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and coordinated through the cooperative efforts of The National Traffic Law Center and the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators. Currently, there are TSRPs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety provides the guidance and funding for Maine’s TSRP positions. Maine’s program is administered by Dirigo Safety, LLC, a contractor for the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.   

Scot Mattox
Senior Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor
scot.mattox@maine.gov
(207) 200-1112 Ext. 9

Joshua Saucier
Assistant Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor
joshua.saucier@maine.gov
(207) 200-1112 Ext. 6

TSRP Services Available for Maine Traffic Safety Partners

  1. Assistance as requested with investigations and prosecutions on anything in 29-A M.R.S especially:
    1. Impaired (alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs) driving crimes including fatal crashes.
    2. Traffic safety crime conflict cases.
    3. Traffic safety cases with novel issues.
    4. Novel issue appeals (i.e., not just sufficiency of evidence etc.).
  2. Fatal Crash review and charging decision discussion.
  3. Assist with resources – research, expert witness review, case issue analysis.
  4. Provide technical and specialty knowledge regarding police procedures, training, etc.
  5. Training on any highway safety issue desired.
  6. Liaison between law enforcement agencies and prosecutors on traffic-related criminal investigations.
  7. Email and phone consultations.

Traffic Safety Partners Include:

National Traffic Safety Partners:

  • Other State TSRPs, LELs, JOLs, law enforcement and prosecutors
  • The National Traffic Law Center
  • The National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • American Bar Association

Maine Traffic Safety Partners:

  • Bureau of Highway Safety (MeBHS)
    • Including any outside agency requested at the direction of the Maine BHS.
  • Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA)
  • All Law Enforcement Agencies
  • The Prosecutor’s Association
  • Bureau of Motor Vehicle Hearings Examiners
  • Health and Environmental Testing Lab
  • Chiefs of Police Association
  • Sheriff’s Association
  • State Legislators as designated by the MeBHS
Resource Materials

Hearsay, the Confrontation Clause & Lab Testing: The Principles Behind Smith v. Arizona in DUI Cases
Presented By: Joshua Saucier

For years in DUI cases, many states used, without issue, “substitute” forensic witnesses, who would testify about both the chemical testing performed by another person and the results of that testing. Then, in 2024, the United States Supreme Court decided Smith v. Arizona, 602 U.S. 779 (2024), which drew into question some of these practices. While not specifically detailing Smith itself, this course will delve into issues presented by Smith and how it may impact our DUI cases. The class is designed for laboratory personnel, law enforcement officers and attorneys so that they can have a better understanding of this issue and how it could impact their DUI cases. It will start with background information from both disciplines: attorneys and law enforcement officers will learn about the basics of the chemical testing process, and laboratory personnel will learn about hearsay. Both groups will learn about the Confrontation Clause and how to apply the principles of hearsay and confrontation to the laboratory files. Students should leave with a better understanding of the principles behind Smith v. Arizona and how to apply those principles to future DUI cases. This session is designed for Prosecutors, Agency Legal Advisors and any LEO or Toxicologist that deals with DUI/Traffic Enforcement. 

Video Link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/5309026428264294747

Cannabis Studies Traffic Safety Professionals Need to Know: This is a 90-minute presentation that Josh and I created for both the IACP Impaired Driving Conference this past summer in Washington DC, where we presented it in person, and more recently online for the TSRP Traffic Tuesday series. It’s a summary of recent research on cannabis impairment detection and provides information about which field sobriety tests are sensitive to cannabis impairment according to the scientific community.

DATE/TIME: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 / 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern 
PRESENTERS: Scot Mattox & Joshua Saucier – Maine TSRPs 
VIDEO LINK: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/209098458614419635

Maine OUI Guide Final (PDF) - 2024 Update
Cannabis Violations Visual Chart (PDF)
Suggested Cannabis Impaired Driving Investigation Techniques for SFST Trained Officers (PDF)
Cannabis Studies Presentation Sources: Sept. 2024 (PDF)
Vehicular Manslaughter (PDF)
Recreational Marijuana - Impacts on Public Health & Safety (PDF) - June 2025 Update

Relevant Articles and Essays