Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
 |
|
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1894 |
| Jurisdiction | Vermont |
| Headquarters | Montpelier, Vermont |
| Employees | 500+ |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Vermont Agency of Transportation |
| Website | http://dmv.vermont.gov/ |
The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the governmental agency responsible for registering and inspecting automobiles and other motor vehicles as well as licensing drivers in the U.S. state of Vermont.
In 1894 the first law governing motor vehicles was passed. This was a preventive measure only as there were no automobiles yet in the state. The first automobile appeared in the state in 1898. It was a one-seat Stanley Steamer purchased for $900 by Dr. J.H. Linsley of Burlington. In 1900 the legislature repealed the original 1894 law governing motor vehicles.
The state established speed limits in 1902: 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) on the open road and 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h) in town.
In 1904, the state required licenses for driving. It required that all motor vehicles be registered with the Secretary of State by May 1905. 373 vehicles were registered. Charles Warren was issued the first "#1" plate.
In 1905 the first known motor vehicle fatality in the state was reported at Pike's Crossing in North Bennington. In 1906 the state enacted a statute providing for the issuance of uniform license plates made of enamel. The registration fee varied by horsepower.
In 1908 the Legislature required annual registration. Plates were dated. By 1913, the number of vehicles registered rose to 4,538. There was a concentration of one vehicle for every 78.4 people in the state.
By 1916 the number of vehicle registered had grown to 16,000. There were 19,000 licensed drivers.
In 1918, it was determined that trained personnel to enforce the motor vehicle laws were needed. Ara A. Griggs was assigned as a one-man patrol to cover the entire state.
The Acts of 1921 gave the Secretary of State the authority to suspend or revoke the driving license of a Vermont resident and to deny the right of a non-resident operator in Vermont if s/he failed to comply with Vermont laws. The 1921 Act also provided for the testing of all new drivers.
In 1923, gasoline was taxed at the rate of one cent per gallon. Also, the number of vehicle registrations was 61,000. There were 67,000 licensed drivers.
In 1925, the legislature re-wrote all motor vehicle laws, forming the basis of present-day motor vehicle statutes. They created a Motor Vehicle Bureau within the Secretary of State’s office. The Department’s enforcement personnel formed the “Vermont Highway Patrol”. The first patrol officers used motorcycles that were purchased by the officers themselves. The plate numbers 1-100 were assigned to various state officials.
...
Wikipedia