The Vermont Statutes Online
Title 23: Motor Vehicles
Chapter 29: SNOWMOBILES
§ 3201. Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Commissioner" means commissioner of motor vehicles unless otherwise stated.
(2) "Department" means department of motor vehicles unless otherwise stated.
(3) "Operate" includes an attempt to operate and shall be construed to cover all matters and things connected with the presence and use of snowmobiles whether they be at motion or rest.
(4) "Secretary" means the secretary of the agency of natural resources.
(5) "Snowmobile" means a self-propelled vehicle intended for off-road travel primarily on snow, having a curb weight of not more than 793.783 kg (1,750 lbs.); driven by track or tracks in contact with the snow and steered by a ski or skis in contact with the snow. The maximum width of a snowmobile shall be no more than 48 inches. An all-terrain vehicle converted to operate with tracks shall not be considered to be a snowmobile.
(6) "VAST" means the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers.
(7) "Trails maintenance assessment" (TMA) means a permit issued by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc. granting use of Vermont snowmobile trails on public and private land. TMAs shall be issued in three different classifications: Vermont resident snowmobiles, nonresident snowmobiles, and commercial operation.
(8) "Public land" means all land that is either owned or controlled by a local, state or federal governmental body.
(9) "Commercial operation" means the operation of a snowmobile on the SSTS by an individual participating in a guided tour or who has rented a snowmobile from an individual or corporate entity charging a fee for the tour or rental.
(10) "Direct supervision" means sufficiently close and able to control, by communicating visually or orally, the operation of a snowmobile by an operator under 16 years of age, taking into account the noise created by snowmobiles and protective headgear worn by the operator.
(11) "Tour" means a snowmobile ride led by a guide or leader over a defined route or routes lasting anywhere from one-half hour to less than a day, and participated in by one or more individuals that have paid a fee to an individual or corporate entity for the privilege of riding a snowmobile.
(12) "Closed season" shall be defined as the time from April 16 to the Sunday in December preceding the third Monday. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1987, No. 76, § 18; 1993, No. 234 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1994; 1995, No. 64 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 2, eff. Jan. 30, 1996; 1997, No. 3, § 1, eff. March 8, 1997; 1999, No. 20, §§ 2, 3; 2001, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 12, 2002; 2003, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 2.)
§ 3202. Registration required; exceptions for governmental entities on land owned by operator, or with landowner consent
(a) Registration and decal required. A person shall not operate a snowmobile unless registered and numbered by the state of Vermont or other state or province and displays a valid Vermont trails maintenance assessment decal adjacent to the registration decal on the left side of the snowmobile in accordance with this chapter, except when operated:
(1) on the property of the owner of the snowmobile; or
(2) off the highway, in a ski area while being used for the purpose of packing snow or in rescue operations; or
(3) for official use by a federal, state or municipal agency and only if the snowmobile is identified with the name or seal of the agency in a manner approved by the commissioner; or
(4) solely on privately-owned land when the operator has the written consent of the owner, or his or her agent, of the property; or
(5) on frozen bodies of water as designated by the agency of natural resources under the provisions of 10 V.S.A. § 2607. For purposes of this subdivision, a snowmobile shall not be required to display a trails maintenance assessment decal if not operating on a portion of the statewide snowmobile trails system. Liability insurance as provided for in subdivision 3206(b)(19) of this title and a valid registration decal are required; or
(6) for emergency use by fire service personnel.
(b) Registration period. The registration year for snowmobiles is from September 1 to August 31.
(c) Use of snowmobile on public or private lands. The registration of a snowmobile does not in and by itself constitute a license to cross or operate a snowmobile on public or private lands.
(d) Equipment condition and number. A snowmobile which does not comply with the provisions of section 3205 of this title or which has had its motor or serial number altered may not be registered by the commissioner.
(e) Special provisions for certain areas of operation; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New York; Province of Quebec. A legally registered snowmobile, from any adjacent state or Province which provides the same reciprocity to Vermont, may enter this state by using a portion of the statewide snowmobile trail system, a public right-of-way open to snowmobiles, or private land that is posted open to snowmobiles, for a distance not to exceed three miles for the sole purpose of accessing the closest food, fuel, lodging and repair services, and, at a point three miles from the state line, trails shall be posted "VT TMA Required Beyond This Point". In Addison, Bennington and Rutland counties, licensed snowmobiles from reciprocating jurisdictions may operate from the New York border to Poultney village via corridor trail 4A (Delaware Hudson Rail Trail); from the New York border in Pawlet in the north to the New York border in the south in the town of Rupert (13 miles) along corridor trail 4; and from Lake Champlain at Benson Landing to the town of Benson via the local snowmobile trail.
