§ 802. Suspension of license
(a) Proof of financial responsibility shall cover a person in the operation of any and
all motor vehicles operated by him or her. If he or she fails to furnish such proof,
when required under the provisions of section 801 of this title, within 20 days after notice from the Commissioner is mailed to him or her, until
such proof is furnished, the Commissioner shall suspend the license of an operator
or the right of an unlicensed operator or nonresident to operate any motor vehicle
in this State.
(b) [Repealed.]
(c) When a resident of Vermont, or an individual holding a Vermont operator’s license,
as a result of a motor vehicle crash in any other state has been required to furnish
the other state with evidence of future financial responsibility and because of failure
to do so the individual’s operating privilege has been suspended or revoked, upon
being notified by the proper official of such other jurisdiction of the suspension
or revocation, the Commissioner shall suspend the Vermont operator’s license or right
of the individual to operate motor vehicles, and the suspension shall remain in effect
until the individual furnishes the Commissioner with satisfactory evidence that the
individual has complied with the requirement to furnish the other state with evidence
of future financial responsibility.
(d)-(h) [Repealed.]
(i) No proof of financial responsibility shall be required, under subdivision 801(a)(3) of this title, and no license shall be suspended under that subdivision, unless the operator whose
license or right to operate motor vehicles is subject to suspension has been afforded
the opportunity of a hearing to determine whether the operator was, at the time of
the crash, injury, or damage in question, insured against public liability and property
damage in the amounts required under section 801 of this title with respect to proof of financial responsibility. If the operator requests a hearing,
and appears at the time and place provided, the Commissioner or his or her appointed
representative shall conduct a hearing, make findings, and render a decision. The
hearing examiner may consider such evidence as is offered and may consider also the
operator and investigating officer report or reports filed in connection with the
crash, injury, or damages as well as the assumption permitted under subsection 801(e) of this title. If the decision of the hearing examiner finds the operator to be uninsured at the
time of the crash, injury, or damages, then the person shall be required to provide
proof of financial responsibility under this subchapter and, if he or she fails to
do so, his or her license or right to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended.
A person found to be uninsured may have the finding reviewed in the Superior Court.
The hearings provided for shall be conducted in Montpelier. Hearings shall be conducted
with a minimum of procedural requirements, so as to provide persons an opportunity
to be heard without delay and at reasonable expense to them and to the State. (Amended 1965, No. 4, § 2; 1971, No. 151 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 3, 4, eff. March 2, 1972; 1977, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.); 1977, No. 220 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 3, 4; 1979, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 6, 1980; 1983, No. 61, § 2; 1995, No. 67 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1997, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 280, eff. July 1, 2024.)