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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 7141
January Session, 2019
AN ACT REGULATING EL ECTRIC FOOT SCOOTERS .
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 14-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 2
Terms used in this chapter [, sections 14-289k and 14-289l and this 3
section] shall be construed as follows, unless another construction is 4
clearly apparent from the language or context in which the term is 5
used or unless the construction is inconsistent with the manifest 6
intention of the General Assembly: 7
(1) "Activity vehicle" means a student transportation vehicle that is 8
used to transport students in connection with school-sponsored events 9
and activities, but is not used to transport students to and from school; 10
(2) "Agricultural tractor" means a tractor or other form of 11
nonmuscular motive power used for transporting, hauling, plowing, 12
cultivating, planting, harvesting, reaping or other agricultural 13
purposes on any farm or other private property, or used for the 14
purpose of transporting, from one farm to another, agricultural 15
implements and farm products, provided the agricultural tractor is not 16
used on any highway for transporting a pay load or for some other 17
commercial purpose; 18 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(3) "Antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle" means a motor 19
vehicle twenty years old or older which is being preserved because of 20
historic interest and which is not altered or modified from the original 21
manufacturer's specifications; 22
(4) "Apparent candle power" means an illumination equal to the 23
normal illumination in foot candles produced by any lamp or lamps, 24
divided by the square of the distance in feet between the lamp or 25
lamps and the point at which the measurement is made; 26
(5) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means (A) a fire department 27
vehicle, (B) a police vehicle, or (C) a public service company or 28
municipal department ambulance or emergency vehicle designated or 29
authorized for use as an authorized emergency vehicle by the 30
commissioner; 31
(6) "Autocycle" means a motor vehicle that meets the requirements 32
of a motorcycle under 49 CFR Part 571, and (A) does not have more 33
than three wheels in contact with the ground, (B) is designed to be 34
controlled with a steering wheel and foot pedals for acceleration, 35
braking or shifting, (C) has a seat or seats that are fully or partially 36
enclosed and in which the occupants sit with their legs forward, and 37
(D) is equipped with safety belts, in accordance with section 14-100a, 38
for all occupants; 39
(7) "Auxiliary driving lamp" means an additional lighting device on 40
a motor vehicle used primarily to supplement the general illumination 41
in front of a motor vehicle provided by the motor vehicle's head lamps; 42
(8) "Bulb" means a light source consisting of a glass bulb containing 43
a filament or substance capable of being electrically maintained at 44
incandescence; 45
(9) "Camp trailer" includes any trailer designed for living or 46
sleeping purposes and used exclusively for camping or recreational 47
purposes; 48 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(10) "Camp trailer registration" means the type of registration issued 49
to any trailer that is for nonbusiness use and is limited to camp trailers 50
and utility trailers; 51
(11) "Camp vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is regularly used 52
to transport persons under eighteen years of age in connection with the 53
activities of any youth camp, as defined in section 19a-420; 54
(12) "Camper" means any motor vehicle designed or permanently 55
altered in such a way as to provide temporary living quarters for 56
travel, camping or recreational purposes; 57
(13) "Class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped 58
with a motor that engages only when the rider operates the electric 59
bicycle's foot pedals, and disengages when the rider stops pedaling or 60
such electric bicycle reaches the speed of twenty miles per hour; 61
(14) "Class 2 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped 62
with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the electric 63
bicycle, and disengages when the brakes are applied or such electric 64
bicycle reaches the speed of twenty miles per hour; 65
(15) "Class 3 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped 66
with a motor that engages only when the rider operates the electric 67
bicycle's foot pedals, and disengages when the rider stops pedaling or 68
such electric bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight miles per hour; 69
(16) "Combination registration" means the type of registration 70
issued to a motor vehicle used for both private passenger and 71
commercial purposes if such vehicle does not have a gross vehicle 72
weight rating in excess of twelve thousand five hundred pounds; 73
(17) "Commercial driver's license" or "CDL" means a license issued 74
to an individual in accordance with the provisions of sections 14-44a to 75
14-44m, inclusive, which authorizes such individual to drive a 76
commercial motor vehicle; 77 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(18) "Commercial driver's license information system" or "CDLIS" 78
means the national database of holders of commercial driver's licenses 79
established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 80
pursuant to Section 12007 of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act 81
of 1986; 82
(19) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a vehicle designed or used 83
to transport passengers or property, except a vehicle used for farming 84
purposes in accordance with 49 CFR 383.3(d), fire fighting apparatus 85
or an emergency vehicle, as defined in section 14-283, or a recreational 86
vehicle in private use, which (A) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 87
twenty-six thousand and one pounds or more, or a gross combination 88
weight rating of twenty-six thousand and one pounds or more, 89
inclusive of a towed unit or units with a gross vehicle weight rating of 90
more than ten thousand pounds; (B) is designed to transport sixteen or 91
more passengers, including the driver, or is designed to transport more 92
than ten passengers, including the driver, and is used to transport 93
students under the age of twenty-one years to and from school; or (C) 94
is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in 95
accordance with 49 CFR 172, Subpart F, as amended, or any quantity of 96
a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73; 97
(20) "Commercial registration" means the type of registration 98
required for any motor vehicle designed or used to transport 99
merchandise, freight or persons in connection with any business 100
enterprise, unless a more specific type of registration is authorized and 101
issued by the commissioner for such class of vehicle; 102
(21) "Commercial trailer" means a trailer used in the conduct of a 103
business to transport freight, materials or equipment whether or not 104
permanently affixed to the bed of the trailer; 105
(22) "Commercial trailer registration" means the type of registration 106
issued to any commercial trailer; 107
(23) "Commissioner" includes the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 108 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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and any assistant to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles who is 109
designated and authorized by, and who is acting for, the 110
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under a designation; except that the 111
deputy commissioners of motor vehicles and the Attorney General are 112
deemed, unless the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles otherwise 113
provides, to be designated and authorized by, and acting for, the 114
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under a designation; 115
(24) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as provided in 116
section 21a-240 and the federal laws and regulations incorporated in 117
chapter 420b; 118
(25) "Conviction" means an unvacated adjudication of guilt, or a 119
determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the 120
law in a court of original jurisdiction or an authorized administrative 121
tribunal, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to 122
secure the person's appearance in court, the payment of a fine or court 123
cost, or violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of 124
whether or not the penalty is rebated, suspended or probated; 125
(26) "Dealer" includes any person actively engaged in buying, 126
selling or exchanging motor vehicles or trailers who has an established 127
place of business in this state and who may, incidental to such 128
business, repair motor vehicles or trailers, or cause them to be repaired 129
by persons in his or her employ; 130
(27) "Disqualification" means a withdrawal of the privilege to drive 131
a commercial motor vehicle, which occurs as a result of (A) any 132
suspension, revocation, or cancellation by the commissioner of the 133
privilege to operate a motor vehicle; (B) a determination by the Federal 134
Highway Administration, under the rules of practice for motor carrier 135
safety contained in 49 CFR 386, as amended, that a person is no longer 136
qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle under the standards of 137
49 CFR 391, as amended; or (C) the loss of qualification which follows 138
any of the convictions or administrative actions specified in section 14-139
44k; 140 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(28) "Drive" means to drive, operate or be in physical control of a 141
motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle being towed by another; 142
(29) "Driver" means any person who drives, operates or is in 143
physical control of a commercial motor vehicle, or who is required to 144
hold a commercial driver's license; 145
(30) "Driver's license" or "operator's license" means a valid 146
Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license or a license issued by 147
another state or foreign jurisdiction authorizing the holder thereof to 148
operate a motor vehicle on the highways; 149
(31) "Electric bicycle" means a bicycle equipped with operable foot 150
pedals and an electric motor of fewer than seven hundred fifty watts of 151
power that is either a class 1, class 2 or class 3 bicycle. "Electric bicycle" 152
does not include a dirt bike or an all-terrain vehicle; 153
(32) "Electric foot scooter" means a device (A) that weighs not more 154
than sixty-five pounds, (B) that has two or three wheels, handlebars 155
and a floorboard that can be stood upon while riding, (C) that is 156
powered by an electric motor and human power, and (D) whose 157
maximum speed, with or without human propulsion on a paved level 158
surface, is not more than twenty miles per hour; 159
[(32)] (33) "Employee" means any operator of a commercial motor 160
vehicle, including full-time, regularly employed drivers, casual, 161
intermittent or occasional drivers, drivers under contract and 162
independent owner-operator contractors, who, while in the course of 163
operating a commercial motor vehicle, are either directly employed by, 164
or are under contract to, an employer; 165
[(33)] (34) "Employer" means any person, including the United 166
States, a state or any political subdivision thereof, who owns or leases 167
a commercial motor vehicle, or assigns a person to drive a commercial 168
motor vehicle; 169
[(34)] (35) "Farm implement" means a vehicle designed and adapted 170 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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exclusively for agricultural, horticultural or livestock-raising 171
operations and which is not operated on a highway for transporting a 172
pay load or for any other commercial purpose; 173
[(35)] (36) "Felony" means any offense, as defined in section 53a-25 174
and includes any offense designated as a felony under federal law; 175
[(36)] (37) "Fatality" means the death of a person as a result of a 176
motor vehicle accident; 177
[(37)] (38) "Foreign jurisdiction" means any jurisdiction other than a 178
state of the United States; 179
[(38)] (39) "Fuels" means (A) all products c ommonly or 180
commercially known or sold as gasoline, including casinghead and 181
absorption or natural gasoline, regardless of their classification or uses, 182
(B) any liquid prepared, advertised, offered for sale or sold for use, or 183
commonly and commercially used, as a fuel in internal combustion 184
engines, which, when subjected to distillation in accordance with the 185
standard method of test for distillation of gasoline, naphtha, kerosene 186
and similar petroleum products by "American Society for Testing 187
Materials Method D-86", shows not less than ten per cent distilled 188
(recovered) below 347° Fahrenheit (175° Centigrade) and not less than 189
ninety-five per cent distilled (recovered) below 464° Fahrenheit (240° 190
Centigrade); provided the term "fuels" [shall] does not include 191
commercial solvents or naphthas which distill, by "American Society 192
for Testing Materials Method D-86", not more than nine per cent at 193
176° Fahrenheit and which have a distillation range of 150° Fahrenheit, 194
or less, or liquefied gases which would not exist as liquids at a 195
temperature of 60° Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14.7 pounds per 196
square inch absolute, and (C) any liquid commonly referred to as 197
"gasohol" which is prepared, advertised, offered for sale or sold for 198
use, or commonly and commercially used, as a fuel in internal 199
combustion engines, consisting of a blend of gasoline and a minimum 200
of ten per cent by volume of ethyl or methyl alcohol; 201 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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[(39)] (40) "Garage" includes every place of business where motor 202
vehicles are, for compensation, received for housing, storage or repair; 203
[(40)] (41) "Gross vehicle weight rating" or "GVWR" means the value 204
specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a 205
single or a combination (articulated) vehicle. The GVWR of a 206
combination (articulated) vehicle commonly referred to as the "gross 207
combination weight rating" or GCWR is the GVWR of the power unit 208
plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units; 209
[(41)] (42) "Gross weight" means the light weight of a vehicle plus 210
the weight of any load on the vehicle, provided, in the case of a tractor-211
trailer unit, "gross weight" means the light weight of the tractor plus 212
the light weight of the trailer or semitrailer plus the weight of the load 213
on the vehicle; 214
[(42)] (43) "Hazardous materials" has the same meaning as provided 215
in 49 CFR 383.5; 216
[(43)] (44) "Head lamp" means a lighting device affixed to the front 217
of a motor vehicle projecting a high intensity beam which lights the 218
road in front of the vehicle so that it can proceed safely during the 219
hours of darkness; 220
[(44)] (45) "High-mileage vehicle" means a motor vehicle having the 221
following characteristics: (A) Not less than three wheels in contact with 222
the ground; (B) a completely enclosed seat on which the driver sits; (C) 223
a single or two cylinder, gasoline or diesel engine or an electric-224
powered engine; and (D) efficient fuel consumption; 225
[(45)] (46) "Highway" includes any state or other public highway, 226
road, street, avenue, alley, driveway, parkway, place or dedicated 227
roadway for bus rapid transit service, under the control of the state or 228
any political subdivision of the state, dedicated, appropriated or 229
opened to public travel or other use; 230
[(46)] (47) "Imminent hazard" means the existence of a condition that 231 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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presents a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe 232
personal injury or a substantial endangerment to health, property, or 233
the environment may occur before the reasonably foreseeable 234
completion date of a formal proceeding begun to lessen the risk of that 235
death, illness, injury or endangerment; 236
[(47)] (48) "Intersecting highway" includes any public highway 237
which joins another at an angle whether or not it crosses the other; 238
[(48)] (49) "Light weight" means the weight of an unloaded motor 239
vehicle as ordinarily equipped and ready for use, exclusive of the 240
weight of the operator of the motor vehicle; 241
[(49)] (50) "Limited access highway" means a state highway so 242
designated under the provisions of section 13b-27; 243
[(50)] (51) "Local authorities" includes the board of aldermen, 244
common council, chief of police, warden and burgesses, board of 245
selectmen or other officials having authority for the enactment or 246
enforcement of traffic regulations within their respective towns, cities 247
or boroughs; 248
[(51)] (52) "Maintenance vehicle" means any vehicle in use by the 249
state or by any town, city, borough or district, any state bridge or 250
parkway authority or any public service company, as defined in 251
section 16-1, in the maintenance of public highways or bridges and 252
facilities located within the limits of public highways or bridges; 253
[(52)] (53) "Manufacturer" means (A) a person, whether a resident or 254
nonresident, engaged in the business of constructing or assembling 255
new motor vehicles of a type required to be registered by the 256
commissioner, for operation upon any highway, except a utility trailer, 257
which are offered for sale in this state, or (B) a person who distributes 258
new motor vehicles to new car dealers licensed in this state; 259
[(53)] (54) "Median divider" means an intervening space or physical 260
barrier or clearly indicated dividing section separating traffic lanes 261 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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provided for vehicles proceeding in opposite directions; 262
[(54)] (55) "Modified antique motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle 263
twenty years old or older which has been modified for safe road use, 264
including, but not limited to, modifications to the drive train, 265
suspension, braking system and safety or comfort apparatus; 266
[(55)] (56) "Motor bus" includes any motor vehicle, except a taxicab, 267
as defined in section 13b-95, operated in whole or in part on any street 268
or highway in a manner affording a means of transportation by 269
indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers, or running on a 270
regular route or over any portion of a regular route or between fixed 271
termini; 272
[(56)] (57) "Motor home" means a vehicular unit designed to provide 273
living quarters and necessary amenities which are built into an integral 274
part of, or permanently attached to, a truck or van chassis; 275
[(57)] (58) "Motor-driven cycle" means any of the following vehicles 276
that have a seat height of not less than twenty-six inches and a motor 277
having a capacity of less than fifty cubic centimeters piston 278
displacement: (A) A motorcycle, other than an autocycle; (B) a motor 279
scooter; or (C) a bicycle with attached motor, except an electric bicycle; 280
[(58)] (59) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle propelled or drawn by 281
any nonmuscular power, except aircraft, motor boats, road rollers, 282
baggage trucks used about railroad stations or other mass transit 283
facilities, electric battery-operated wheel chairs when operated by 284
persons with physical disabilities at speeds not exceeding fifteen miles 285
per hour, golf carts operated on highways solely for the purpose of 286
crossing from one part of the golf course to another, golf-cart-type 287
vehicles operated on roads or highways on the grounds of state 288
institutions by state employees, agricultural tractors, farm implements, 289
such vehicles as run only on rails or tracks, self-propelled snow plows, 290
snow blowers and lawn mowers, when used for the purposes for 291
which they were designed and operated at speeds not exceeding four 292 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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miles per hour, whether or not the operator rides on or walks behind 293
such equipment, motor-driven cycles, as defined in section 14-286, as 294
amended by this act, special mobile equipment, as defined in section 295
14-165, mini-motorcycles, as defined in section 14-289j, electric 296
bicycles, electric foot scooters and any other vehicle not suitable for 297
operation on a highway; 298
[(59)] (60) "Motorcycle" means (A) an autocycle, as defined in this 299
section, or (B) a motor vehicle, with or without a side car, that has (i) 300
not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, (ii) a saddle or 301
seat which the rider straddles or a platform on which the rider stands, 302
and (iii) handlebars with which the rider controls the movement of the 303
vehicle. "Motorcycle" does not include a motor-driven cycle, [or] an 304
electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter; 305
[(60)] (61) "National Driver Registry" or "NDR" means the licensing 306
information system and database operated by the National Highway 307
Traffic Safety Administration and established pursuant to the National 308
Driver Registry Act of 1982, as amended; 309
[(61)] (62) "New motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, the equitable 310
or legal title to which has never been transferred by a manufacturer, 311
distributor or dealer to an ultimate consumer; 312
[(62)] (63) "Nonresident" means any person whose legal residence is 313
in a state other than Connecticut or in a foreign country; 314
[(63)] (64) "Nonresident commercial driver's license" or "nonresident 315
CDL" means a commercial driver's license issued by a state to an 316
individual who resides in a foreign jurisdiction; 317
[(64)] (65) "Nonskid device" means any device applied to the tires, 318
wheels, axles or frame of a motor vehicle for the purpose of increasing 319
the traction of the motor vehicle; 320
[(65)] (66) "Number plate" means any sign or marker furnished by 321
the commissioner on which is displayed the registration number 322 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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assigned to a motor vehicle by the commissioner; 323
[(66)] (67) "Officer" includes any constable, state marshal, inspector 324
of motor vehicles, state policeman or other official authorized to make 325
arrests or to serve process, provided the officer is in uniform or 326
displays the officer's badge of office in a conspicuous place when 327
making an arrest; 328
[(67)] (68) "Operator" means any person who operates a motor 329
vehicle or who steers or directs the course of a motor vehicle being 330
towed by another motor vehicle and includes a driver; [as defined in 331
subdivision (26) of this section;] 332
[(68)] (69) "Out-of-service order" means an order (A) issued by a 333
person having inspection authority, as defined in regulations adopted 334
by the commissioner pursuant to section 14-163c, or by an authorized 335
official of the United States Department of Transportation Federal 336
Motor Carrier Safety Administration pursuant to any provision of 337
federal law, to prohibit any motor vehicle specified in subsection (a) of 338
section 14-163c from being operated on any highway, or to prohibit a 339
driver from operating any such motor vehicle, or (B) issued by the 340
United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier 341
Safety Administration, pursuant to any provision of federal law, to 342
prohibit any motor carrier, as defined in Section 386.2 of Title 49 of the 343
Code of Federal Regulations, from engaging in commercial motor 344
vehicle operations; 345
[(69)] (70) "Owner" means any person holding title to a motor 346
vehicle, or having the legal right to register the same, including 347
purchasers under conditional bills of sale; 348
[(70)] (71) "Parked vehicle" means a motor vehicle in a stationary 349
position within the limits of a public highway; 350
[(71)] (72) "Passenger and commercial motor vehicle" means a motor 351
vehicle used for private passenger and commercial purposes which is 352
eligible for combination registration; 353 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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[(72)] (73) "Passenger motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for 354
the private transportation of persons and their personal belongings, 355
designed to carry occupants in comfort and safety, with a capacity of 356
carrying not more than ten passengers including the operator thereof; 357
[(73)] (74) "Passenger registration" means the type of registration 358
issued to a passenger motor vehicle unless a more specific type of 359
registration is authorized and issued by the commissioner for such 360
class of vehicle; 361
[(74)] (75) "Person" includes any individual, corporation, limited 362
liability company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business 363
trust or other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state 364
or any political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or 365
requires; 366
[(75)] (76) "Pick-up truck" means a motor vehicle with an enclosed 367
forward passenger compartment and an open rearward compartment 368
used for the transportation of property; 369
[(76)] (77) "Pneumatic tires" means tires inflated or inflatable with 370
air; 371
[(77)] (78) "Pole trailer" means a trailer which is (A) intended for 372
transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, logs, pipes 373
or structural members, which loads are capable of sustaining 374
themselves as beams between supporting connections, and (B) 375
designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and attached or secured 376
directly to the motor vehicle by any means including a reach, pole or 377
boom; 378
[(78)] (79) "Public passenger endorsement" means an endorsement 379
issued to an individual, which authorizes such individual to transport 380
passengers, including, but not limited to, passengers who are students 381
in accordance with subsection (b) or (c) of section 14-36a; 382
[(79)] (80) "Recreational vehicle" includes the camper, camp trailer 383 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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and motor home classes of vehicles; 384
[(80)] (81) "Registration" includes the certificate of motor vehicle 385
registration and the number plate or plates used in connection with 386
such registration; 387
[(81)] (82) "Registration number" means the identifying number or 388
letters, or both, assigned by the commissioner to a motor vehicle; 389
[(82)] (83) "Resident", for the purpose of registering motor vehicles, 390
includes any person who is a legal resident of this state, as the 391
commissioner may presume from the fact that such person occupies a 392
place of dwelling in this state for more than six months in a year, or 393
any person, firm or corporation owning or leasing a motor vehicle 394
used or operated in intrastate business in this state, or a firm or 395
corporation having its principal office or place of business in this state; 396
[(83)] (84) "School bus" means any school bus, as defined in section 397
14-275, including a commercial motor vehicle used to transport 398
preschool, elementary school or secondary school students from home 399
to school, from school to home, or to and from school-sponsored 400
events, but does not include a bus used as a common carrier; 401
[(84)] (85) "Second" violation or "subsequent" violation means an 402
offense committed not more than three years after the date of an arrest 403
which resulted in a previous conviction for a violation of the same 404
statutory provision, except in the case of a violation of section 14-215, 405
14-224, 14-227a or 14-227m, "second" violation or "subsequent" 406
violation means an offense committed not more than ten years after 407
the date of an arrest which resulted in a previous conviction for a 408
violation of the same statutory provision; 409
[(85)] (86) "Semitrailer" means any trailer type vehicle designed and 410
used in conjunction with a motor vehicle so that some part of its own 411
weight and load rests on or is carried by another vehicle; 412
[(86)] (87) "Serious traffic violation" means a conviction of any of the 413 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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following offenses: (A) Excessive speeding, involving a single offense 414
in which the speed is fifteen miles per hour or more above the posted 415
speed limit, in violation of section 14-218a or 14-219; (B) reckless 416
driving in violation of section 14-222; (C) following too closely in 417
violation of section 14-240 or 14-240a; (D) improper or erratic lane 418
changes, in violation of section 14-236; (E) using a hand-held mobile 419
telephone or other electronic device or typing, reading or sending text 420
or a text message with or from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic 421
device in violation of subsection (e) of section 14-296aa while operating 422
a commercial motor vehicle; (F) driving a commercial motor vehicle 423
without a valid commercial driver's license in violation of section 14-424
36a or 14-44a; (G) failure to carry a commercial driver's license in 425
violation of section 14-44a; (H) failure to have the proper class of 426
license or endorsement, or violation of a license restriction in violation 427
of section 14-44a; or (I) a violation of any provision of chapter 248, by 428
an operator who holds a commercial driver's license or instruction 429
permit that results in the death of another person; 430
[(87)] (88) "Service bus" includes any vehicle except a vanpool 431
vehicle or a school bus designed and regularly used to carry ten or 432
more passengers when used in private service for the transportation of 433
persons without charge to the individual; 434
[(88)] (89) "Service car" means any motor vehicle used by a 435
manufacturer, dealer or repairer for emergency motor vehicle repairs 436
on the highways of this state, for towing or for the transportation of 437
necessary persons, tools and materials to and from the scene of such 438
emergency repairs or towing; 439
[(89)] (90) "Shoulder" means that portion of a highway immediately 440
adjacent and contiguous to the travel lanes or main traveled portion of 441
the roadway; 442
[(90)] (91) "Solid tires" means tires of rubber, or other elastic material 443
approved by the Commissioner of Transportation, which do not 444
depend on confined air for the support of the load; 445 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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[(91)] (92) "Spot lamp" or "spot light" means a lighting device 446
projecting a high intensity beam, the direction of which can be readily 447
controlled for special or emergency lighting as distinguished from 448
ordinary road illumination; 449
[(92)] (93) "State" means any state of the United States and the 450
District of Columbia unless the context indicates a more specific 451
reference to the state of Connecticut; 452
[(93)] (94) "Stop" means complete cessation of movement; 453
[(94)] (95) "Student" means any person under the age of twenty-one 454
years who is attending a preprimary, primary or secondary school 455
program of education; 456
[(95)] (96) "Tail lamp" means a lighting device affixed to the rear of a 457
motor vehicle showing a red light to the rear and indicating the 458
presence of the motor vehicle when viewed from behind; 459
[(96)] (97) "Tank vehicle" means any commercial motor vehicle 460
designed to transport any liquid or gaseous material within a tank that 461
is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or its 462
chassis, which [shall include] includes, but is not [be] limited to, a 463
cargo tank and portable tank, as defined in 49 CFR 383.5, as amended, 464
provided it [shall] does not include a portable tank with a rated 465
capacity not to exceed one thousand gallons; 466
[(97)] (98) "Tractor" or "truck tractor" means a motor vehicle 467
designed and used for drawing a semitrailer; 468
[(98)] (99) "Tractor-trailer unit" means a combination of a tractor and 469
a trailer or a combination of a tractor and a semitrailer; 470
[(99)] (100) "Trailer" means any rubber-tired vehicle without motive 471
power drawn or propelled by a motor vehicle; 472
[(100)] (101) "Truck" means a motor vehicle designed, used or 473 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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maintained primarily for the transportation of property; 474
[(101)] (102) "Ultimate consumer" means, with respect to a motor 475
vehicle, the first person, other than a dealer, who in good faith 476
purchases the motor vehicle for purposes other than resale; 477
[(102)] (103) "United States" means the fifty states and the District of 478
Columbia; 479
[(103)] (104) "Used motor vehicle" includes any motor vehicle which 480
has been previously separately registered by an ultimate consumer; 481
[(104)] (105) "Utility trailer" means a trailer designed and used to 482
transport personal property, materials or equipment, whether or not 483
permanently affixed to the bed of the trailer; 484
[(105)] (106) "Vanpool vehicle" includes all motor vehicles, the 485
primary purpose of which is the daily transportation, on a prearranged 486
nonprofit basis, of individuals between home and work, and which: 487
(A) If owned by or leased to a person, or to an employee of the person, 488
or to an employee of a local, state or federal government unit or agency 489
located in Connecticut, are manufactured and equipped in such 490
manner as to provide a seating capacity of at least seven but not more 491
than fifteen individuals, or (B) if owned by or leased to a regional ride-492
sharing organization in the state recognized by the Commissioner of 493
Transportation, are manufactured and equipped in such manner as to 494
provide a seating capacity of at least six but not more than nineteen 495
individuals; 496
[(106)] (107) "Vehicle" includes any device suitable for the 497
conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, 498
whether operated on wheels, runners, a cushion of air or by any other 499
means. The term does not include devices propelled or drawn by 500
human power or devices used exclusively on tracks; 501
[(107)] (108) "Vehicle identification number" or "VIN" means a series 502
of Arabic numbers and Roman letters that is assigned to each new 503 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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motor vehicle that is manufactured within or imported into the United 504
States, in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 565, unless another 505
sequence of numbers and letters has been assigned to a motor vehicle 506
by the commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-507
149; 508
[(108)] (109) "Wrecker" means a vehicle which is registered, 509
designed, equipped and used for the purposes of towing or 510
transporting wrecked or disabled motor vehicles for compensation or 511
for related purposes by a person, firm or corporation licensed in 512
accordance with the provisions of subpart (D) of part III of this chapter 513
or a vehicle contracted for the consensual towing or transporting of 514
one or more motor vehicles to or from a place of sale, purchase, 515
salvage or repair. 516
Sec. 2. Subsection (c) of section 14-164c of the general statutes is 517
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 518
October 1, 2019): 519
(c) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with 520
chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. Such 521
regulations shall include provision for a periodic inspection of air 522
pollution control equipment and compliance with or waiver of exhaust 523
emission standards or compliance with or waiver of on -board 524
diagnostic standards or other standards defined by the Commissioner 525
of Energy and Environmental Protection and approved by the 526
Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 527
compliance with or waiver of, air pollution control system integrity 528
standards defined by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 529
Protection and compliance with or waiver of purge system standards 530
defined by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 531
Protection. Such regulations may provide for an inspection procedure 532
using an on-board diagnostic information system for all 1996 model 533
year and newer motor vehicles. Such regulations shall apply to all 534
motor vehicles registered or which will be registered in this state 535
except: (1) Vehicles having a gross weight of more than ten thousand 536 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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pounds; (2) vehicles powered by electricity; (3) bicycles with motors 537
attached; (4) motorcycles; (5) vehicles operating with a temporary 538
registration; (6) vehicles manufactured twenty-five or more years ago; 539
(7) new vehicles at the time of initial registration; (8) vehicles 540
registered but not designed primarily for highway use; (9) farm 541
vehicles, as defined in subsection (q) of section 14-49; (10) diesel-542
powered type II school buses; (11) a vehicle operated by a licensed 543
