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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5429
January Session, 2021
LCO No. 1511
Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION
Introduced by:
(TRA)
AN ACT CONCERNING PE DESTRIAN SAFETY, VISION ZERO
COUNCIL, SPEED LIMITS IN MUNICIPALITIES, FINES AND CHARGES
FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS, THE GREENWAYS CO MMEMORATIVE
ACCOUNT AND MAINTENA NCE WORK ZONE AND SC HOOL ZONE
SAFETY ENFORCEMENT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 14-300 of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2021): 3
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any 4
crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any 5
unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by 6
police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall 7
grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so 8
grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within 9
such crosswalk. [, provided such pedestrian steps off the curb or into the 10
crosswalk at the entrance to a crosswalk or is within that half of the 11
roadway upon which such operator of a vehicle is traveling, or such 12
pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk at the entrance to a 13 Raised Bill No. 5429
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crosswalk or is crossing the roadway within such crosswalk from that 14
half of the roadway upon which such operator is not traveling.] For the 15
purposes of this subsection, a pedestrian is "crossing the roadway 16
within such crosswalk" when the pedestrian (1) is within any portion of 17
the crosswalk, (2) steps to the curb at the entrance to the crosswalk and 18
indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by raising his or her hand 19
and arm toward oncoming traffic, or (3) indicates his or her intent to 20
cross the roadway by moving any part of his or her body or an extension 21
thereof, including, but not limited to, a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, 22
crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, stroller, carriage, cart or leashed or 23
harnessed dog, into the crosswalk at the entrance to the crosswalk. No 24
operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass 25
any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked 26
as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk 27
to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. The operator of any vehicle 28
crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and 29
all other traffic upon such sidewalk. 30
Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a Vision Zero 31
Council to develop a state-wide policy and interagency approach to 32
eliminate all transportation-related fatalities and severe injuries to 33
pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists and passengers. The 34
council shall consider ways to improve transportation safety across all 35
modes of transportation by using data, new partnerships, safe planning 36
and community-based solutions to achieve the goal of zero 37
transportation-related fatalities. 38
(b) The council shall consist of the Commissioners of Transportation, 39
Motor Vehicles and Energy and Environmental Protection, or their 40
designees, and any other commissioner of a state agency, or such 41
commissioner's designee, invited to participate by the Commissioners 42
of Transportation, Motor Vehicles and Energy and Environmental 43
Protection. The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's 44
designee shall serve as chairperson of the council and shall schedule the 45
first meeting of the council not later than September 1, 2021. The 46
Department of Transportation shall serve as administrative staff of the 47 Raised Bill No. 5429
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council. 48
(c) On or before February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the council 49
shall submit the state-wide policy and interagency approach and any 50
other recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General 51
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, in 52
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 53
Sec. 3. Subsection (d) of section 14-311 of the general statutes is 54
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 55
1, 2021): 56
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the Office of 57
the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, 58
highway safety, bicycle and pedestrian access and safety, the width and 59
character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the 60
character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic 61
authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The 62
Office of the State Traffic Administration may require improvements to 63
be made by the applicant to the extent that such improvements address 64
impacts to highway safety or bicycle and pedestrian access and safety 65
created by the addition of the applicant's proposed development or 66
activity. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that 67
such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, 68
channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control 69
devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one 70
hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the person 71
building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping 72
center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except 73
that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The 74
Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to said person to 75
construct or install the changes required by the Office of the State Traffic 76
Administration. 77
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) For the purposes of this 78
section, "moving traffic" includes, but is not limited to, a motor vehicle 79 Raised Bill No. 5429
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using a highway for the purpose of travel and a pedestrian or a person 80
riding a bicycle, an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter on a 81
sidewalk, shoulder or bikeway for the purpose of travel, and "bikeway" 82
has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 13a-153f 83
of the general statutes. 84
(b) No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on a highway 85
unless the door can be opened with reasonable safety and without 86
impeding moving traffic. 87
