The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 23 : Motor Vehicles
Chapter 021 : Title to Motor Vehicles
Subchapter 007 : ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES
(Cite as: 23 V.S.A. § 2151)-
§ 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.)