dealer or repairer either to or from a location of the purchase or sale of 544
such vehicle or for the purpose of obtaining an official emissions or 545
safety inspection; (12) vehicles that have met the inspection 546
requirements of section 14-103a and are registered by the 547
commissioner as composite vehicles; [or] (13) electric bicycles, as 548
defined in section 14-1, as amended by this act; or (14) electric foot 549
scooters, as defined in section 14-1, as amended by this act. On and 550
after July 1, 2002, such regulations shall exempt from the periodic 551
inspection requirement any vehicle four or less model years of age, 552
beginning with model year 2003 and the previous three model years, 553
provided that such exemption shall lapse upon a finding by the 554
Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency 555
or by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation 556
that such exemption causes the state to violate applicable federal 557
environmental or transportation planning requirements. 558
Notwithstanding any provisions of this subsection, the commissioner 559
may require an initial emissions inspection and compliance or waiver 560
prior to registration of a new motor vehicle. If the Commissioner of 561
Energy and Environmental Protection finds that it is necessary to 562
inspect motor vehicles which are exempt under subdivision (1) or (4) 563
of this subsection, or motor vehicles that are four or less model years of 564
age in order to achieve compliance with federal law concerning 565
emission reduction requirements, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 566
may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 567
54, to require the inspection of motorcycles, designated motor vehicles 568
having a gross weight of more than ten thousand pounds or motor 569
vehicles four or less model years of age. 570 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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Sec. 3. Subdivision (1) of section 14-212 of the general statutes is 571
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 572
October 1, 2019): 573
(1) The following terms shall be construed as they are defined in 574
section 14-1, as amended by this act: "Authorized emergency vehicle", 575
"class 1 electric bicycle", "class 2 electric bicycle", "class 3 electric 576
bicycle", "commissioner", "driver", "electric bicycle", "electric foot 577
scooter", "fuels", "gross weight", "head lamp", "high-mileage vehicle", 578
"highway", "light weight", "limited access highway", "maintenance 579
vehicle", "motor bus", "motorcycle", "motor vehicle registration", 580
"nonresident", "nonskid device", "number plate", "officer", "operator", 581
"owner", "passenger motor vehicle", "passenger and commercial motor 582
vehicle", "person", "pneumatic tires", "pole trailer", "registration", 583
"registration number", "second offense", "semitrailer", "shoulder", 584
"solid tires", "stop", "subsequent offense", "tail lamp", "tractor", "tractor-585
trailer unit", "trailer", "truck" and "vanpool vehicle"; 586
Sec. 4. Section 14-212c of the general statutes is repealed and the 587
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 588
A surcharge shall be imposed equivalent to one hundred per cent of 589
the fine established or imposed for a violation of subsection (e) of 590
section 14-242, section 14-245, 14-246a, 14-247 or 14-247a for such 591
violation when the driver of a vehicle fails to grant or yield the right-592
of-way to a person riding a bicycle, as defined in section 14-286, as 593
amended by this act, [or a person riding] an electric bicycle or an 594
electric foot scooter. 595
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 14-230 of the general statutes is 596
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 597
October 1, 2019): 598
(a) Upon all highways, each vehicle, other than a vehicle described 599
in subsection (c) of this section, shall be driven upon the right, except 600
(1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the 601 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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same direction, (2) when overtaking and passing pedestrians, parked 602
or standing vehicles, animals, bicycles, electric bicycles, mopeds, 603
scooters, electric foot scooters, vehicles moving at a slow speed, as 604
defined in section 14-220, or obstructions on the right side of the 605
highway, (3) when the right side of a highway is closed to traffic while 606
under construction or repair, (4) on a highway divided into three or 607
more marked lanes for traffic, or (5) on a highway designated and 608
signposted for one-way traffic. 609
Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 14-232 of the general statutes is 610
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 611
October 1, 2019): 612
(a) Except as provided in sections 14-233 and 14-234, as amended by 613
this act, (1) the driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle 614
proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe 615
distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the highway until 616
safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and (2) the driver of an overtaken 617
vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle 618
and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely 619
passed by the overtaking vehicle. For the purposes of this subsection, 620
"safe distance" means not less than three feet when the driver of a 621
vehicle overtakes and passes a person riding a bicycle, [or] an electric 622
bicycle or an electric foot scooter. 623
Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 14-234 of the general statutes is 624
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 625
October 1, 2019): 626
(b) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass, in a marked no-627
passing zone, pedestrians, parked or standing vehicles, animals, 628
bicycles, electric bicycles, mopeds, scooters, electric foot scooters, 629
vehicles moving at a slow speed, as defined in section 14-220, or 630
obstructions on the right side of the highway, as listed in subdivision 631
(2) of subsection (a) of section 14-230, as amended by this act, provided 632
such overtaking and passing may be conducted safely, with adequate 633 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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sight distance and without interfering with oncoming traffic or 634
endangering traffic, as defined in section 14-297, as amended by this 635
act. 636
Sec. 8. Subsection (f) of section 14-242 of the general statutes is 637
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 638
October 1, 2019): 639
(f) No person operating a vehicle who overtakes and passes a 640
person riding a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle or an electric foot 641
scooter and proceeding in the same direction shall make a right turn at 642
any intersection or into any private road or driveway unless the turn 643
can be made with reasonable safety and will not impede the travel of 644
the person riding the bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or electric foot 645
scooter. 646
Sec. 9. Section 14-286 of the general statutes is repealed and the 647
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 648
(a) Each person operating a bicycle, an electric bicycle or an electric 649
foot scooter upon and along a sidewalk or across any roadway upon 650
and along a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian 651
and shall give an audible signal within a reasonable distance before 652
overtaking and passing a pedestrian. Each person operating a bicycle, 653
an electric bicycle, an electric foot scooter or a motor-driven cycle upon 654
a roadway shall, within a reasonable distance, give an audible signal 655
before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or another [bicycle 656
operator] person operating a bicycle, an electric bicycle, an electric foot 657
scooter or a motor-driven cycle. No person shall operate a bicycle, an 658
electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter upon or along a sidewalk or 659
across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk if such operation is 660
prohibited by any ordinance of any city, town or borough or by any 661
regulation of the Office of the State Traffic Administration issued or 662
adopted pursuant to the provisions of section 14-298, as amended by 663
this act. 664 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(b) [No] Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no 665
person shall ride a motor-driven cycle unless that person holds a valid 666
motor vehicle operator's license. No person shall operate a motor-667
driven cycle on any sidewalk, limited access highway or turnpike. 668
(c) (1) [Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this 669
section, the] The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue to a 670
person who does not hold a valid operator's license a special permit 671
that authorizes such person to ride a motor-driven cycle if (A) such 672
person presents to the commissioner a certificate by a physician 673
licensed to practice medicine in this state or an advanced practice 674
registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378 that such person is 675
physically disabled, as defined in section 1-1f, other than blind, and 676
