What are Vermont Traffic Court Records?

Vermont traffic court records are records of the traffic court proceedings in Vermont. These may include legal documents, evidence notes, and other public records created as a result of the court proceedings.

Are Vermont Traffic Court Records Public Records?

Traffic Court records in Vermont are considered public records, as they are created in a "court of public record". Records created in "courts of public record" are classified as public records and can be accessed and viewed by members of the public under the public access to information law.

Which Courts in Vermont have jurisdiction to hear traffic violation matters?

Vermont traffic violations and infractions are heard by the Judicial Bureau of the Superior Court. The Judicial Bureau has statewide jurisdiction over civil violations, including traffic violations and municipal ordinance violations.

Vermont Traffic Ticket Lookup

Vermont traffic tickets are handled through the Vermont Judicial Bureau, which oversees civil violations, including traffic infractions. Ticket information can be accessed online through the Vermont Judiciary's Case Access Portal, where searches can be conducted by name, ticket number, or case number. The system provides details such as the violation, status, and scheduled hearings. Payments may be made online, by phone, mail, or in person at the Judicial Bureau in White River Junction. Since tickets must be addressed by the due date listed on the citation, using the online portal is often the fastest way to confirm case details and resolve a violation.

Getting a Traffic Ticket in Vermont

A Vermont traffic ticket or Vermont Civil Violation Complaint is a document issued for the citation of traffic offenses by a law enforcement officer in the state of Vermont. It portrays the officer's sworn attestation regarding the violation that was observed. The officer may fill out the ticket before issuing a copy to the defendant. The defendant is expected to provide the information to the officer when necessary. The ticket may contain:

• Defendant's full name and address, as well as other vital bio-data.
• The details about the defendant's driving license
• Information about the vehicle involved in the incident
• Where and when the alleged violation/offense occurred, including time, date, and location.
• Details of the offense committed with the Vermont statute section and violation code.
• The fine amount is liable if the defendant admits or pleads no contest to the charge (waiver fee).
• Depending on the offense being cited, a mandatory court appearance may be required, and if so, this may be noted.
• Location of the court with jurisdiction over the complaint.

The back of the ticket may contain information about responding to the complaint. The type dictates Vermont traffic tickets, and the degree of the offense committed. They vary by nature of the violation, but are uniform across the state for specific violations. Vermont traffic tickets may be responded to within 21 days of the defendant receiving the ticket. A failure to do so may result in additional penalties, including a late fee of $20 and the possible suspension of driving privileges. Traffic violations, in Vermont, can be infractions or crimes; infractions are civil violations that result in fines, and crimes are typically misdemeanors, which are punishable by fines and jail time of fewer than 2 years.

For convictions on major traffic violations, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) assesses demerit points to the defendant's driving record. The points assessed vary based on the type of violation. If a driver accumulates 10 or more demerit points on their driving record within 2 years, the driver's license may be suspended.

Traffic violations are generally differentiated into Moving and Non-Moving violations. Moving violations are major offenses committed by vehicles in motion, such as speeding, reckless driving, or felony overspeeding in Vermont. Non-moving violations are minor offenses, typically committed by cars due to faulty/broken equipment or when the vehicle is not in motion, such as parking violations. Convictions for moving violations are reported to the Vermont DMV (and demerit points are added to the driver's record), while non-moving violation convictions are not.

What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket in Vermont?

Response to a Vermont traffic ticket may be made within 21 days of receiving the ticket. The ticket may contain a fine amount or a waiver fee, a predetermined amount shown on the front of the ticket. The defendant can choose to Admit, Deny, or plead No Contest to the charges. Admitting the charges and pleading no contest may have the same consequences.

How to Admit Charges

If the defendant chooses to admit the charges or plead no contest and the offense does not require a court appearance, the ticket can be paid online, by mail, or in person. Admitting charges indicates a waiver of the defendant's right to a trial, and a waiver penalty is paid to settle the case. Paying the traffic ticket may be noted as a conviction, and a report may be sent to the Vermont DMV.

Online payments can be made on the Vermont Judicial website, and A citation number and a major credit/debit card may be required.

How to Submit a Plea to a Vermont Traffic Ticket

Mail and in-person payments can be made by checking the "Admitted" or "No Contest" option, signing the ticket and delivering it, and a money order or check for the total fine amount to:

Judicial Bureau,
P.O. Box 607,
White River Junction, VT 05001

Or in-person to the

Vermont Judicial Bureau,
82 Railroad Row,
White River Junction, VT 05001

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Vermont

If the defendant opts to deny the charges, a response may reach the judicial Bureau within 21 days. The defendant may check the "Deny" option and sign the ticket before delivering it (by mail or in person) to the Vermont Judicial Bureau. The Judicial Bureau may mail the defendant a date, time, and location for the hearing.

Vermont Driving Record Check

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains official driving records. These records provide documentation of a motorist's licensing status, convictions, accidents, suspensions, revocations, and reinstatements. Certified driving records are commonly required for employment verification, insurance underwriting, and legal purposes.

The fee for a Vermont driving record is $20.00. Requests may be submitted online through the DMV portal, in person at a DMV office, or by mail. Payment by check or money order is required for mailed applications, while card payments are accepted online or in person.

Mail requests should be directed to:

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
120 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

The official form for requesting a record is Form TA-VG-116, Record Request.

Obtaining Another Person's Driving Record

Access to another individual's driving record in Vermont is governed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act and state law. A requester must demonstrate a permissible statutory purpose, such as use by an insurance company, attorney, employer in a regulated field, or government agency, or obtain the record holder's written consent. The official Record Request Form is required, and disclosure occurs only once the legal justification or signed authorization is provided.

Free DMV Driving Records in Vermont

Vermont does not provide certified driving records at no cost. The statutory fee of $20 applies to all requests regardless of submission method. While certain license status information may be verified informally, official abstracts suitable for employment, insurance, or court use are available only upon payment.

What to Expect in a Vermont Traffic Court

At the hearing, the officer who issued the complaint may be the prosecutor, and the defendant can hire an attorney; it is always advisable to do so. After the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer may render a verdict. If the defendant is found "Guilty", then the court may administer the sentence, and the defendant may be convicted and be liable for fines and penalties. A report may also be sent to the Vermont DMV. If the defendant is found "Not Guilty", the charges may be dismissed and the defendant may be freed of the fines and penalties.

If a mandatory court appearance is required, then the defendant may appear in court before responding to the charges, irrespective of the nature of the defendant's plea.

Failure to appear in court may result in a default judgment being rendered against the defendant and a notice may be sent indicating the deadline to pay fine. Failure to meet the deadline may result in additional late fees and the Vermont DMV may be notified of the non-compliance and they can suspend the driver's license until fines are cleared.

How Do I Find Vermont Traffic Court Records?

The Vermont judiciary public portal is a web-based platform offering customized court records access. Public users may use the portal to gain limited access to information about cases and hearings. Individuals who require elevated access (for cases in which they are involved) may register as portal users and submit an access request.

Vermont traffic court records are physically stored in the Office of the Clerk of the Judicial Bureau. Records can be requested from the office of the Clerk by obtaining a record request form and submitting a request in person or by mail. Requests can be made to view a case file and/or request copies of documents in the case file. Obtaining copies costs $0.25 per page, with a minimum of $1. Other applicable fees might apply depending on the scope of the request.

Additionally, publicly available records are accessible from some third-party websites. These websites offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical record and are a convenient option for multi-record searches. To find a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties may provide:

• The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question, such as a city, county, or state name

Third-party sites are not government-sponsored websites; record availability may differ from official channels.

What Information is Required to Obtain Vermont Traffic Court Records?

To obtain traffic records in Vermont, the requesting party may need to provide valid information about the record, including the full name on the record and the case or citation number. The requester may also need to provide a valid, state-approved ID and make any required payments if copies are required.

Can Vermont Traffic Records be Sealed or Expunged?

In Vermont, a sealed record is still maintained and can be accessed and used by courts and law enforcement agencies. An expunged record is destroyed, and it is removed from criminal databases.

Traffic offenses that constitute misdemeanors cannot be sealed or expunged. A DUI record, while being a misdemeanor, can be sealed if there is only one DUI offense on record. If multiple DUI offenses are on record, then none of them can be sealed.

Predicate offenses—crimes that can be used to enhance the sentence of another crime, such as negligent operation of a motor vehicle—can not be sealed or expunged unless the crime was committed before the offender was 21.

How to Prepare for Traffic Court in Vermont

In Vermont, traffic court proceedings are governed by Title 23 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated. One unique aspect of preparing for traffic court in Vermont is the availability of a judicial bureau for handling traffic violations. The judicial Bureau operates separately from the state's traditional court system and offers an expedited process for resolving certain traffic citations. Understanding the procedures for appearing before the judicial Bureau and the potential consequences of various outcomes can be important for defendants in Vermont.