(c) No person shall leave a door open on the side of a motor vehicle 88
adjacent to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to 89
load or unload passengers. 90
(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have 91
committed an infraction. 92
Sec. 5. Section 51-56a of the general statutes is repealed and the 93
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 94
(a) Each clerk of the Supreme Court and Superior Court shall account 95
for and pay or deposit all fees, fines, forfeitures and contributions made 96
to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and the proceeds of 97
judgments of such clerk's office in the manner provided by section 4-32. 98
If any such clerk fails to so account and pay or deposit, such failure shall 99
be reported by the Treasurer to the Chief Court Administrator who may 100
thereupon remove the clerk. When any such clerk dies before so 101
accounting and paying or depositing, the Treasurer shall require the 102
executor of such clerk's will or administrator of such clerk's estate to so 103
account. If any such clerk is removed from office, the Treasurer shall 104
require such clerk to account for any money of the state remaining in 105
such clerk's hands at the time of such removal and, if such clerk neglects 106
to so account, the Treasurer shall certify the neglect to the Chief Court 107
Administrator. 108
(b) (1) The state shall remit to the municipalities in which the 109
violations occurred all amounts received in respect to the violation of 110 Raised Bill No. 5429
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subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-12, sections 14-251, as 111
amended by this act, 14-252, 14-253a and 14-305 to 14-308, inclusive, the 112
violation of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, or section 14-219, as 113
amended by this act, that was detected and recorded by an automated 114
traffic enforcement safety device in the pilot program established 115
pursuant to section 21 of this act, or the violation of any regulation 116
adopted thereunder or ordinance enacted in accordance therewith, and 117
(2) in the case of the municipalities ranked one to eight, inclusive, when 118
all municipalities are ranked from highest to lowest in population, based 119
on the most recent federal decennial census, the state shall remit to the 120
municipality in which the violations occurred fifty per cent of the fine 121
amounts received in respect to the violation of section 14-250b, or any 122
ordinance enacted in accordance therewith. Each clerk of the Superior 123
Court or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other official of the 124
Superior Court designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall, on 125
or before the thirtieth day of January, April, July and October in each 126
year, certify to the Comptroller the amount due for the previous quarter 127
under this subsection to each municipality served by the office of the 128
clerk or official, provided prior to the institution of court proceedings, a 129
city, town or borough shall have the authority to collect and retain all 130
proceeds from parking violations committed within the jurisdiction of 131
such city, town or borough. 132
(c) For the purpose of providing additional funds for municipal and 133
state police training, each person who pays in any sum as (1) a fine or 134
forfeiture for any violation of section 14-12, 14-215, 14-219, as amended 135
by this act, 14-222, as amended by this act, 14-224, 14-225, 14-227a, 14-136
227m, 14-227n, 14-266, 14-267a, 14-269 or 14-283, as amended by this act, 137
or (2) a fine or forfeiture for any infraction, shall pay an additional fee 138
of one dollar for each eight dollars or fraction thereof of the amount such 139
person is required to pay, except if such payment is made for violation 140
of such a section which is deemed to be an infraction, such additional 141
fee shall be only on the first eighty-eight dollars of such fine or 142
forfeiture. Such additional fee charged shall be deposited in the General 143
Fund. 144 Raised Bill No. 5429
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(d) Each person who pays in any sum as a fine or forfeiture for any 145
violation of sections 14-218a, as amended by this act, 14-219, as amended 146
by this act, 14-222, as amended by this act, 14-223, 14-227a, 14-227m, 14-147
227n, sections 14-230 to 14-240, inclusive, sections 14-241 to 14-249, 148
inclusive, section 14-279 for the first offense, sections 14-289b, 14-299, 149
14-300, as amended by this act, 14-300d, sections 14-301 to 14-303, 150
inclusive, section 4 of this act or any regulation adopted under said 151
sections or ordinance enacted in accordance with said sections shall pay 152
an additional fee of [twenty] twenty-five dollars. The state shall remit to 153
the municipalities in which the violations occurred the amounts paid 154
under this subsection. Each clerk of the Superior Court or the Chief 155
Court Administrator, or any other official of the Superior Court 156
designated by the Chief Court Administrator, on or before the thirtieth 157
day of January, April, July and October in each year, shall certify to the 158
Comptroller the amount due for the previous quarter under this 159
subsection to each municipality served by the office of the clerk or 160
official. 161
(e) The state shall remit to the municipalities in which the violation 162
occurred all fine amounts received in respect to the violation of section 163
14-279 after crediting twelve per cent of such fine amounts to the Special 164
Transportation Fund established under section 13b-68 and crediting 165
eight per cent of such fine amounts to the General Fund. Each clerk of 166
the Superior Court or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other 167
official of the Superior Court designated by the Chief Court 168
Administrator, shall, on or before the thirtieth day of January, April, July 169
and October in each year, certify to the Comptroller the amount due for 170
the previous quarter under this subsection to each municipality served 171
by the office of the clerk or official. 172
(f) The provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall not 173
apply to a violation of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, or section 174
14-219, as amended by this act, that was detected and recorded by an 175
automated traffic enforcement safety device in the pilot program 176