that, in the physician's or advanced practice registered nurse's opinion, 677
such person is capable of riding a motor-driven cycle, and (B) such 678
person demonstrates to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles that he is 679
able to ride a bicycle on level terrain, and a motor-driven cycle. (2) 680
Such permit may contain limitations that the commissioner deems 681
advisable for the safety of such person and for the public safety, 682
including, but not limited to, the maximum speed of the motor such 683
person may use. No person who holds a valid special permit under 684
this subsection shall operate a motor-driven cycle in violation of any 685
limitations imposed in the permit. Any person to whom a special 686
permit is issued shall carry the permit at all times while operating the 687
motor-driven cycle. Each permit issued under this subsection shall 688
expire one year from the date of issuance. 689
(d) Notwithstanding [the provisions of any statute or regulation to 690
the contrary] any provision of the general statutes, the Office of the 691
State Traffic Administration shall adopt regulations in accordance with 692
the provisions of chapter 54 determining the conditions and 693
circumstances under which [bicycle traffic] the operation of bicycles, 694
electric bicycles and electric foot scooters may be permitted on those 695
bridges in the state on limited access highways which it designates to 696
be safe for [bicycle traffic. Bicycle traffic] such operation. The operation 697 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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of bicycles, electric bicycles and electric foot scooters shall not be 698
prohibited on any such bridges under such conditio ns and 699
circumstances. 700
(e) As used in this section: (1) "Sidewalk" means any sidewalk laid 701
out as such by any town, city or borough, and any walk which is 702
reserved by custom for the use of pedestrians, or which has been 703
specially prepared for their use. "Sidewalk" does not include 704
crosswalks and does not include footpaths on portions of public 705
highways outside thickly settled parts of towns, cities and boroughs, 706
which are worn only by travel and are not improved by such towns, 707
cities or boroughs or by abutters; (2) "bicycle" includes all vehicles 708
propelled by the person riding the same by foot or hand power; and 709
(3) "motor-driven cycle" means any motorcycle other than an 710
autocycle, motor scooter or bicycle with an attached motor with a seat 711
height of not less than twenty-six inches and a motor having a capacity 712
of less than fifty cubic centimeters piston displacement. 713
(f) A person shall operate a motor-driven cycle on any public 714
highway, the speed limit of which is greater than the maximum speed 715
of the motor-driven cycle, only in the right hand lane available for 716
traffic or upon a usable shoulder on the right side of the highway, 717
except when preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into or 718
from a private road or driveway. 719
(g) Any person who pleads not guilty of a violation of any provision 720
of this section shall be prosecuted within fifteen days of such plea. 721
(h) No person may operate a high-mileage vehicle [as defined in 722
section 14-1] on any sidewalk, limited access highway or turnpike. 723
(i) A person may park an electric foot scooter on any sidewalk 724
provided (1) such electric foot scooter is parked in a manner that does 725
not impede the reasonable movement of pedestrians and other traffic 726
on such sidewalk, and (2) such parking is not prohibited by any 727
ordinance of any city, town or borough or by any regulations of the 728 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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Office of the State Traffic Administration issued or adopted pursuant 729
to the provisions of section 14-298, as amended by this act. 730
[(i)] (j) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an 731
infraction. 732
Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 14-286a of the general statutes is 733
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 734
October 1, 2019): 735
(a) Every person riding a bicycle, as defined in section 14-286, as 736
amended by this act, [or] an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter 737
upon the traveled portion of a highway shall be granted all of the 738
rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of 739
any vehicle subject to the requirements of the general statutes relating 740
to motor vehicles, except (1) as to those provisions which by their 741
nature can have no application, [and except that] (2) each town, city or 742
borough and the Office of the State Traffic Administration within its 743
jurisdiction as provided in section 14-298, as amended by this act, shall 744
have authority to regulate bicycles, [and] electric bicycles and electric 745
foot scooters as provided in [section] sections 14-289, as amended by 746
this act, and [said section] 14-298, as amended by this act, and [except] 747
(3) as provided by section 14-286c, as amended by this act. No parent 748
of any child and no guardian of any ward shall authorize or knowingly 749
permit any such child or ward to violate any provision of the general 750
statutes or ordinances enacted under section 14-289, as amended by 751
this act, relating to bicycles, [or] electric bicycles or electric foot 752
scooters. 753
Sec. 11. Section 14-286b of the general statutes is repealed and the 754
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 755
(a) Any person operating a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle or an 756
electric foot scooter upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of 757
traffic shall ride as close to the right side of the roadway as is safe, as 758
judged by [the bicyclist] such person, except when: 759 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(1) Overtaking or passing another vehicle proceeding in the same 760
direction; 761
(2) Preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road 762
or driveway; 763
(3) Reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including, but not 764
limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, 765
bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or lanes that are too 766
narrow for a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter 767
and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side within such lanes; 768
(4) Approaching an intersection where right turns are permitted and 769
there is a dedicated right turn lane, in which case a [bicyclist or electric 770
bicyclist] person operating a bicycle, an electric bicycle or an electric 771
foot scooter may ride on the left-hand side of such dedicated lane, even 772
if [the bicyclist or electric bicyclist] such person does not intend to turn 773
right; 774
(5) Riding on a roadway designated for one-way traffic, when the 775
[bicyclist or electric bicyclist] person operating a bicycle, an electric 776
bicycle or an electric foot scooter may ride as near to the left-hand curb 777
or edge of such roadway as judged safe by [the bicyclist or electric 778
bicyclist] such person; or 779
(6) Riding on parts of roadways separated for the exclusive use of 780
bicycles, [or] electric bicycles or electric foot scooters, including, but 781
not limited to, contra-flow bicycle lanes, left-handed cycle tracks or 782
bicycle lanes on one-way streets and two-way cycle tracks or bicycle 783
lanes. 784
(b) Persons riding bicycles, [or] electric bicycles or electric foot 785
scooters upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except 786
on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of 787
bicycles, [or] electric bicycles or electric foot scooters. Persons riding 788
two abreast, as provided in this subsection, shall not impede the 789
normal and reasonable movement of traffic, and, on a laned roadway, 790 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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shall ride within a single lane. 791
(c) No person riding upon any bicycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven 792
cycle, roller skates, skis, sled, skateboard, coaster, toy vehicle, electric 793
foot scooter or any other vehicle not designed or intended to be towed 794
shall attach the same or such person to any vehicle moving or about to 795
move on a public roadway nor shall the operator of such vehicle 796
knowingly permit any person riding a bicycle, electric bicycle, motor-797
driven cycle, roller skates, skis, skateboard, coaster, sled, toy vehicle, 798
electric foot scooter or any other vehicle not designed or intended to be 799
towed to attach the same or such person to such vehicle so operated or 800
about to be operated, provided any person operating a bicycle solely 801
by foot or hand power may attach a bicycle trailer or semitrailer 802
thereto, provided such trailer or semitrailer is designed for such 803
attachment. 804
(d) No person operating a bicycle, as defined in section 14-286, as 805
amended by this act, [or] an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter 806
upon a roadway, path or part of roadway set aside for exclusive use of 807
bicycles, [or] electric bicycles or electric foot scooters shall carry on 808
such bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or electric foot scooter a passenger 809
unless such bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or electric foot scooter is 810
