Vermont GUBERNATORIAL DIRECTIVE TO THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

STATE OF VERMONT EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT

GUBERNATORIAL DIRECTIVE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

WHEREAS, on Friday, March 13, 2020, the Governor issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency for the State of Vermont in response to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, since that time, many additional cases of COVID-19 have been tested as presumptively positive in the State; and

WHEREAS, the Governor and the Department of Health have been very clear that social distancing measures are essential in order to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 and minimize the risk to the public, maintain the health and safety of Vermonters, and limit the spread of infection in our communities; and

WHEREAS, the Governor, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Health and the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”), has determined that consistent with current guidance it is essential to restrict in-person visits to the DMV district offices; and

WHEREAS, on Monday, March 16, 2020, the Governor announced that the Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) will be extending license and registration renewals for 90 days beyond their effective expiration date beginning March 13, 2020 in order to limit in-person visits to the DMV district offices; and

WHEREAS, as of the close of business on Thursday, March 19, 2020, DMV shall provide online, mail and phone services, and suspend all in-person transactions; and

WHEREAS, this decision is based on the best scientific evidence available to the experts at the Vermont Department of Health and is expected to help prevent and reduce the spread of COVID- 19.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of Vermont by the Constitution of the State of Vermont, the emergency powers set forth in 20 V.S.A.

§§ 8, 9 and 11 and other laws, hereby direct the Department of Motor Vehicles as follows:

1. DMV services shall be provided online, by mail or phone, and all in-person transactions shall be suspended for the period of the State of Emergency.

2. In order to meet the needs of DMV customers, the Commissioner of the DMV shall develop a Continuity of DMV Services Plan that includes, at a minimum:

1. 1. Effective March 13, 2020, license and registration renewals shall be extended for 90 days beyond their effective expiration date.
   2. All license and non-driver ID renewal applications shall be processed by mail or on-line, so long as the applicant photographs that would otherwise be non- compliant with state law, shall be compliant with the federal government’s REAL ID Act.
   3. Registrations and filings for the International Registration plan (IRP) and the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) shall be extended for 90 days beyond their effective expiration date.

1. 4. Temporary registration certificates and number plates shall be valid for 90 days.
   5. Driver permits or license examinations postponed shall be scheduled within a reasonable period of time following the termination of the state of emergency.
   6. “Lemon law” complaints received during the state of emergency period or complaints which were pending at the commencement of the state of emergency which may need to be postponed shall be heard within a reasonable period of time following the termination of the state of emergency.

3. The Commissioner of Motor vehicles shall develop such policies and procedures necessary to facilitate the processing of registrations, renewals, transfer registrations and other services by mail, phone and on-line and address the concerns of DMV customers.
4. Pursuant to the powers granted to the Governor in 20 V.S.A. §§ 8, 9 and 11 and other provisions of law, I shall from time to time issue recommendations, directives and orders as circumstances may require.

5. The Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall oversee the implementation of this Directive.

This Directive shall take effect upon signing and shall continue in full force and effect until April 6, 2020, at which time the Governor, in consultation with the Vermont Department of Health, the Department of Public Safety/Division of Emergency Management and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall assess the emergency and determine whether to amend or extend this Directive.

By the Governor:

Philip B. Scott
Governor

Brittney L. Wilson

Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs Dated: March 18, 2020