established pursuant to section 21 of this act. 177 Raised Bill No. 5429
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Sec. 6. Section 14-251 of the general statutes is repealed and the 178
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 179
(a) No vehicle shall be permitted to remain stationary within ten feet 180
of any fire hydrant, or upon the traveled portion of any highway except 181
upon the right-hand side of such highway in the direction in which such 182
vehicle is headed; and, if such highway is curbed, such vehicle shall be 183
so placed that its right-hand wheels, when stationary, shall, when safety 184
will permit, be within a distance of twelve inches from the curb, except 185
if a bikeway, as defined in section 13a-153f, or such bikeway's buffer 186
area, as described in the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 187
Devices, is in place between the parking lane and the curb, such vehicle 188
shall be so placed that its right-hand wheels, when stationary, shall, 189
when safety will permit, be within a distance of twelve inches from the 190
edge of such bikeway or buffer area. 191
(b) No vehicle shall be permitted to remain parked within twenty-192
five feet of an intersection or an approach to a marked crosswalk, [at 193
such intersection,] except within ten feet of such intersection or marked 194
crosswalk if such intersection or marked crosswalk has a curb extension 195
treatment with a width equal to or greater than the width of the parking 196
lane and such intersection is located in and comprised entirely of 197
highways under the jurisdiction of the city of New Haven, or within 198
twenty-five feet of a stop sign caused to be erected by the traffic 199
authority in accordance with the provisions of section 14-301, except 200
where permitted by the traffic authority of the city of New Haven at the 201
intersection of one-way streets located in and comprised entirely of 202
highways under the jurisdiction of the city of New Haven. 203
(c) No vehicle shall be permitted to remain stationary upon the 204
traveled portion of any highway at any curve or turn or at the top of any 205
grade where a clear view of such vehicle may not be had from a distance 206
of at least one hundred fifty feet in either direction. The Commissioner 207
of Transportation may post signs upon any highway at any place where 208
the keeping of a vehicle stationary is dangerous to traffic, and the 209
keeping of any vehicle stationary contrary to the directions of such signs 210 Raised Bill No. 5429
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shall be a violation of this section. No vehicle shall be permitted to 211
remain stationary upon the traveled portion of any highway within fifty 212
feet of the point where another vehicle, which had previously stopped, 213
continues to remain stationary on the opposite side of the traveled 214
portion of the same highway. No vehicle shall be permitted to remain 215
stationary within the limits of a public highway in such a manner as to 216
constitute a traffic hazard or obstruct the free movement of traffic 217
thereon, provided a vehicle which has become disabled to such an 218
extent that it is impossible or impracticable to remove it may be 219
permitted to so remain for a reasonable time for the purpose of making 220
repairs thereto or of obtaining sufficient assistance to remove it. 221
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to emergency 222
vehicles and to maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights or to 223
prohibit a vehicle from stopping, or being held stationary by any officer, 224
in an emergency to avoid accident or to give a right-of-way to any 225
vehicle or pedestrian as provided in this chapter, or from stopping on 226
any highway within the limits of an incorporated city, town or borough 227
where the parking of vehicles is regulated by local ordinances. 228
(e) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. 229
Sec. 7. Section 14-218a of the general statutes is repealed and the 230
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 231
(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway 232
of the state, or road of any specially chartered municipal association or 233
any district organized under the provisions of chapter 105, a purpose of 234
which is the construction and maintenance of roads and sidewalks, or 235
on any parking area as defined in section 14-212, or upon a private road 236
on which a speed limit has been established in accordance with this 237
subsection, or upon any school property, at a rate of speed greater than 238
is reasonable, having regard to the width, traffic and use of highway, 239
road or parking area, the intersection of streets and weather conditions. 240
The Office of the State Traffic Administration may determine speed 241
limits which are reasonable and safe on any state highway, bridge or 242 Raised Bill No. 5429
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parkway built or maintained by the state, and differing limits may be 243
established for different types of vehicles, and may erect or cause to be 244
erected signs indicating such speed limits. [The] Except as provided in 245
subsection (c) of this section and section 8 of this act, the traffic authority 246
of any town, city or borough may establish speed limits on streets, 247
highways and bridges or in any parking area for ten cars or more or on 248
any private road wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction; 249
provided such limit on streets, highways, bridges and parking areas for 250
ten cars or more shall become effective only after application for 251
approval thereof has been submitted in writing to the Office of the State 252
Traffic Administration and a certificate of such approval has been 253
forwarded by the office to the traffic authority; and provided such signs 254
giving notice of such speed limits shall have been erected as the Office 255
of the State Traffic Administration directs, provided the erection of such 256
signs on any private road shall be at the expense of the owner of such 257
road. The presence of such signs adjacent to or on the highway or 258
parking area for ten cars or more shall be prima facie evidence that they 259
have been so placed under the direction of and with the approval of the 260
Office of the State Traffic Administration. Approval of such speed limits 261
may be revoked by the Office of the State Traffic Administration at any 262
