Vermont Duty to Inform: Police Stops While Carrying

Duty to Inform Law Enforcement

Overview

Vermont has no statutory duty to inform law enforcement that you are carrying a concealed firearm during a traffic stop or other encounter. Vermont is a constitutional carry state and has never required a concealed carry permit, making it unique among U.S. states in its longstanding recognition of permitless carry.

Legal Basis

Vermont's firearms laws are found primarily in Title 13, Chapter 85 of the Vermont Statutes. There is no provision within Vermont law that requires a person lawfully carrying a firearm to proactively disclose that fact to a law enforcement officer.

• 13 V.S.A. § 4003 - Carrying dangerous weapons: Vermont does not require a permit to carry a firearm, whether openly or concealed, for persons who are legally eligible to possess firearms.
• No corresponding duty-to-inform statute exists in Vermont code.

Practical Considerations

• While there is no legal obligation to inform, many firearms instructors and legal experts recommend voluntarily disclosing that you are carrying a firearm during any law enforcement encounter as a matter of safety and courtesy.
• If asked directly by a law enforcement officer whether you are carrying a firearm, you should answer truthfully. Providing false information to law enforcement can result in separate criminal charges.
• Vermont law does require compliance with lawful orders from law enforcement officers.

Prohibited Persons

While Vermont does not impose a duty to inform, persons prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)) or Vermont law are not authorized to carry. Relevant Vermont prohibitions include:

• 13 V.S.A. § 4017 - Persons convicted of certain violent felonies
• 13 V.S.A. § 4054 - Persons subject to certain relief-from-abuse orders

Age Requirements

• Persons under 16 years of age may not carry a handgun without consent of a parent or guardian (13 V.S.A. § 4008).
• Federal law prohibits handgun possession by persons under 18.

Restricted Locations

Even without a duty to inform, carriers should be aware that firearms are prohibited in certain locations regardless of carry status:

• State and federal courthouses (13 V.S.A. § 4016)
• School buildings and buses (13 V.S.A. § 4004) - though exceptions exist for lawful purposes with authorization
• On the grounds of the State House in Montpelier (legislative rule)

Recent Legislative Context

Vermont has enacted several firearms-related laws in recent years, but none have introduced a duty to inform:

• Act 94 (2018) - Introduced background check requirements for private sales, magazine capacity limits (15 rounds for handguns, 10 for long guns under 13 V.S.A. § 4021), and bump stock restrictions. No duty to inform was included.
• 13 V.S.A. § 4019 (2018) - Extreme risk protection orders ("red flag" law) allowing temporary firearm removal by court order.

Summary

This information is current as of early 2026. Vermont law does not impose any obligation on lawful firearms carriers to proactively inform law enforcement of their carry status.