§ 3214 -   Allocation of fees and penalties; liability insurance; authority to contract for law enforcement services

§ 3214. Allocation of fees and penalties; liability insurance; authority to contract for law enforcement services

(a) The amount of $5.00 from the sale of every resident and nonresident snowmobile registration shall be allocated to the agency of transportation. The balance of fees and penalties collected under this subchapter, except interest, is hereby allocated to the agency of natural resources for use by VAST for development and maintenance of the statewide snowmobile trail program (SSTP), for trails' liability insurance, and an amount equal to $5.00 from the sale of every resident and nonresident snowmobile registration shall be allocated to contract for law enforcement services with any constable, sheriff's department, municipal police department, the department of public safety, and the department of fish and wildlife for purposes of trail compliance pursuant to this chapter; the allocation for snowmobile law enforcement shall be included as a part of the annual expenditure plan required by section 3215 of this chapter. The departments of public safety and fish and wildlife are authorized to contract with VAST to provide these law enforcement services. The agency of natural resources may retain for its use up to $11,500.00 during each fiscal year to be used for the oversight of the state snowmobile trail program.

(b) VAST shall purchase a trails' liability insurance policy in the amount of $1,000,000.00. The state of Vermont shall be named an additional insured. The policy shall extend to all VAST affiliated snowmobile clubs and their respective employees and agents to provide for trails' liability coverage for development and maintenance of the statewide snowmobile trails program including groomer use and operation. The department of buildings and general services shall assist VAST with the procurement of trails liability and other related insurance.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall authorize or create any cause of action to accrue or to be maintained against the state of Vermont.

(d) Any fees and penalties allocated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall not revert but shall be available until spent. Any accrued interest shall be deposited in the transportation fund. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1987, No. 89, § 313; 1987, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1993, No. 234 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. June 21, 1994: 1995, No. 63, § 214, eff. May 4, 1995; 2005, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.), § 281; 2009, No. 50, § 60.)