§ 2500 § 2500. Application to traffic violations
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to traffic violations 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. (Added 1989, No. 109, § 3, eff. July 1, 1990; amended 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 15.)
§ 2501 § 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. 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 the driver's driving record identifies the driver as an habitual offender under section 673a of this title. (Added 1977, No. 238 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 1979; amended 2005, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)
§ 2502 § 2502. Point assessment; schedule
(a) 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: (All references are to Title 23 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated.)
(1) Two points assessed for:
(A) § 601.
(B) License required;
§ 602.
(C) Exceptions for farm tractors and highway
equipment;
§ 611.
(D) Possession of license certificate;
§ 612.
(E) Restrictions of license;
§ 614.
(F) Rights under license;
§ 615.
(G) Unlicensed operators;
§ 1004.
(H) Interstate highway regulations;
§ 1008.
(I) Regulations in municipalities;
§ 1009.
(J) Restrictions on controlled-access roadway;
§§ 1021 and 1022.
(K) Failure to obey traffic-control signals;
§ 1024.
(L) Failure to obey flashing signals;
§ 1026.
(M) Failure to obey lane control signals;
§ 1031.
(N) Illegal driving to right;
§ 1032.
(O) Failure to keep to the right of center
when meeting oncoming traffic;
§ 1037.
(P) One-way roadways and rotaries;
§ 1038.
(Q) Driving on roadways laned for traffic;
§ 1041.
(R) Restricted access roadways;
§ 1046.
(S) Failure to yield right-of-way at
intersection;
§ 1047.
(T) Failure to turn to left properly;
§ 1048.
(U) Failure to stop or yield at intersections;
§ 1049.
(V) Failure of vehicle to yield right-of-way
when entering from private road;
§ 1053.
(W) Failure to exercise due care;
§ 1059.
(X) Driving through safety zone;
§ 1061.
(Y) Illegal turning at intersections;
§ 1062.
(Z) Turning prohibited;
§ 1063.
(AA Unsafe starting of parked vehicle;
)
§ 1064.
(BB Failure to use required signals;
)
§ 1065.
(CC Improper use of hand signals;
)
§ 1071.
(DD Illegal driving on or near railroad grade
) crossing;
§ 1072.
(EE Failure to stop at railroad crossings;
)
§ 1073.
(FF Improper crossing at a railroad grade by
) heavy equipment;
§ 1074.
(GG Improper emerging from driveway;
)
§ 1081.
(HH Basic rule and maximum limits;
)
§ 1082.
(II Slow-moving vehicles;
)
§ 1083.
(JJ Special speed limitations;
)
§ 1092.
(KK Damaging surface of road;
)
§ 1093.
(LL Smokescreen device;
)
§ 1095.
(MM Operating with television set installed;
)
§ 1099.
(NN Texting prohibited - first offense;
)
§ 1113.
(OO Illegal backing;
)
§ 1114.
(PP Illegal riding on motorcycles;
)
§ 1115.
(QQ Illegal operation of motorcycles on
) roadways laned for traffic;
§ 1116.
(RR Clinging to other vehicles;
)
§ 1117.
(SS Illegal footrests and handlebars;
)
§ 1118.
(TT Obstructing the driver's view;
)
§ 1119.
(UU Improper opening and closing vehicle doors;
)
§ 1121.
(VV Coasting prohibited;
)
§ 1122.
(WW Following fire apparatus prohibited;
)
§ 1123.
(XX Driving over fire hose;
)
§ 1124.
(YY Position of operator;
)
§ 1127.
(ZZ Unsafe control in presence of horses and
) cattle;
§ 1131.
(AA Failure to give warning signal;
A)
§ 1132.
(BB Illegal driving on sidewalk;
B)
§ 1243.
(CC Lighting requirements;
C)
§ 1256.
(DD Motorcycle headgear;
D)
§ 1257.
(EE Face protection;
E)
§ 800.
(FF Operating without financial responsibility;
F)
All other moving violations which have no
specified points;
(2) Three points assessed for:
(A) § 1033.
(B) Illegal passing on the left;
§ 1034.
(C) Illegal passing on the right;
§ 1035.
(D) Limitations on passing;
§ 1036.
(E) No passing zone;
§ 1039.
(F) Following too closely;
§ 1040.
Improper driving on divided highway;
(3) Four points assessed for:
(A) § 1012.
(B) Failure to obey enforcement officer;
§ 1013.
(C) Authority of enforcement officers;
§ 1051.
(D) Failure to yield to pedestrian;
§ 1057.
Failure to yield to blind persons;
(4) Five points assessed for:
(A) § 1050.
(B) Failure to yield to emergency vehicles;
§ 1075.
(C) Illegal passing of school bus;
§ 1099.
(D) Texting prohibited - second and subsequent
offenses;
Deleted;
(5) Ten points assessed for:
(A) Deleted;
(B) § 1091.
(C) Negligent operation;
§ 1094.
(D) Operation without owner's consent and
aggravated operation without owner's
consent;
§ 1128.
(E) Failure to stop when involved in an
accident;
§ 1133.
Attempting to elude a police officer;
(6) Two points assessed for sections 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, less than 10 miles per hour over and in excess of speed limit;
(7) Three points assessed for sections 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, more than 10 miles per hour over and in excess of speed limit;
(8) Five points assessed for sections 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, more than 20 miles per hour over and in excess of speed limit;
(9) Eight points assessed for sections 1003 and 1007. State speed zones and local speed limits, more than 30 miles per hour over and in excess of the speed limit.
(b) 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. (Added 1977, No. 238 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 1979; amended 1985, No. 77, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1986; No. 85 § 9; 1989, No. 68, § 9, eff. Dec. 1, 1989; No. 109, § 4, eff. July 1, 1990; 1991, No. 55, §§ 14, 15; 1999, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2009, No. 150 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2011, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)
§ 2503 § 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. (Added 1977, No. 238 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 1979; amended 1979, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 2504 § 2504. Repealed. 1997, No. 55, § 11(2), eff. June 26, 1997.
§ 2505 § 2505. Suspension or revocation of license
When a person receives a number of convictions for moving violations sufficient to raise his or her point total to at least 10 points in a two-year period, the commissioner shall initiate suspension proceedings pursuant to section 2506 of this title. (Added 1977, No. 238 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 1979; amended 1979, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
§ 2506 § 2506. Procedure
When a sufficient number of points has 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. 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 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 da
ys. (Added 1977, No. 238 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 1979; amended 1979, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1981, No. 229 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2011, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)
§ 2507 § 2507. Legislative review
(a) Prior to September 15 of every year, the commissioner of motor vehicles or the chair 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.
(b) Legislation may be introduced on the operations and point values assigned under this chapter in any legislative year, provisions on reconsideration notwithstanding. (Added 1977, No. 238 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 1979; amended 1981, No. 229 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)