Committee approves technical amendments to H.105, adds review pathway for automatic license suspensions

The Judiciary Committee on May 20 approved a package of technical amendments to H.105 that revise the statute’s definition of “highway” to exclude driveways serving one- or two-family residences and add a pre-complaint civil review option for automatic license suspensions arising from the diversion program.

Ben Novogrovsky, an attorney with the Office of Legislative Council, told the committee the set of edits largely came from a judge’s late review and are intended to clean up drafting errors and clarify procedure. “If you are in your driveway, you cannot be cited for a civil violation,” Novogrovsky said, describing the practical effect of the driveway exclusion. He also said the amendments add a path to seek review under Rule 75 of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure for the initial automatic suspension notice and name…