What statute defines DUI in Vermont?

23 V.S.A. § 1201 is the controlling DUI statute in Vermont. You can read the current text on the official code site at legislature.vermont.gov.

What is the Vermont implied-consent law?

23 V.S.A. § 1202 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest.

Vermont DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

The statutes that control Vermont DUI cases

DUI in Vermont is defined by 23 V.S.A. § 1201, and the chemical-testing rules sit in 23 V.S.A. § 1202. Both are published in the official state code at legislature.vermont.gov, which is the only version that governs — summaries elsewhere, including ours, can lag amendments.

Vermont official code — DUI statute

Statutory text, definitions, BAC thresholds and sentencing ranges.

Implied-consent provision

What refusing a breath, blood or urine test costs you.

Statute at a glance

Vermont DUI law at a glance

Sourced from the Vermont code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.

Offense name: DUI (Vermont)
Controlling statute: 23 V.S.A. § 1201
Implied consent: 23 V.S.A. § 1202
Per se BAC limit: 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
First-offense fine: $200–$750
First-offense jail exposure: up to 2 years
Licence suspension: 3 months
Ignition interlock: Not automatic on a first offense
Trial court: the Criminal Division of the Superior Court
High-risk filing: SR-22 for 3 years

A first offense is a misdemeanor with a civil suspension running alongside the criminal case.

First-offense exposure under 23 V.S.A. § 1201: $200–$750, up to 2 years of jail exposure, and a 3 months licence suspension. A first offense is a misdemeanor with a civil suspension running alongside the criminal case.

What 23 V.S.A. § 1201 actually says

23 V.S.A. § 1201(a)(1) — operating, attempting to operate or being in actual physical control of a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.
23 V.S.A. § 1201(a)(2) — the same while under the influence of alcohol.
23 V.S.A. § 1201(a)(3) — the same while under the influence of another drug, or a combination of alcohol and drugs.
23 V.S.A. § 1201(b) — criminal refusal to submit to an evidentiary test after being processed for suspected DUI.

Charging documents cite the exact subsection, so check which one appears on your citation. The posted text on legislature.vermont.gov carries an effective date — amendments passed after it are not yet reflected.

Other Vermont sections that control the case

23 V.S.A. § 1205

Civil suspension procedure, including refusal and BAC-based periods.

23 V.S.A. § 675

Fee required before a suspension or revocation is terminated.

4 V.S.A. § 32

Criminal Division jurisdiction to try DUI offenses.

Vermont ZIP codes covered

These Vermont ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

Browse all Vermont ZIP codes.

Counties and cities using these Vermont resources

Other Vermont official resources

Vermont DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard Vermont Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22

Frequently asked questions

What statute defines DUI in Vermont?: 23 V.S.A. § 1201 is the controlling DUI statute in Vermont. You can read the current text on the official code site at legislature.vermont.gov.
What is the Vermont implied-consent law?: 23 V.S.A. § 1202 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest.