Code of Vermont Rules
Agency 14 - AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION
Sub-Agency 053 - TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
Chapter 004 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF STATE HIGHWAYS WITH LIMITED ACCESS FACILITIES
Section 14 053 004 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF STATE HIGHWAYS WITH LIMITED ACCESS FACILITIES
Current through August, 2024
A. Authorization
These regulations are entitled and may be referred to as "Regulations Governing Use of State Highways with Limited Access Facilities" and have been adopted by the authority under provisions of Title 23, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1004.
B. Penalties
These regulations, together with alterations and amendments thereto, made under this Act shall have the force of law and violations thereof shall be penalized under Title 23, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 2205(c).
C. Definition
Limited access highways shall mean any portion of the right of way of a limited access facility as defined under Title 19, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1862, and shall include but not be limited to the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, and shall include all ramps and highways provided for approach thereto.
Committee shall mean the Traffic Committee named in Title 23, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1003, consisting of the State Commissioners of Public Safety and Motor Vehicle, and the Secretary of Transportation.
The maximum speed limit at which any motor vehicle may be operated on limited access highways shall be sixty-five (65) miles per hour, except when posted otherwise by authority of the Committee, or when such maximum speed is unsafe.
Except when reduced speed is necessary for safety, no motor vehicle shall be operated at a speed less than the minimum posted by authority of the Committee, nor at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Excepted from the provisions of this article are:
No motor vehicle shall be operated, backed, pushed or otherwise caused to move in direction which is against the normal flow of traffic on any lane, deceleration lane, acceleration lane, access ramp, shoulder or other roadway on limited access highways.
Drivers shall keep to the right except to pass. f vehicles on the roadway are moving, in separate traffic lanes, the provisions of this article shall not be considered as prohibiting the vehicles in one lane overtaking and passing the vehicles in another lane either on the right or left. No movement may be made to the right or to the left upon the roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after ample visible signal has been given to indicate the direction of movement.
The making of a "U" turn at any point on limited access highways is prohibited except when posted otherwise by authority of the Committee. Excepted from the provisions of this article are:
The foregoing exceptions shall be for the sole purpose of crossing the median to a roadway carrying traffic bound in the opposite direction, and no excepted vehicles shall make crossings in such a manner as to create a hazard to other vehicles.
The median strip between roadways, including crossovers and roadside areas beyond roadways, except designated rest areas, shall not be used by vehicles or by persons on foot for any purpose, except for maintenance, construction or official purposes, or in emergencies, or as provided in Article 1. 5.
Applicable Civil Defense regulations as promulgated by the Department of Public Safety, Civil Defense Division, of the State of Vermont shall be complied with on limited access highways.
No person shall throw, drop or discard bottles, cans, paper, garbage, rubbish, sewage, or other material of any kind or description on limited access highways.
No person shall cut, mutilate or remove any trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, top soil, or sod located upon limited access highways or attempt to do so. Injury, defacement, removal or destruction of the surface of limited access highways or its structures, appurtenances, recreation facilities or property is prohibited.
No person shall erect, place or display any advertising matter, posters or placards of any kind, regardless of character of message, on limited access highways. This shall not apply to signs erected by the State Highway Department with the approval of the Traffic Committee.
Parades or other demonstrations are prohibited. Picnics or other gatherings, games, entertainment or sports, on limited access highways are prohibited except at sites which may be designated for such purposes.
No person shall hunt, trap or molest any wild life upon limited access highways, or fish on or from limited access highways, except at designated locations.
The use, display or discharge of any firearms or other weapons or fireworks on limited access highways, except by persons authorized by the Traffic Committee or by law, is prohibited.
The igniting of fires for any purpose whatsoever is prohibited on limited access highways, except in fireplaces or pits in designated rest areas and for highway maintenance purposes.
Soliciting of alms or contributions on limited access highways is prohibited.
Soliciting of rides on limited access highways, commonly known as "hitchhiking," is prohibited. Loitering in or about limited access highways for the purposes of hitchhiking or participating in a "car pool," or as part of a demonstration or protest, or for any other purpose, is prohibited. Nothing contained in the above wording shall prohibit the use of commuter parking areas, constructed by the Agency of Transportation, within the right of way of a limited access highway, except for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
No person shall enter or remain on limited access highways for the purpose of selling, hiring or leasing any goods, wares, merchandise or services, nor for the purpose of distributing samples, pamphlets or advertising matter of any sort, except official State information as authorized by the Traffic Committee, or by a person or persons authorized by said Committee.
No person shall use any part of a limited access highway right-of-way, or a designated rest area in or adjacent to a limited access highway right-of-way, for the purpose of overnight camping unless such rest area is designated for that purpose by the Committee.
No person shall park any vehicle in a designated rest area for any other reason than to use the facilities available in said rest area.
Statutory Authority: 23 V.S.A. § 1004