Vermont DUI Information

The details of DUI in Vermont can be found in the “Title 23" of Vermont law statutes 23 V.S.A 1201 which restricts operating motor vehicle under the influence of liquor or any other substance or criminal refusal.

Summary of Title 23 Vermont DUI law:

1201, deals with the Operation of motor vehicles under the influence of liquor.

An individual is not allowed to operate, or be in physical control of any vehicle on a highway.

1.    when the individual does not behave normally under the influence of liquor;
2.    when the alcohol concentration is 0.08 or more or 0.02 or more than that and if the person is operating  school bus as defined in subdivision 4(34) of this title.
3.    when the individual under the control of any other drug related substance or under the combined influence of alcohol or any other drug is affected to a degree which renders the person incapable of safe driving or
4.    When the alcohol concentration of a person is 0.04 or more and the individual is in charge of operating a vehicle is defined in subdivision 4103(4).

Vermont DUI Records

To obtain a driving record or the motor vehicle record (MVR), an individual will have to submit a request by filling out the “Record Request form” which is available from the official website of the Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation): http://dmv.vermont.gov/safety/violations/records; with the requisite fee.

To get the certified copy of the operating record for 3 consecutive years, you will have to pay a fee of $11.00. In case of a certified copy of full operating record, you will have to pay a fee of $16.00, a fee of $10.00 is required for a certified copy of an individual accident report, to receive a certified copy in the mail version the fee is $6.00, for police accident report the charge is $15.00.

For bulk purchasers, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles has started online access of the Vermont motor vehicle records. To access this service the users will have to submit an “Agreement as to the Driver Privacy Protection Policy” form along with an agreement of the subscriber with the “Vermont Information Consortium” which is available on the official website of the department. All the records get disseminated through the Vermont Information Consortium. The details pertaining to the forms and the procedures of becoming a subscriber for purchasing bulk records is available on https://secure.vermont.gov/DMV/mvr/help/.

One can contact the Vermont Information Consortium and the Department of Motor Vehicles respectively at 802 229 4171 and 802 828 2000.

Vermont Drunk Driving Cases

An individual arrested for Vermont DUI needs to take immediate action. You may lose your driving license if you do not request for a Department of Motor Vehicles hearing. You can also seek the help of a qualified attorney to request your hearing. Persons arrested on Vermont DUI charges not only face DMV hearing but are also heard by the  criminal court of law.

Under Vermont DUI, drunk driving can be proved in two ways.

-To show that the driver was unable to drive as he was impaired by the consumption of alcohol. This shows that, if your physical appearance, field sobriety test, driving pattern indicates that you are drunk, then you can be convicted.
-Through the state’s per se laws, which states that no matter how well you are driving, you are guilty of Vermont DUI, if your blood alcohol content is 0.08 or more.

Fines and Penalties

The courts have the right to look back on the individual’s driving history in Vermont DUI cases. There is no limit on how far back one’s driving history goes in Vermont, so if you have ever been charged with DUI in any state, it will increase your penalties.

Vermont DUI first offense

-Driver license suspension for 6 months
-Jail time up to 2 years
-Alcohol and drug rehabilitation and education program
-Up to $750 in fines.

Vermont DUI second offense

-Alcohol and drug rehabilitation and education program
-200 hours of community service
-Up to $1500 in service
-Up to 2 years in jail
-Drivers license suspension for 18 months.

Vermont DUI third offense

-Alcohol and drug rehabilitation and treatment
-Lifetime drivers license suspension
-400 hours of community service
-Up to $2500 in fines
-Up to 5 years in jail.

All the expenses incurred for court case and the charges for the reinstatement of ones license will be one’s own responsibility. Vermont DUI will cause your insurance rates to go high and it can make you lose your current insurance company if the company do not offer SR22 insurance policies and the details regarding any forms and instruction related to these can be available at http://dmv.vermont.gov/forms; which is the official site for Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. You can also contact the office of the DMV at The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles located at 120 State Street, Montpelier, VT- 05603-0001 or you can email for any information and queries at CommissionersOffice@state.vt.us, you can also contact the customer care help desk at 802-828-2000.

One can also get information regarding safety and enforcement information at http://dmv.vermont.gov/safety.

Motor Vehicle Safety Chief:  Captain William Elovirta, Phone: 802-828-2078 Email: William.Elovirta@state.vt.us.

Administrative Coordinator:  Kathy Codling, Phone: 802-828-4641 Email: Kathy.Codling@state.vt.us.