Vermont § 7251 - Municipalities; payment to and liability of

Full text of Vermont Vermont Statutes Online § 7251 — Municipalities; payment to and liability of, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 7251. Municipalities; payment to and liability of

  • (a) Fines, forfeitures, and penalties, imposed by the District or Superior court or by
    the Judicial Bureau for violation of a village, town, or city ordinance shall be paid
    to the village, town, or city, respectively, except for a $12.50 administrative charge
    for each case which shall be retained by the State. (b) Fines, forfeitures, and penalties imposed by the Judicial Bureau for all speeding
    traffic violations under 23 V.S.A. chapter 13, subchapter 8 entitled “speed restrictions” on State highways and for height and
    width violations under 23 V.S.A. § 1431 and length violations under 23 V.S.A. § 1432 on town highways resulting from the enforcement by towns within the jurisdiction
    of the town shall be paid to the town by the formula set forth in subsection (c) of
    this section except for the administrative charge according to the provisions of subsection
    (a) of this section which shall be retained by the State. The enforcement by towns
    shall be by a town law enforcement officer or a law enforcement officer by contract
    with the town. Such law enforcement officer shall be certified according to the provisions
    of 20 V.S.A. § 2358. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the jurisdiction of a certified
    law enforcement officer. The revenue that is collected by the State pursuant to enforcement
    of this section by a town shall be distributed annually during the first quarter of
    the fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year in which the fines, forfeitures,
    and penalties are collected. (c) The allocation of revenue to the towns under the formula shall be updated annually
    by the State Court Administrator and shall provide that the revenue be distributed
    to those towns whose law enforcement efforts on State highways and town highways as
    specifically set forth in subsection (b) of this section have resulted in the imposition
    of the fines, forfeitures, and penalties for all speeding traffic violations under
    23 V.S.A. chapter 13, subchapter 8 entitled “speed restrictions” and for height and width violations under
    23 V.S.A. § 1431 and length violations under 23 V.S.A. § 1432 provided that no town may receive more than five percent of the total revenue in
    any given year. The formula used for distribution shall reflect the percentage of
    a town’s law enforcement expenditures as it relates to the town’s total municipal
    taxing effort. The town’s total municipal taxing effort shall be determined by subtracting
    the town’s school taxes assessed from the total taxes assessed as provided each year
    in the annual report of the division of property valuation and review by the Vermont
    Department of Taxes. By July 31 of each year, the local legislative body of any town
    that had law enforcement efforts resulting in the imposition of fines, forfeitures,
    and penalties and that wishes to participate shall submit to the Court Administrator
    the total amount of the funds spent for law enforcement in the most recently completed
    town fiscal year. (d) Fines, forfeitures, and penalties imposed by the Judicial Bureau for violations of
    subdivisions 352(3), (4), and (9) of this title, relating to animal cruelty that result
    from the enforcement by villages, towns, and cities within their jurisdiction shall
    be paid to the respective village, town, or city, except for a $12.50 administrative
    charge for each violation that shall be retained by the State. The enforcement by
    villages, towns, and cities shall be by a local law enforcement officer or a law enforcement
    officer by contract with the village, town, or city. Such law enforcement officer
    shall be certified according to the provisions of 20 V.S.A. § 2358. (Amended 1973, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. April 9, 1974; 1975, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1989, No. 109, § 7; 1993, No. 237 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 1994; 1995, No. 77 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. March 21, 1996; 1995, No. 133 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1997, No. 46, §§ 8, 9; 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 30; 2001, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 74, eff. June 27, 2002; 2007, No. 51, § 21.)

Source: official Vermont text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Vermont § 7251

What does Vermont Statutes Online § 7251 cover?

Section 7251 ("Municipalities; payment to and liability of") is part of the Vermont Statutes Online, the codified statutory law of Vermont. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Vermont § 7251?

A common citation format is "Vermont Statutes Online § 7251" (Vermont). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Vermont law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Vermont official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Vermont attorney.

How does Vermont § 7251 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Vermont can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Vermont.