General Offenses and Jurisdiction

V.S.A. tit. 23, ch. 17

in effect

23 V.S.A. § 1701 Possession of motor vehicles with serial or motor numbers defaced

1701. Possession of motor vehicles with serial or motor numbers defaced A person shall not knowingly keep in his or her possession or ownership for more than 10 days a motor vehicle or vessel, the manufacturer’s serial or motor numbers or identifying numbers assigned by the Commissioner of which have been changed, tampered with, obliterated, or defaced, unless the person has applied to the Commissioner for the assignment of a new number to be placed on the vehicle or vessel or motor and the application has been granted. Amended 1971, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; 1991, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.

23 V.S.A. § 1702 Assignment of new number

1702. Assignment of new number The application shall not be granted by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles until he or she is satisfied that the person applying for the assignment of such new identifying number is the rightful owner of the motor vehicle described in the application.

23 V.S.A. § 1703 Defacing identifying numbers

1703. Defacing identifying numbers A person who willfully changes or attempts to change, or who tampers with, obliterates, defaces, or in any manner interferes with the original or assigned motor number or manufacturer’s serial number of any motor vehicle or vessel, or with any of the secret or identifying numbers placed by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle or vessel by the Commissioner or any of the parts thereof upon the vehicle or vessel or parts, shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, for the first offense and fined not more than $5,000.00 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for each subsequent offense. Amended 1991, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.

23 V.S.A. § 1704 Possession prima facie evidence of violation

1704. Possession prima facie evidence of violation The possession by a person of a motor vehicle or vessel, the motor or manufacturer’s serial or Commissioner assigned identifying number of which has been changed, tampered with, obliterated, or defaced, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of section 1703 of this title, unless the person applies to the Commissioner for the assignment of a new number as provided in section 1702 of this title. Amended 1991, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 7.

23 V.S.A. § 1704a Alteration of odometers

1704a. Alteration of odometers (a) No person shall: (1) sell, attempt to sell, or cause to be sold any motor vehicle, highway building appliance, motorboat, all-terrain vehicle, or snowmobile if the odometer, hubometer reading, or clock meter reading has been changed, tampered with, or defaced without first disclosing that information to the buyer; (2) change, tamper with, or deface, or attempt to change, tamper with, or deface any odometer, hubometer, or clock meter in a motor vehicle, highway building appliance, motorboat, all-terrain vehicle, or snowmobile; or (3) willfully misrepresent the odometer, hubometer, or clock meter reading on the odometer disclosure statement or similar statement, title, or bill of sale. (b) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 for a first offense and fined not more than $2,500.00 for each subsequent offense. Added 1969, No. 201 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1983, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 1985; 1997, No. 59, § 77, eff. June 30, 1997; 2001, No. 69, § 3; 2025, No. 66, § 27, eff. July 1, 2025.

23 V.S.A. § 1705 Impersonating an inspector or examiner

1705. Impersonating an inspector or examiner A person who falsely impersonates or attempts to impersonate a motor vehicle inspector, examiner, or State Police shall be imprisoned not more than six months or fined not more than $100.00, or both.

23 V.S.A. § 1709 Report of convictions to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles

1709. Report of convictions to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (a) The Judicial Bureau and every court having jurisdiction over offenses committed under any law of this State or municipal ordinance regulating the operation of motor vehicles on the highways shall forward a record of any conviction to the Commissioner within 10 days for violation of any State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than a parking violation. (b) As used in this section, “conviction” has the same meaning as in subdivision 4(60) of this title. Amended 1965, No. 85, operative Feb. 1, 1967; 1965, No. 194, § 10; 1967, No. 138; 1969, No. 290 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 1973, No. 25, § 2, eff. March 15, 1973; 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 19, 1974; 2005, No. 37, § 9; 2025, No. 66, § 30, eff. July 1, 2025.

23 V.S.A. § 1710 Nolo contendere pleas

1710. Nolo contendere pleas A plea of nolo contendere accepted by the court shall constitute a conviction for the purposes of this title. Added 1975, No. 73.

23 V.S.A. § 1711 Felony or misdemeanor

1711. Felony or misdemeanor A person who, whether present or absent, aids, abets, induces, procures, or causes the commission of an act that, if done directly by him or her, would be a felony or a misdemeanor under a provision of this title, is guilty of the same felony or misdemeanor. Added 1993, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/23/017Fetched: 10/21/2026