Vermont Auto Driving Laws

Chapter 25: Motor Vehicle Violations; Point System

2500. Application to traffic violations

In accordance with Vermont driving law, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to violations of Vermont traffic laws covered under chapter 24 of this title and for that purpose a determination by the judicial bureau that a person has committed a traffic violation, whether by admission, no contest, determination after hearing, or entry of a default judgment, shall be deemed a conviction under this chapter.

2501. Motor vehicle point system

For the purpose of identifying habitually reckless or negligent drivers and frequent violators of traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles a uniform system is established assigning demerit points for convictions of violations of this title, or of ordinances adopted by local authorities regulating the operation of motor vehicles.

Notice of each assessment of points may be given, but notice is required when the point accumulation reaches 50 percent of the number at which suspension is authorized. No points shall be assessed for violating a provision of a statute or municipal ordinance regulating standing, parking, equipment, size, or weight.

The conviction report from the court shall be prima facie evidence of the points assessed. The department is also authorized to suspend the license of a driver when his driving record identifies him as an habitual offender under section 673a of this title.

2502. Point assessment; schedule

Under Vermont driving law, any person operating a motor vehicle shall have points assessed against his or her driving record for convictions for moving violations of the indicated motor vehicle statutes in accord with the following schedule:

In accordance with Vermont driving law, two points will be assessed for violation of the following Vermont traffic laws:

• 601. License required;
• 602. Exceptions for farm tractors and highway equipment;
• 611. Possession of license certificate;
• 612. Restrictions of license;
• 614. Rights under license;
• 615. Unlicensed operators;
• 1004. Interstate highway regulations;
• 1008. Regulations in municipalities;
• 1009. Restrictions on controlled-access roadway;
• 1021. Failure to obey traffic-control and 1022. signals;
• 1024. Failure to obey flashing signals;
• 1026. Failure to lane control signals;
• 1031. Illegal driving to right;
• 1032. Failure to keep to the right of center when meeting oncoming traffic;
• 1037. One-way roadways and rotaries;
• 1038. Driving on roadways laned for traffic;
• 1041. Restricted access roadways;
• 1046. Failure to yield right-of-way at intersection;
• 1047. Failure to turn to left properly;
• 1048. Failure to stop or yield at intersections;
• 1049. Failure of vehicle to yield right-of-way when entering from private road;
• 1053. Failure to exercise due care;
• 1059. Driving through safety zone;
• 1061 Illegal turning at intersections;
• 1062. Turning prohibited;
• 1063. Unsafe starting of parked vehicle;
• 1064. Failure to use required signals;
• 1065. Improper use of hand signals;
• 1071. Illegal driving on or near railroad grade crossing;
• 1072. Failure to stop at railroad crossings;
• 1073. Improper crossing at a railroad grade by heavy equipment;
• 1074. Improper emerging from driveway;
• 1081. Basic rule and maximum limits;
• 1082. Slow-moving vehicles;
• 1083. Special speed limitations;
• 1092. Damaging surface of road;
• 1093. Smokescreen device;
• 1095. Operating with television set installed;
• 1113. Illegal backing;
• 1114. Illegal riding on motorcycles;
• 1115. Illegal operation of motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic;
• 1116. Clinging to other vehicles;
• 1117. Illegal footrests and handlebars;
• 1118. Obstructing the driver's view;
• 1119. Improper opening and closing vehicle doors;
• 1121. Coasting prohibited;
• 1122. Following fire apparatus prohibited;
• 1123. Driving over fire hose;
• 1124. Position of operator;
• 1127. Unsafe control in presence of horses;
• 1131. Failure to give warning signal;
• 1132. Illegal driving on sidewalk;
• 1243. Lighting requirements;
• 1256. Motorcycle headgear;
• 1257. Face protection;
• 800. Operating without financial responsibility;
• All other moving violations which have no specified points.

In accordance with Vermont driving law, three points will be assessed for:

• 1033. Illegal passing on the left;
• 1034. Illegal passing on the right;
• 1035. Limitations on passing;
• 1036. No passing zone;
• 1039. Following too closely;
• 1040. Improper driving on divided highway;

In accordance with Vermont driving law, four points will be assessed for:

• 1012. Failure to obey enforcement officer;
• 1013. Authority of enforcement officers;
• 1051. Failure to yield to pedestrian;
• 1057. Failure to yield to blind persons;

In accordance with Vermont driving law, five points will be assessed for:

• 1050. Failure to yield to emergency vehicles;
• 1075. Illegal passing of school bus;
• 676. Operating after suspension, revocation or refusal - civil violation;

In accordance with Vermont driving law, ten points will be assessed for:

• 674. Operating after suspension or revocation of license;
• 1091. Negligent operation;
• 1094. Operation without owner's consent and aggravated operation without owner's consent;
• 1128. Failure to stop when involved in an accident;
• 1133. Attempting to elude a police officer;

In accordance with Vermont driving law, two points will be assessed for 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, less than 10 miles per hour over and in excess of speed limit;

In accordance with Vermont driving law, three points will be assessed for 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, more than 10 miles per hour over and in excess of speed limit;

In accordance with Vermont driving law, five points assessed for 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, more than 20 miles per hour over and in excess of speed limit;

In accordance with Vermont driving law, eight points assessed for 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, more than 30 miles per hour over and in excess of the speed limit.

In accordance with Vermont driving law, two additional points shall be assessed for any violation which has resulted in an accident which was the fault of the violator, provided that before these additional points are added a determination on fault must have been made.

2503. Recording assessments

Points shall remain assessed against the driving record of any person for a period of two years from the date of conviction of violations of Vermont traffic laws.

2505. Suspension or revocation of license

When a person receives a number of convictions for moving violations sufficient to raise his point total to at least ten points in a two-year period, the commissioner shall initiate suspension proceedings pursuant to section 2506 of this title.

2506. Procedure

When a sufficient number of points have been acquired, the commissioner shall suspend the license of an operator or the privilege of an unlicensed person, or nonresident to operate a motor vehicle, upon not less than 10 days' notice, and upon hearing, if requested for verification of the conviction records.

In accordance with Vermont driving law, the suspension shall be for:

• 10 days for an accumulation of 10 points,
• 30 days for 15 points,
• 90 days for 20 points and for a period increasing by 30 days for each additional 5 points except
• the suspension period for a conviction for first offense of sections 674, 1091, 1094, 1128, and 1133 of this title shall be 30 days;
• for a second conviction 90 days and
• for a third or subsequent six months, or the suspension period under the point values, whichever is greater.

If a fatality occurs, the suspension shall be for a period of one year in addition to the suspension under the point values. For purposes of this section, a month shall be considered as 30 days and one year shall equal 365 days.

2507. Legislative review

Prior to September 15 of every year, the commissioner of motor vehicles or the chairman of either the house transportation committee or the senate highways and traffic committee may request a meeting in joint session to review the operations and point values assigned under this chapter.

In accordance with Vermont driving law, legislation may be introduced on the operations and point values assigned under this chapter in any legislative year, provisions on reconsideration notwithstanding.

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