Minor Fish and Wildlife Violations

V.S.A. tit. 10, ch. 109, subch. 4

in effect

10 V.S.A. § 4571 Legislative findings; minor fish and wildlife violations defined

4571. Legislative findings; minor fish and wildlife violations defined The General Assembly recognizes that minor fish and wildlife violations must be dealt with fairly but do not require the full weight of the Criminal Justice System. Minor fish and wildlife violations do not involve terms of imprisonment or substantial monetary penalties and persons who commit minor fish and wildlife violations should not be treated as criminal offenders. The purpose of this subchapter is to treat minor fish and wildlife violations as civil violations, removing them from the criminal courts and removing the label of criminality from those who commit them. Added 1995, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1996.

10 V.S.A. § 4572 Definitions

4572. Definitions (a) As used in this subchapter, a minor fish and wildlife violation means: (1) a violation of section 4145 of this title (violation of access and landing area rules); (2) a violation of section 4251 of this title (taking wild animals and fish without a license); (3) a violation of section 4266 of this title (failure to carry a license on person or failure to exhibit license); (4) a violation of section 4267 of this title (false statements in license application; altering license; transferring license to another person; using another person’s license; or guiding an unlicensed person); (5) a violation of section 4713 of this title (tree or ground stands or blinds); (6) [Repealed.] (7) a violation of a biological collection rule adopted by the Board under part 4 of this title; or (8) except for big game offenses and under revocation offenses, any fish and wildlife violation as defined by section 4551 of this title and not otherwise listed in this section shall be charged as a minor violation, provided that: (A) the offender has no prior history of fish and wildlife violations; (B) no evidence was seized in relation to the violation; (C) a criminal warrant was not used in relation to the violation; and (D) there is no possibility of forfeiture. (b) “Bureau” means the Judicial Bureau as created in 4 V.S.A. § 1102. Added 1995, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1996; amended 1997, No. 99 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2009, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2015, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2025, No. 47, § 12, eff. July 1, 2025.

10 V.S.A. § 4574 Procedure

4574. Procedure Minor fish and wildlife violations shall be heard by the Bureau and the procedure shall be as provided in 4 V.S.A. chapter 29. Added 1995, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1996; amended 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 7.

10 V.S.A. § 4575 Suspension for failure to pay

4575. Suspension for failure to pay In the case of failure to pay a penalty, the Judicial Bureau shall mail a notice to the defendant at the address in the complaint notifying the defendant that failure to pay or otherwise satisfy the penalty within 20 days of the notice will result in suspension of the person’s fish and wildlife license until the penalty is paid or otherwise satisfied. A copy of the notice shall be sent to the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, who, after 20 days from the date of notice, shall suspend the person’s fish and wildlife license until the penalty is paid or otherwise satisfied. Added 1995, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1996; amended 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 8.

10 V.S.A. § 4576 Violation report; assessment of points

4576. Violation report; assessment of points The Bureau shall send a report of each finding of a minor fish and wildlife violation to the Commissioner of the Fish and Wildlife Department. Such a finding shall be prima facie evidence of a violation and shall result in assessment of points and suspension or revocation of the person’s license pursuant to section 4502 of this title. Added 1995, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1996.

10 V.S.A. § 4577 Reports

4577. Reports The Court Administrator shall prepare audits, records, and reports relating to minor fish and wildlife complaints and violations. The Court Administrator shall also notify the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife of any violations which are uncontested or admitted or which are determined after hearing to have been committed or in connection with which a default judgment has been entered. The Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife shall file and record information on violations received under this section. Added 1995, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1996.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/10/109Fetched: 10/21/2026