(f) Reciprocity. The commissioner may grant registration reciprocity to snowmobiles registered in other states or provinces upon recommendation of the Governors Snowmobile Council and the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc.; or its successor. The granting of reciprocal areas of use as provided in this act is not contingent upon reciprocity being granted to Vermont registrants by other states and provinces.
(g) Essex County; operation into Canada and New Hampshire from Beecher Falls and Canaan; access to United States and Canadian customs and immigration and naturalization services. For the purpose of providing access to international customs services, a snowmobile may be operated on the so-called "Keyhole Trail," for a distance of approximately one-half mile from United States/Canadian Customs at Beecher Falls to the town line of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, and for a distance of approximately four miles via Vermont Association of Snow Travelers snowmobile corridor 105 to Canaan and to the West Stewartstown, New Hampshire bridge connecting to the New Hampshire 3A snowmobile trail on the Beecher Falls to Colebrook, New Hampshire railbed, and immediately adjacent areas for services, provided the snowmobile is registered in another state or province.
(h) Special events exemption from registration. The commissioner may authorize the temporary operation of snowmobiles not registered in this state on designated regular or temporary trails for special events, provided the snowmobile is registered in another state or province.
(i) Authority of water resources board. Nothing in the section relating to operation on frozen bodies of water shall be construed to affect the authority of the water resources board to regulate uses of public bodies of water.
(i) Authority of natural resources board. Nothing in this section relating to operation on frozen bodies of water shall be construed to affect the authority of the natural resources board to regulate uses of public bodies of water. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1987, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1989, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 23, 1990; 1991, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 21, 1992; 1993, No. 1, § 1, eff. Feb. 19, 1993; 1993, No. 234 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1994; 1995, No. 64 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 30, 1996; 1997, No. 3, § 2, eff. March 8, 1997; 1999, No. 20, § 4; 1999, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2001, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 12, 2002; 2003, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 75, eff. Jan. 31, 2005; No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)
§ 3203. Termination of registration
The registration of a snowmobile ends when the owner transfers title to another. The former owner shall immediately return to the commissioner the registration certificate previously assigned to the transferred snowmobile with the date of sale, name, and residence of the new owner endorsed on the back thereof. When a person transfers the ownership of a registered snowmobile to another, files a new application and pays a fee of $2.00, he may have registered in his name another snowmobile for the remainder of the registration year without payment of any additional registration fee. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
§ 3204. Registration fees and dealer plates
(a) Fees. Registration fees for snowmobiles other than as provided for in subsection (b) of this section are $15.00 for residents and $22.00 for nonresidents. Duplicate registration certificates may be obtained upon payment of $2.00.
(b)(1) Dealer; manufacturer and repair plates; fees. Unless exempted pursuant to subsection 3205(d) of this title, any person engaged in the manufacture or sale of snowmobiles shall obtain registration certificates and identifying number plates subject to such rules as may be adopted by the commissioner which shall be valid for the following purposes only: testing; adjusting; demonstrating; temporary use of customers for a period not to exceed 14 days; private business or pleasure use of such person or members of his or her immediate family; and use at fairs, shows or races when no charge is made for such use.
(2) Fees. Fees for dealer registration certificates shall be $40.00 for the first certificate issued to any person and $5.00 for any additional certificate issued to the same person within the current registration period. Fees for temporary number plates shall be $1.00 for each plate issued.
(c) Temporary registration pending issuance of permanent registration.
provide for the issuance of temporary registrations of snowmobiles pending issuance of the permanent registration. VAST shall be an agent of the commissioner for the issuance of such temporary registrations. The fees for the temporary registrations shall be $15.00 for residents and $22.00 for nonresidents and shall also constitute payment of the registration fee required by subsection (a) of this section. Temporary registrations shall be kept with the snowmobile while being operated and shall authorize operation without the registration decal being affixed for a period not to exceed 60 days from the date of issue.
(d) The commissioner may authorize the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, or its successor, and its agents to register snowmobiles, or to renew or assist with renewal of registrations, for residents and nonresidents.
(e) Only the general assembly may change the fees provided for in this section. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1985, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1987, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1989, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Feb. 23, 1990; 1993, No. 234 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1994; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 29, eff. May 15, 2002.)