Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles

Vermont's vehicle inspection system has been updated to prioritize immediate safety risks over cosmetic or non-safety issues, aiming to reduce costs and burdens for vehicle owners. The changes, effective August 1, include passing vehicles with minor defects and notifying owners of non-safety deficiencies.

Vermont is experiencing safety concerns due to high-powered, unregulated e-motos, which are distinct from e-bikes. These devices, often mislabeled as e-bikes and marketed to teenagers, operate on sidewalks and paths despite existing regulations. Vermont state law classifies e-motos as motor vehicles requiring licenses and insurance, but enforcement and sales oversight are lacking.

Vermont will increase fines for oversized vehicles illegally traveling through Smugglers Notch under a new law, raising penalties from $1,000 to $10,000 and up to $20,000 if traffic is substantially blocked. The law, part of S.326 passed on May 26, aims to reduce incidents of trucks getting stuck in the narrow mountain pass, which previously averaged 8.6 annually but dropped to five in 2021 after safety measures like chicanes were installed.