Title 23, Title 23: Motor Vehicles

§ 3204a. Antique snowmobiles (a) The one-time registration fee for a snowmobile that is at least 25 years old and is used exclusively in exhibitions, parades, and public functions shall be $50.00. The registration process for snowmobiles registered under this section shall be the…

§ 3205. Snowmobile equipment; windshield; use of headlight; illegal noise level; exemption from equipment requirement (a) Snowmobile; required equipment. All snowmobiles shall be equipped with one or more operational: (1) headlight; (2) red rear light; (3) a fully functional brak…

§ 3206. Snowmobile operation (a) A person shall operate, or cause to be operated, a snowmobile only in accordance with this chapter. (b) A snowmobile shall not be operated: (1) Across or on a plowed public highway unless: (A) The crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 d…

§ 3207. Penalties and revocation or suspension of registration (a) A person who violates any of the following sections of this title shall be subject to a civil penalty of $35.00 for each violation: (b) A person who violates any of the following sections of this title shall be su…

§ 3207a. Snowmobiling under the influence of alcohol or drugs (a) A person shall not operate, attempt to operate, or be in actual physical control of a snowmobile on any lands, waters, or public highways of this State: (1) when the person’s alcohol concentration is 0.08 or more; …

§ 3207b. Preliminary screening device When a law enforcement officer has reason to believe that a person may be violating or has violated section 3207a of this title, the officer may request the person to provide a sample of breath for a preliminary screening test using a device …

§ 3207c. Implied consent Any person who operates, attempts to operate, or is in actual physical control of a snowmobile on any lands, waters, or public highways of this State is deemed to have given consent to the taking of more than one sample of his or her breath or blood for t…

§ 3207d. Permissive inferences Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by a person while operating, attempting to operate, or in actual physical control of a snowmobile on any lands, waters, or public highway…

§ 3207e. Refusal to submit to test If the person refuses to submit to an evidentiary test it shall not be given, but the refusal may be introduced as evidence in a criminal proceeding. (Added 1993, No. 234 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. Nov. 1, 1994.)

§ 3207f. Persons under 21 years of age; alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more (a) A person under the age of 21 who operates, attempts to operate, or is in actual physical control of a snowmobile on any lands, waters, or public highways of this State when the person’s alcohol conc…

§ 3208. Administration and enforcement (a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall administer the provisions of this subchapter, except as otherwise provided, and may adopt rules prescribing forms and procedures for application and registration as necessary to carry its provisio…

§ 3209. Defacing manufacturer identification and serial numbers A person shall not willfully change or attempt to change or tamper with, obliterate, deface, or in any manner interfere with the original or assigned motor number or manufacturer’s serial number of any snowmobile. (A…

§ 3209a. Placing and defacing trail signs (a) A landowner or VAST may place snowmobile trail signs, markers, or posters on or adjacent to a snowmobile trail maintained by VAST if the landowner has granted permission for use of the land and for placement of the signs, markers, or …

§ 3210. Municipal ordinances Municipalities shall have the power to adopt ordinances pursuant to 24 V.S.A. chapter 59 for the purpose of regulating the time, manner, and location of operation of snowmobiles within their limits, provided such ordinances do not controvert the provi…

§ 3211. Crashes; duty to stop and report (a) The operator of a snowmobile who has caused or is involved in a crash resulting in injury to any person or property, other than the snowmobile then under his or her control, shall immediately stop and render such assistance as may be r…

§ 3212. Attempting to elude a law enforcement officer An operator of a snowmobile shall bring the snowmobile to a stop and not attempt to elude a law enforcement officer when signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer wearing insignia identifying him or her as such, or operat…

§ 3213. Proof of payment of tax (a) No license, permits, registration, or similar authorization to own or operate any snowmobile shall be issued under this subchapter until proof of payment of or exemption from the tax imposed by 32 V.S.A. chapter 233 has been established in the …

§ 3214. Allocation of fees and penalties; liability insurance; authority to contract for law enforcement services (a) The amount of $5.00 from the sale of every resident and nonresident snowmobile registration shall be allocated to the Transportation Fund. The balance of fees and…

§ 3215. Expenditure plan VAST shall prepare a plan for the expenditure of funds for the SSTP that are allocated in section 3214 of this title and shall submit this plan to the Governor’s Snowmobile Council for its review, advice, and consent. The plan shall include provisions for…

§ 3216. Governor’s Snowmobile Council (a)(1) The Governor’s Snowmobile Council is created. The members of the Council shall consist of: (A) the President or designee of VAST; (B) the Secretary of Natural Resources or designee; (C) the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife or designee…

§ 3217. Liability insurance; trail maintenance The State may extend coverage of its liability insurance to parties under contract with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation for development and maintenance of the snowmobile trail system. Insurance coverage shall match th…

§ 3218. Law enforcement officer’s testimony In any proceeding under this subchapter, a law enforcement officer’s testimony that he or she is certified pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 2358 shall be prima facie evidence of that fact. (Added 1999, No. 20, § 12.)

