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 June, 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.
Section I
Article 1.
1. Speed Limits
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.
Article 1.
2. Retarding Traffic
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:
a. Police vehicles.
b. Ambulances,
				fire engines and other vehicles performing official emergency or authorized
				functions.
c. Authorized
				construction, maintenance, survey, repair and towing vehicles.
d. Motor
				trucks, truck tractors, and buses when the grade of the road renders such speed
				impracticable. These vehicles shall display four-way flashing signals under
				such conditions.
Article
			 1. 3. Uniform Direction of Traffic
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.
Article 1. 4. Passing or Changing Lanes
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.
Article 1. 5. "U"
			 Turns Prohibited
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:
a. Police vehicles.
b. Ambulances,
				fire engines and other vehicles performing official emergency or authorized
				functions.
c. Authorized
				construction, maintenance, survey, repair and towing vehicles.
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.
Article 1. 6. Use of Median Strip and
			 Roadside Areas Prohibited
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.
Article 1. 7.
			 Parking, Standing or Stopping on Roadway Prohibited, Except in Cases of
			 Emergency
a. No parking, standing or
				stopping is permitted on limited access highways, except in areas designated or
				in cases of emergency. n cases of emergency, as hereinafter defined, vehicles
				shall be permitted to park, stop and stand on the shoulders to the right of the
				travel lane facing in the direction of travel with all wheels and projecting
				parts of any such vehicles, including the load thereof, completely clear of the
				travel lanes. Any motor truck or motor bus so parked, standing or stopped shall
				have flares placed on the highway, one approximately 100 feet to the front of
				the vehicle, one approximately 200 feet to the rear, and one on the traffic
				side of the vehicle. Any flares so placed shall be of a type in conformity with
				that described in Title 23, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1303.
b. For the
				purpose of this regulation, an "emergency" is defined as existing only when and
				so long as the vehicle in question is physically inoperable, or the driver of
				the vehicle is ill or fatigued, or when directed to stop by a law enforcement
				officer, but in no case shall the parking, standing, or stopping exceed a
				two-hour period.
c. Excepted
				from the provisions of this article are:
(1)
				Police vehicles.
(2)
				Ambulances, fire engines and other vehicles performing official emergency or
				authorized functions.
(3) Authorized
				construction, maintenance, survey, repair and towing vehicles.
d.
				Vehicles violating this article shall be towed away at the cost of the owner.
e. Stopping of
				vehicles on any part of limited access highways for the purpose of picking up
				or discharging any person is prohibited, except as permitted by Title 23,
				Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1009(c), school buses when authorized by
				the Traffic Committee.
f. The Traffic
				Committee's guidelines for establishing a school bus stop on a limited access
				highway are as follows:
(1) School Boards,
				through the District School Superintendent may petition the Vermont Traffic
				Committee in writing to establish a school bus stop on a limited access highway
				other than the National System of nterstate and Defense Highways, pursuant to
				Title 23, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1009(c). The petition must be
				resubmitted each year and state why the bus stop is needed, number of children,
				age of children, and include a copy of the participating school's
				transportation policy.
(2) Upon
				receipt of such petition, an engineering and traffic study will be conducted as
				the Vermont Traffic Committee shall direct and will include information as to
				traffic volumes, roadway and shoulder widths, approaching sight distances,
				grade, alignment, prevailing speeds, and alternatives to the bus stop.
(3) The bus
				stop will be considered based on the results of this study, with the primary
				concern being safety.
(4) No bus
				stop will be permitted where the students are required to cross the limited
				access highway.
(5) No bus
				stop will be considered except at existing at-grade intersections.
(6) Students
				waiting for the bus at an established bus stop on a limited access highway will
				be required to wait in back of the right-of-way limits until the arrival of the
				bus.
(7) The Agency
				of Transportation shall cause advance warning signs to be erected in
				conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices on both
				approaches to a bus stop on an undivided highway, or on the single approach in
				the direction of travel of the bus on divided highways.
(8) Bus stops
				will be established for one school year at a time. Warning signs will be
				removed at the end of the school year and reinstalled following a consideration
				of changes in information on the Engineering and Traffic survey prior to 1
				September each year. School Boards will notify the Vermont Traffic Committee of
				any change in use of the established bus stop during the school year.
Article 1.
			 8. Limitations on Use of Highway
a. No vehicle shall enter
				upon or leave limited access highways except at access points designated.
b. Use of
				limited access highways and entry thereon by the following is prohibited at all
				times:
(1) Vehicles drawn by animals.
(2)
				Pedestrians except in areas specifically designated for that purpose.
(3) Bicycles,
				with or without motors.
(4) Animals
				led, ridden or driven on the hoof except leashed dogs in permitted areas.
(5) Vehicles
				with deflated pneumatic tires, metal or solid tires, and vehicles with
				caterpillar treads, except by permit from the Commissioner of Highways.
(6) Motor
				vehicles in tow-
(a) Except removal of
				disabled vehicles from limited access highways at the nearest access point by
				wrecker.
(b) Except
				vehicles being towed with a stiff hitch.
(c) Except
				trailers and semitrailers being drawn by a vehicle.
(7)
				Farm implements and farm machinery, whether self-propelled or towed.
(8) Vehicles
				with improperly secured attachments or loads.
(9)
				Self-propelled snow vehicles.
(10) Single
				saddle mount transports towing more than one vehicle (Title 23, Section 1302 ).
(11) Motor
				trucks with more than one trailer attached (Title 23, Section 1302 ).
c.
				On limited access highways that have at grade access points thereon, the
				Committee may make special regulations, on the basis of an engineering and
				traffic investigation, relative to the use of such highways by vehicles drawn
				by animals, bicycles, animals led or ridden, farm implements and farm
				machinery, whether self-propelled or towed, self-propelled snow vehicles, and
				pedestrians. The beginning and ending of areas to which the special regulations
				apply shall be designated by appropriate signs detailing the special
				regulations.
Article 1.
			 9. Civil Defense Regulations
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.
Section II GENERAL REGULATIONS
Article 2.
1. Waste and Rubbish
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.
Article 2.
2. Damaging of Shrubs, or Plants and
			 Defacement of Limited Access Highways Prohibited
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.
Article 2.
3. Display of Posters 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.
Article 2.
4. Parades and Demonstrations Prohibited;
			 Picnics Prohibited Except at Designated Areas
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.
Article
			 2.
5. Hunting and Trapping
			 Prohibited
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.
Article
			 2.
6. Use of Firearms Prohibited
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.
Article 2.
7. Fire 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.
Article 2.
8. Soliciting of Alms Prohibited
Soliciting of alms or contributions on limited access highways
				is prohibited.
Article
			 2.
9. Hitchhiking and Loitering
			 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.
Article
			 2.
10. Sales and Distribution
			 Prohibited
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.
Article
			 2.
11. Use of Designated Rest
			 Areas
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.