Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 23 Sec. 2151

  • following: when used by way of reference to a section of the law shall mean the next preceding or following section. See
  • Identification number: means the numbers and letters, if any, on a vehicle designated by the Commissioner for the purpose of identifying the vehicle. See
  • Justice: when applied to a person, other than a Justice of the Supreme Court, shall mean a justice of the peace for the county for which he or she is elected or appointed. See
  • Law enforcement officer: means a State Police officer, municipal police officer, motor vehicle inspector, Capitol Police officer, constable, sheriff, or deputy sheriff certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council under 20 V. See
  • Motor vehicle: means all vehicles propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power that have, or could have, one or more of the following:

  • Owner: shall include any person, corporation, co-partnership, or association holding legal title to a motor vehicle or having exclusive right to the use or control thereof for a period of 30 days or more. See
  • Person: includes any natural person, corporation, association, co-partnership, company, firm, or other aggregation of individuals. See
  • Public vehicle identification number: means the public vehicle identification number that is usually visible through the windshield and attached to the driver's side of the dashboard, instrument panel, or windshield pillar post or on the doorjamb on the driver's side of the vehicle. See
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • State: means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a province of the Dominion of Canada. See
  • Towing business: means a person that regularly engages in one or more of the following: recovery, impoundment, transport, storage, or disposal of motor vehicles. See
  • Vehicle: means a motor vehicle as defined by section 4 of this title. See

§ 2151. Definitions

As used in this subchapter:

(1)(A) “Abandoned motor vehicle” means:

(i) a motor vehicle that has remained on public or private property or on or along a highway for more than 48 hours without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property and has a valid registration plate or public vehicle identification number that has not been removed, destroyed, or altered; or

(ii) a motor vehicle that has remained on public or private property or on or along a highway without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for any period of time if:

(I) the vehicle does not have a valid registration plate or the public vehicle identification number has been removed, destroyed, or altered; or

(II) a law enforcement officer has requested that the vehicle be removed by a towing business.

(B) “Abandoned motor vehicle” does not include a vehicle or other equipment used or to be used in construction or in the operation or maintenance of highways or public utility facilities, which is left in a manner that does not interfere with the normal movement of traffic.

(2) “Landowner” means a person who owns or leases or otherwise has authority to control use of real property.

(3) “Law enforcement officer” means a State Police officer, municipal police officer, motor vehicle inspector, Capitol Police officer, constable, sheriff, or deputy sheriff certified by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council under 20 V.S.A. § 2358.

(4) “Motor vehicle” means all vehicles propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power that have, or could have, one or more of the following:

(A) a registration plate, registration decal, or certificate of number;

(B) a public vehicle identification number; or

(C) a certificate of title.

(5) “Public vehicle identification number” means the public vehicle identification number that is usually visible through the windshield and attached to the driver’s side of the dashboard, instrument panel, or windshield pillar post or on the doorjamb on the driver’s side of the vehicle. (Added 2003, No. 101 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2015, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 77; 2023, No. 41, § 31, eff. July 1, 2023.)