§ 3219. Administrative penalties (a) The Commissioner may impose an administrative penalty of not more than $250.00 against VAST or its agent for each violation of this subchapter or the rules adopted under this subchapter. A penalty arising from a single violation may be assesse…

§ 3301. Declaration of policy It is the policy of this State to promote safety for persons and property in and connected with the use, operation, and equipment of vessels and to promote uniformity of laws relating to the use, operation, and equipment of vessels. (Added 1983, No. …

§ 3302. Definitions As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: (1) “All-round light” means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees. (2) “Holding tank” means a container or device designed to provide for th…

§ 3303. Operation of unnumbered motorboats prohibited Except for motorboats exempt from numbering under subdivisions 3307(a)(2)-(6) of this title, every motorboat on the waters of this State shall be numbered. A person shall not operate or give permission for the operation of any…

§ 3304. Classification Motorboats subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be divided into four classes as follows: Class A. Less than 16 feet in length. Class 1. 16 feet or over and less than 26 feet in length. Class 2. 26 feet or over and less than 40 feet in length. Cla…

§ 3305. Fees (a) An individual shall not operate a motorboat on the public waters of this State unless the motorboat has a valid marine document issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or any successor federal agency or is registered in accordance with this chapter. (b) Annu…

§ 3305a. Privilege to operate a vessel; suspension of privilege; minimum age for operation of a motorboat (a) An individual who meets the applicable requirements of this subchapter shall have the privilege to operate a vessel on the public waters of this State, as those waters ar…

§ 3305b. Boating safety education; rules (a) When required. An individual born after January 1, 1974 shall not operate a motorboat on the public waters of this State without first obtaining a certificate of boating education. (b) Possession of certificate. An individual who is re…

§ 3306. Lights and equipment (a) Every vessel shall carry and show the following lights, in the intensity prescribed under 33 C.F.R. § 83.22, as amended, when underway between sunset and sunrise and during other periods of restricted visibility: (1) Unpowered vessels. (A) A saili…

§ 3307. Exemption from Vermont numbering provisions (a) A motorboat is not required to have a Vermont number under this chapter if it is: (1) already covered by a number in effect that has been awarded to it under federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another st…

§ 3307a. Documented motorboat validation sticker (a) Annual validation required. (1) An owner of a motorboat that has been registered in another state under a federally approved numbering system, or that has a valid document issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border…

§ 3308. Boat liveries The owner of a boat livery shall cause to be kept a record of the name and address of the person or persons hiring any vessel that is designed or permitted by him or her to be operated as a motorboat and the identification number and the date and time of ren…

§ 3309. Muffling devices The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any motorboat shall be effectively muffled by equipment so constructed and used as to muffle the noise of the exhaust in a manner that reduces the maximum machine operating noise level to not more th…

§ 3310. Swimming areas (a) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or a municipality in administering a swimming beach or waterfront program may designate a swimming area in front of the beach or land that the State or a municipality owns or controls and may make rules …

§ 3311. Operation of vessels; prohibited acts; authority of law enforcement officers (a) Careless and negligent operation. An individual shall not operate any vessel or manipulate any water skis, surfboard, or similar device in a careless or negligent manner or in any manner to e…

§ 3312. Operations rules as between vessels (a) When two motorboats are approaching each other “head on” or in a manner so as to involve risk of collision, each motorboat shall bear to the right and pass the other motorboat on its left side. (b) When two vessels approach each oth…

§ 3312a. Operation of personal watercraft (a) An individual less than 16 years of age shall not operate a personal watercraft. (b) All individuals operating or riding on a personal watercraft shall wear a properly secured wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devi…

§ 3313. Collisions, crashes, and casualties (a) The operator of a vessel involved in a collision, crash, or other casualty, so far as he or she can do so without serious danger to his or her own vessel, crew, and passengers, shall render to other individuals affected by the colli…

§ 3314. Transmittal of information In accordance with any request duly made by an authorized official or agency of the United States, any information compiled or otherwise available to the Department of Motor Vehicles under subsection 3313(b) of this title shall be transmitted to…

§ 3315. Water skis and surfboards (a) Except as provided in this subsection, an individual shall not operate a vessel on any waters of this State to tow an individual or individuals on water skis, aquaplane, kite skis, wakeboard, kneeboard, or similar device unless the individual…

§ 3316. Regattas; races; marine parades; tournaments; water skiing events or exhibitions; triathlons (a) The Commissioner of Public Safety may authorize the holding of public regattas, motorboat or other vessel races, marine parades, tournaments, water skiing events, exhibitions,…

§ 3317. Penalties (a) Penalty; $50.00 maximum. A person who violates any of the following sections of this title shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $50.00 for each violation: (b) Penalty or fine; $300.00 or $1,000.00 maximum. A person who violates a requirement under …

§ 3318. Administration and enforcement (a) The administration of the provisions of this chapter, as they pertain to the registration and numbering of vessels and the suspension of the privilege to operate vessels, shall be the responsibility of the Department of Motor Vehicles. (…

§ 3319. Fees collected; special fund (a) There is hereby established a special fund to be known as the Motorboat Registration Fund for the purposes of ensuring that the fees and penalties collected under this subchapter are utilized in the protection and maintenance of the State’…