By VDC staff
According to a July 1 news report by Bob Kinzel and other journalists at Vermont Public, a number of new Vermont laws took effect July 1, affecting consumers, motorists, criminal justice and renewable energy.
• Ticket resale capped: Event ticket resellers are now prohibited from marking up tickets by more than 10% above face value. The law also requires greater transparency by requiring the original ticket price to be disclosed, identifying third-party sellers, and prohibiting misleading ticket websites and sales of tickets not yet owned by the seller.
• Larger cannabis purchases allowed: The maximum amount of cannabis flower that can be purchased in a single transaction has doubled from one ounce to two ounces. The law also authorizes a pilot program for special retail events where licensed growers can sell products directly to consumers through participating retailers.
• Stiffer Smugglers’ Notch fines: Commercial truck drivers who ignore vehicle size restrictions in Smugglers’ Notch now face significantly higher penalties. Violations carry a $10,000 fine, while trucks that become wedged in the narrow mountain pass and block traffic can result in a $20,000 penalty.
• Bottle redemption system updated: Redemption centers will receive an increased handling reimbursement for each container they process, the first adjustment in roughly 20 years. The legislation also begins a long-term overhaul of Vermont’s bottle deposit program through a producer-managed recycling system.
• More time to prosecute voyeurism cases: Prosecutors will now have up to 40 years to bring charges involving voyeurism or the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images, replacing the previous three-year limit. The law also increases criminal penalties when victims are under 18.
• Plug-in solar panels permitted: Residents may install qualifying plug-in solar panel systems at homes and businesses without prior approval from utilities or state regulators. The law establishes safety requirements and creates a process allowing renters to install the systems under certain conditions.
• Survivor benefits expanded: Families of additional public safety and state employees who die in the line of duty or from work-related illnesses may now qualify for state survivor benefits. The expansion, known as Jessica’s Law, adds law enforcement officers, corrections officers, family services workers and certain state medical personnel to those already covered.