equipped or designed to carry passengers, provided any person who 811
has attained the age of eighteen years may carry any child while such 812
person is operating a bicycle propelled solely by foot or hand power, 813
provided such child is securely attached to his or her person by means 814
of a back pack, sling or other similar device. The term "child", as used 815
in this subsection, means any person who has not attained the age of 816
four years. 817
(e) No person operating a bicycle, as defined in section 14-286, as 818
amended by this act, [or] an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter 819
shall carry any package, bundle or other article which prevents such 820
person from using both hands in the operation of such bicycle, [or] 821
electric bicycle or electric foot scooter. Each person operating such 822
bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or electric foot scooter shall keep at least 823 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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one hand on the handlebars thereof when such bicycle, [or] electric 824
bicycle or electric foot scooter is in motion. 825
(f) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. 826
Sec. 12. Section 14-286c of the general statutes is repealed and the 827
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 828
(a) Each person riding a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle [, as defined 829
in section 14-1] or an electric foot scooter, upon the traveled portion of 830
a highway and intending to make a left turn after proceeding pursuant 831
to the provisions of section 14-244 or subsection (b) of this section may, 832
in lieu of the procedure prescribed by section 14-241, approach as close 833
as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the highway, proceed 834
across the intersecting roadway and make such turn as close as 835
practicable to the curb or edge of the highway on the far side of the 836
intersection, provided such procedure is not prohibited by any 837
regulation issued by any town, city, borough or the Office of the State 838
Traffic Administration. 839
(b) Each person riding a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle [, as defined 840
in section 14-1,] or an electric foot scooter upon the traveled portion of 841
a highway and intending to make a right turn may, in lieu of the 842
procedure prescribed by section 14-244, before turning and while in 843
motion or if stopped while waiting to turn, signal such turn by 844
extending [his] such person's right hand and arm horizontally with 845
forefinger extended. 846
(c) No person operating a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle [, as 847
defined in section 14-1,] or an electric foot scooter upon the traveled 848
portion of a highway and intending to make a right or left turn shall be 849
required when making a signal of such intention to make such signal 850
continuously. 851
Sec. 13. Section 14-286d of the general statutes is repealed and the 852
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 853 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(a) For the purposes of this section and section 14-286e, "bicycle" 854
means any vehicle propelled by the person riding the same by foot or 855
hand power. 856
(b) No child fifteen years of age or under shall operate a bicycle, 857
electric bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, [or] skateboard or electric foot 858
scooter or wear roller skates or in-line skates on the traveled portion of 859
any highway, at a skateboarding park or any park unless such child is 860
wearing properly fitted and fastened protective headgear which 861
conforms to the minimum specifications established by the American 862
National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation, as 863
amended from time to time. Failure to comply with this section shall 864
not be a violation or an offense. Failure to wear protective headgear as 865
required by this subsection shall not be considered to be contributory 866
negligence on the part of the parent or the child nor shall such failure 867
be admissible in any civil action. 868
(c) A law enforcement officer may issue a verbal warning to the 869
parent or guardian of a child that such child has failed to comply with 870
the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. 871
(d) A person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of renting 872
bicycles, electric bicycles or electric foot scooters shall provide 873
protective headgear conforming to the minimum specifications 874
established by the American National Standards Institute or the Snell 875
Memorial Foundation's Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in 876
Bicycling, as amended from time to time, to any person under sixteen 877
years of age who will operate the bicycle, electric bicycle or electric 878
foot scooter if such person does not have protective headgear in his or 879
her possession. A fee may be charged for the protective headgear 880
rental. Violation of any of the provisions of this subsection shall be an 881
infraction. 882
(e) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall post on the 883
Department of Consumer Protection's Internet web site information 884
concerning the dangers of riding bicycles, electric bicycles or electric 885 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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foot scooters, skateboarding, roller skating and in-line skating without 886
protective headgear and promoting the use of protective headgear 887
while riding bicycles, electric bicycles or electric foot scooters, 888
skateboarding, roller skating and in-line skating. 889
Sec. 14. Section 14-288 of the general statutes is repealed and the 890
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 891
(a) Each bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or electric foot scooter operated 892
upon the public highway, during the times or under the conditions as 893
provided in subsection (a) of section 14-96a, shall display a lighted 894
lamp upon the forward part of such bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or 895
electric foot scooter. Such lamp shall, when lighted, emit a white light 896
which in clear weather shall be visible at a distance of not less than five 897
hundred feet in the direction in which such bicycle, [or] electric bicycle 898
or electric foot scooter is proceeding. Each bicycle, [or] electric bicycle 899
or electric foot scooter shall also, at all times, be equipped with a 900
reflector or reflecting tail light lens, which reflector or lens shall be 901
attached to the rear of such bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or electric foot 902
scooter in such manner as to reflect rays of light thrown upon the 903
same, and such reflector or reflecting tail shall be visible at a distance 904
of not less than six hundred feet from the rear when illuminated by the 905
head lamps of a motor vehicle. Such bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or 906
electric foot scooter shall also be equipped with reflective material so 907
placed and of sufficient size and reflectivity to be visible from both 908
sides of such bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or electric foot scooter at a 909
distance of not less than six hundred feet when illuminated by the 910
head lamps of a motor vehicle. Each bicycle, [or] electric bicycle or 911
electric foot scooter shall also, at all times, be equipped with a braking 912
device sufficient to enable the operator thereof to stop within twenty-913
five feet on dry, level and clean pavement when moving at a speed of 914
ten miles per hour. No person shall equip a bicycle, [or] an electric 915
bicycle or an electric foot scooter with a siren or device which emits a 916
whistle or use a siren or device which emits a whistle while operating 917
a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter. 918 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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(b) Operation of a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle or an electric foot 919
scooter in conflict with any provision of this section shall be an 920
infraction. 921
Sec. 15. Section 14-289 of the general statutes is repealed and the 922
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 923
Each town, city and borough shall have authority to make any 924
ordinance not inconsistent with section 14-286, as amended by this act, 925
or 14-288, as amended by this act, or any regulation of the Office of the 926
State Traffic Administration issued pursuant to section 14-298, as 927
amended by this act, respecting governing and controlling the use of 928
bicycles, [and] electric bicycles and electric foot scooters within such 929
town, city or borough, with appropriate penalties for violation thereof, 930
which ordinances may include provisions requiring annual licensing 931
of bicycles, [or] electric bicycles or electric foot scooters and providing 932
for registration of any sale of, or change of ownership in, a bicycle, [or] 933
an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter. 934
Sec. 16. Subdivision (1) of section 14-297 of the general statutes is 935
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 936
October 1, 2019): 937
(1) The following terms shall be construed as they are defined in 938
