Vermont Statutes Annotated

Title 23 : Motor Vehicles

Chapter 013 : Operation Of Vehicles

Subchapter 010 : Stopping, Standing, And Parking
(Cite as: 23 V.S.A. § 1106)

The following is the actual law (23 V.S.A. § 1106) regarding the stopping, standing, and parking of vehicles at a highway facility in Vermont. This law applies to vehicles parked at rest areas along Vermont’s highways and Interstates.

§ 1106. Limitations on use of State highway facilities

(a) As used in this section, "State highway facility" means a State highway rest area, picnic ground, parking area, or park-and-ride facility.

(b) No individual shall enter or remain on any State highway facility for the purpose of overnight camping unless the particular facility has been designated for that purpose by the Traffic Committee.

(c)
(1) On the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation or findings as to adverse effects on the quiet enjoyment and property values of persons living adjacent to a State highway facility, the Traffic Committee may designate the size and types of vehicles allowed to park in a State highway facility or in particular areas of a State highway facility.

(2) In addition, the Secretary may prescribe special restrictions related to parking of plug-in electric vehicles in designated areas of a State highway facility

(d) Notice of the prohibitions or restrictions under this section shall be posted at the affected facilities by regulatory signs conforming to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. (Added 2007, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 32; amended 2017, No. 139 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 182.)

Note that the above law does not define “overnight camping”. Moreover, this law pertains to persons who are using rest areas for “the purpose of” overnight camping. Hence, if you are approached by a law enforcement officer, your argument should be…

• You are not camping, but rather “resting temporarily” long enough to relieve fatigue and drowsiness.
• It was not your “purpose” to camp here. Instead, it was your purpose to stay here temporarily to sleep and get back on the road.
• We suggest shading your windows so that officers cannot see light from your windows. Otherwise, turn off lights.