§ 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 Transportation Fund. The balance of fees and penalties collected under this subchapter, except interest, shall be remitted to the Agency of Natural Resources, which may retain for its use up to $11,500.00 during each fiscal year for oversight of the Statewide Snowmobile Trail Program, and the remainder shall be allocated to VAST for:

(1) Development and maintenance of the Statewide Snowmobile Trail Program (SSTP).

(2) Procuring trails' liability insurance in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

(3) Contracting for law enforcement services with any constable, sheriff's department, municipal police department, the Department of Public Safety, or the Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The allocation for snowmobile law enforcement services shall be an amount equal to $5.00 from the sale of every resident and nonresident snowmobile registration. If this allocation for law enforcement services is not fully expended, the unexpended amount carried forward may be used to purchase capital equipment to aid law enforcement in the provision of services. VAST shall include proposed spending on law enforcement services and on capital equipment as part of the annual expenditure plan required by section 3215 of this chapter. The Departments of Public Safety and of Fish and Wildlife are authorized to contract with VAST to provide law enforcement services.

(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 Trail Program, including groomer use and operation. The Office of the Secretary of Administration 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; 2011, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2013, No. 50, § E.101.5; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 23.)