section 14-1, as amended by this act: "Authorized emergency vehicle", 939
"class 1 electric bicycle", "class 2 electric bicycle", "class 3 electric 940
bicycle", "driver", "electric bicycle", "electric foot scooter", "head lamp", 941
"highway", "intersection", "limited access highway", "motor vehicle", 942
"number plate", "operator", "person", "rotary" or "roundabout", 943
"shoulder", "stop", "truck" [,] and "vehicle"; 944
Sec. 17. Section 14-298 of the general statutes is repealed and the 945
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 946
There shall be within the Department of Transportation the Office of 947
the State Traffic Administration, which shall constitute a successor to 948
the State Traffic Commission, in accordance with the provisions of 949 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. For the purpose of standardization and 950
uniformity, said office shall adopt and cause to be printed for 951
publication regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control 952
signals, devices, signs and markings consistent with the provisions of 953
this chapter for use upon the public highways. The Commissioner of 954
Transportation shall make known to the General Assembly the 955
availability of such regulations and any requesting member shall be 956
sent a written copy or electronic storage media of such regulations by 957
said commissioner. Taking into consideration the public safety and 958
convenience with respect to the width and character of the highways 959
and roads affected, the density of traffic thereon and the character of 960
such traffic, said office shall also adopt regulations, in cooperation and 961
agreement with local traffic authorities, governing the use of state 962
highways and roads on state-owned properties, and the operation of 963
vehicles, including, but not limited to, motor vehicles, [as defined in 964
section 14-1,] bicycles, as defined in section 14-286, as amended by this 965
act, [and] electric bicycles and electric foot scooters thereon. A list of 966
limited-access highways shall be published with such regulations and 967
said list shall be revised and published once each year. The 968
Commissioner of Transportation shall make known to the General 969
Assembly the availability of such regulations and list and any 970
requesting member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage 971
media of such regulations and list by the commissioner. A list of 972
limited-access highways opened to traffic by the Commissioner of 973
Transportation in the interim period between publications shall be 974
maintained in the Office of the State Traffic Administration and such 975
regulations shall apply to the use of such listed highways. Said office 976
shall also make regulations, in cooperation and agreement with local 977
traffic authorities, respecting the use by through truck traffic of streets 978
and highways within the limits of, and under the jurisdiction of, any 979
city, town or borough of this state for the protection and safety of the 980
public. If said office determines that the prohibition of through truck 981
traffic on any street or highway is necessary because of an immediate 982
and imminent threat to the public health and safety and the local 983
traffic authority is precluded for any reason from acting on such 984 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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prohibition, the office, if it is not otherwise precluded from so acting, 985
may impose such prohibition. Said office may place and maintain 986
traffic control signals, signs, markings and other safety devices, which 987
it deems to be in the interests of public safety, upon such highways as 988
come within the jurisdiction of said office as set forth in section 14-297, 989
as amended by this act. The traffic authority of any city, town or 990
borough may place and maintain traffic control signals, signs, 991
markings and other safety devices upon the highways under its 992
jurisdiction, and all such signals, devices, signs and markings shall 993
conform to the regulations established by said office in accordance 994
with this chapter, and such traffic authority shall, with respect to traffic 995
control signals, conform to the provisions of section 14-299. 996
Sec. 18. Section 14-300i of the general statutes is repealed and the 997
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 998
(a) As used in subsection (b) of this section, (1) "vulnerable user" 999
means: (A) A pedestrian; (B) a highway worker; (C) a person riding or 1000
driving an animal; (D) a person riding a bicycle, [or] an electric bicycle 1001
or an electric foot scooter; (E) a person using a skateboard, roller skates 1002
or in-line skates; (F) a person operating or riding on an agricultural 1003
tractor; (G) a person using a wheelchair or motorized chair; and (H) a 1004
person who is blind and such person's service animal, [and] (2) "public 1005
way" includes any state or other public highway, road, street, avenue, 1006
alley, driveway, parkway or place, under the control of the state or any 1007
political subdivision of the state, dedicated, appropriated or opened to 1008
public travel or other use, (3) "substantial bodily harm" means bodily 1009
injury that involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, causes 1010
a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any 1011
bodily part or organ, or causes a fracture of any bodily part, and (4) 1012
"serious physical injury" has the same meaning as provided in section 1013
53a-3. 1014
(b) Any person operating a motor vehicle on a public way who fails 1015
to exercise reasonable care and causes substantial bodily harm to, or 1016
the serious physical injury or death, of a vulnerable user of a public 1017 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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way, provided such vulnerable user has shown reasonable care in such 1018
user's use of the public way, shall be fined not more than one thousand 1019
dollars. 1020
Sec. 19. Section 14-289k of the general statutes is repealed and the 1021
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 1022
[(a) For the purposes of this section, "electric bicycle", "class 1 1023
electric bicycle", "class 2 electric bicycle" and "class 3 electric bicycle" 1024
have the same meanings as provided in section 14-1.] 1025
[(b)] (a) Except as provided in this section, the rider of an electric 1026
bicycle shall be afforded the same rights and privileges and subject to 1027
the same duties as the rider of a bicycle. 1028
[(c)] (b) Except as provided in this section or where prohibited by 1029
local ordinance, an electric bicycle may be ridden where bicycles are 1030
permitted to travel. 1031
[(d)] (c) A class 3 electric bicycle shall not be ridden on a bicycle trail 1032
or path or multiuse trail or path. 1033
[(e)] (d) Except where permitted by local ordinance, a class 1 or class 1034
2 electric bicycle shall not be ridden on a bicycle trail or path or 1035
multiuse trail or path designated for nonmotorized traffic if such trail 1036
or path has a natural surface tread made by clearing and grading the 1037
soil and no surfacing materials have been added. 1038
[(f)] (e) No person under the age of sixteen shall ride a class 3 1039
electric bicycle. Any person under the age of sixteen may sit as a 1040
passenger on a class 3 electric bicycle provided such bicycle is 1041
equipped or designed to carry a passenger. 1042
[(g)] (f) No person shall ride or sit as a passenger on an electric 1043
bicycle unless such person is wearing protective headgear that 1044
conforms to the minimum specifications established for bicycle 1045
helmets by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission or 1046 Substitute Bill No. 7141
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the American Society for Testing and Materials. 1047
[(h)] (g) The provisions of subsections (b), (c) [,] and (d) [and (e)] of 1048
this section shall not apply to any police officer, firefighter or 1049
emergency medical technician engaged in the performance of the 1050
duties of such officer, firefighter or technician. 1051
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2019 14-1
Sec. 2 October 1, 2019 14-164c(c)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2019 14-212(1)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2019 14-212c
Sec. 5 October 1, 2019 14-230(a)
Sec. 6 October 1, 2019 14-232(a)
Sec. 7 October 1, 2019 14-234(b)
Sec. 8 October 1, 2019 14-242(f)
Sec. 9 October 1, 2019 14-286
Sec. 10 October 1, 2019 14-286a(a)
Sec. 11 October 1, 2019 14-286b
Sec. 12 October 1, 2019 14-286c
Sec. 13 October 1, 2019 14-286d
Sec. 14 October 1, 2019 14-288
Sec. 15 October 1, 2019 14-289
Sec. 16 October 1, 2019 14-297(1)
Sec. 17 October 1, 2019 14-298
Sec. 18 October 1, 2019 14-300i
Sec. 19 October 1, 2019 14-289k
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
Section 9(i) was divided into Subdivs. for clarity; in Section 11(d), "or
electric foot scooters" was inserted before "shall carry" and "or electric
foot scooter" was inserted before "a passenger" for consistency; in
Section 17, "as defined in section 14-1," was bracketed and "as
amended by this act" was deleted for accuracy; and Section 19 was
added to conform to the changes being made in Section 1.
TRA Joint Favorable Subst. Substitute Bill No. 7141
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