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House Transportation Committee reviews draft bill that makes PFD non‑penal, tightens CMV texting rules and updates vehicle signage
Summary
The House Transportation Committee reviewed a draft omnibus transportation bill including a provision to make noncompliance with a new personal flotation device requirement a non‑penal warning accompanied by a statewide outreach campaign; staff also proposed signage updates for Smuggler's Notch, indemnification language for electronic salvage‑title submissions, expanded texting restrictions for commercial motor vehicles, and several registration and inspection changes.
The House Transportation Committee on April 29 reviewed an updated transportation bill draft that would make failure to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) a non‑penal warning and direct agencies to run an outreach campaign, while also setting out multiple vehicle‑related technical changes.
Damien Leonard, legislative counsel, told the committee the draft would make a violation of the new flotation‑device subsection "not be subject to the penalty, which is the $50 penalty, or constitute a traffic violation," a change intended to keep such incidents out of judicial bureau jurisdiction and avoid court fees. The chair said the committee could make the fine "$0" so the provision would be educational rather than punitive.
Why it matters: The change shifts the practical effect of the PFD rule from enforceable traffic penalty to a warning, reducing the risk of court fees and criminal‑procedure consequences while relying on agency outreach and voluntary compliance to change boater behavior.
The draft would require the Department of Motor Vehicles and the…
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