| 1 | 1 | | BILL AS INTRODUCED H.413 |
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| 2 | 2 | | 2025 Page 1 of 3 |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | VT LEG #380667 v.2 |
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| 6 | 6 | | H.413 1 |
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| 7 | 7 | | Introduced by Representative Kimbell of Woodstock 2 |
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| 8 | 8 | | Referred to Committee on 3 |
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| 9 | 9 | | Date: 4 |
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| 10 | 10 | | Subject: Motor vehicles; use of required lamps; use of required lights; 5 |
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| 11 | 11 | | windshield wipers 6 |
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| 12 | 12 | | Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require 7 |
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| 13 | 13 | | operators of vehicles on a highway to illuminate required lamps while 8 |
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| 14 | 14 | | windshield wipers are in continuous use or as a result of weather conditions 9 |
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| 15 | 15 | | that limit visibility and to require that a motor vehicle’s taillights be visible 10 |
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| 16 | 16 | | from a distance of at least 300 feet behind the vehicle. 11 |
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| 17 | 17 | | An act relating to use of illuminating lights and visibility of taillights 12 |
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| 18 | 18 | | It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 1243(b) is amended to read: 14 |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) Every A person operating a vehicle upon a highway within this State, 15 |
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| 21 | 21 | | shall illuminate all front, tail or rear, and clearance lamps with which the 16 |
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| 22 | 22 | | vehicle is required to be equipped pursuant to this chapter at any time all of the 17 |
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| 23 | 23 | | following times: 18 |
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| 24 | 24 | | (1) from From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise and 19 |
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| 25 | 25 | | at any other time when. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.413 |
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| 26 | 26 | | 2025 Page 2 of 3 |
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| 27 | 27 | | |
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| 28 | 28 | | |
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| 29 | 29 | | VT LEG #380667 v.2 |
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| 30 | 30 | | (2) When, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric weather 1 |
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| 31 | 31 | | conditions, persons or vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a 2 |
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| 32 | 32 | | distance of 500 feet ahead, shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices 3 |
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| 33 | 33 | | as respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions 4 |
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| 34 | 34 | | with respect to parked vehicles including when persons or vehicles on the 5 |
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| 35 | 35 | | highway in front of the vehicle are not clearly discernible due to rain, snow, 6 |
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| 36 | 36 | | fog, dust, smoke, or other particulate matter. 7 |
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| 37 | 37 | | (3) When windshield wipers are in continuous, as opposed to 8 |
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| 38 | 38 | | intermittent, use as a result of weather conditions. A person who violates this 9 |
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| 39 | 39 | | subdivision shall be subject to a civil penalty of $200.00 but shall not be 10 |
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| 40 | 40 | | subject to the assessment of points against the person’s driving record. 11 |
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| 41 | 41 | | Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A. § 1248 is amended to read: 12 |
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| 42 | 42 | | § 1248. TAILLIGHTS 13 |
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| 43 | 43 | | (a) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, and pole trailer, and any other 14 |
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| 44 | 44 | | vehicle that is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be 15 |
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| 45 | 45 | | equipped with at least two red taillamps mounted on the rear that emit light 16 |
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| 46 | 46 | | that is visible at a distance of 300 feet behind the vehicle, except that one 17 |
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| 47 | 47 | | taillamp shall be allowed on any vehicle equipped with only one when it was 18 |
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| 48 | 48 | | manufactured. Nothing shall be towed behind a motor vehicle, or mounted or 19 |
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| 49 | 49 | | placed on the rear of a motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer, or any 20 |
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| 50 | 50 | | other vehicle that is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, that 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.413 |
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| 51 | 51 | | 2025 Page 3 of 3 |
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| 53 | 53 | | |
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| 54 | 54 | | VT LEG #380667 v.2 |
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| 55 | 55 | | prevents the light emitted by at least two red taillamps from being visible at a 1 |
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| 56 | 56 | | distance of 300 feet behind the vehicle. 2 |
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| 57 | 57 | | * * * 3 |
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| 58 | 58 | | Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4 |
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| 59 | 59 | | This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 5 |
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