Maine's big in the blogosphere today for all the wrong reasons.

1. Dr. Helen alerts us that it's now a felony to look creepy in the vicinity of children in Maine.

2. Jacob Sullum at Hit and Run notices that Maine (and specifially Bangor) is leading the way in nanny-statism.

*Sigh*

Soon, you won't be able to show your face in public in Maine without violating a few laws.

UPDATE!!! : Apparently, item #1 is overstated. Dr. Helen followed up by contacting a Maine legislator's office who clarified that,...

the bill never punished mere staring or leering -- the defendant has to be touching or exposing himself, or doing something like looking over a bathroom stall wall.

a commenter in Dr. Helen's post links to the actual text of the bill confirming this.

So the law in question is not overly broad, just merely clarifying existing law as to indecent exposure to minors.

The source Dr. Helen originally learned of the law, Seacoast Online, was very sloppy in characterizing the law, and the reasons for it's passage.

Item #2 however, still stands.