time if said office deems such revocation to be in the interest of public 263
safety and welfare, and thereupon such speed limits shall cease to be 264
effective and any signs that have been erected shall be removed. Any 265
speed in excess of [such limits] a speed limit established in accordance 266
with this section or section 8 of this act, other than speeding as provided 267
for in section 14-219, as amended by this act, shall be prima facie 268
evidence that such speed is not reasonable, but the fact that the speed of 269
a vehicle is lower than such [limits] speed limit shall not relieve the 270
operator from the duty to decrease speed when a special hazard exists 271
with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or 272
highway conditions. 273
(b) The Office of the State Traffic Administration shall establish a 274
speed limit of sixty-five miles per hour on any multiple lane, limited 275
access highways that are suitable for a speed limit of sixty-five miles per 276 Raised Bill No. 5429
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hour, taking into consideration relevant factors including design, 277
population of area and traffic flow. 278
(c) (1) The traffic authority of any town, city or borough may establish 279
or modify speed limits on streets, highways and bridges or in any 280
parking area for ten cars or more wholly within the municipality under 281
its jurisdiction without approval from the Office of the State Traffic 282
Administration, provided the traffic authority (A) establishes, modifies 283
and maintains the speed limits on all streets, highways and bridges and 284
in parking areas for ten cars of more wholly within the municipality 285
under its jurisdiction, (B) conducts an engineering study described in 286
subdivision (2) of this subsection, (C) notifies the office in writing of the 287
intention of the traffic authority to assume responsibility and authority 288
for establishing speed limits on municipally owned highways, and (D) 289
notifies the Department of Transportation of each change to a speed 290
limit on a municipally owned highway so the department may maintain 291
a state-wide inventory of speed limits. Any speed limit approved by the 292
office pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall 293
remain in effect until modified by such traffic authority. The traffic 294
authority shall not establish or modify a speed limit lower than twenty 295
miles per hour unless the speed limit is established or modified in a 296
pedestrian safety zone pursuant to section 8 of this act or the 297
engineering study described in subdivision (2) of this subsection 298
indicates that a speed limit lower than twenty-five miles per hour is 299
reasonable. If the traffic authority reduces a speed limit by more than 300
ten miles per hour, the traffic authority shall erect signs that shall read 301
as follows: "REDUCED SPEED LIMIT AHEAD". 302
(2) Prior to establishing or modifying a speed limit pursuant to the 303
provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the traffic authority shall 304
conduct an engineering study in accordance with the Federal Highway 305
Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets 306
and Highways, as amended from time to time, and other generally 307
accepted engineering principles and guidance. The study shall be 308
completed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in this state 309
and shall consider factors, including, but not limited to, pedestrian 310 Raised Bill No. 5429
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activity, type of land use and development, parking and the record of 311
traffic accidents in the jurisdiction of the traffic authority. 312
(3) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may adopt 313
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 314
implement the provisions of this subsection. 315
[(c)] (d) Any person who operates a motor vehicle at a greater rate of 316
speed than is reasonable, other than speeding, as provided for in section 317
14-219, as amended by this act, shall commit the infraction of traveling 318
unreasonably fast. 319
Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) The traffic authority of any 320
town, city or borough may establish a pedestrian safety zone on any 321
streets, highways and bridges or in any parking area for ten cars or more 322
wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction, provided (1) the 323
traffic authority conducts an engineering study described in subsection 324
(b) of this subsection, (2) the posted speed limit for such zone is not less 325
than fifteen miles per hour, (3) such zone encompasses a clearly defined 326
downtown district or community center frequented by pedestrians, and 327
(4) if the traffic authority reduces the speed limit by more than ten miles 328
per hour, the traffic authority erects signs that read as follows: 329
"REDUCED SPEED LIMIT AHEAD". 330
(b) Prior to establishing a pedestrian safety zone, the traffic authority 331
shall conduct an engineering study in accordance with the Federal 332
Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 333
for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time, and other 334
generally accepted engineering principles and guidance. The study shall 335
be completed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in this state 336
and shall consider factors, including, but not limited to, pedestrian 337
activity, type of land use and development, parking and the record of 338
traffic crashes in the area under consideration to be a pedestrian safety 339
zone. If the study recommends the establishment of a pedestrian safety 340
zone, the study shall also include a speed management plan and 341
recommend actions to achieve lower motor vehicle speeds. 342 Raised Bill No. 5429
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(c) In a municipality where the Office of the State Traffic 343
Administration approves speed limits on the streets, highways and 344
bridges or in any parking area for ten cars or more within the 345
municipality in accordance with section 14-218a of the general statutes, 346
as amended by this act, the traffic authority shall notify the Office of the 347
State Traffic Administration in writing of the establishment of any 348
pedestrian safety zone and confirm that the requirements of this section 349
have been satisfied. 350
(d) If the Commissioner of Transportation or a traffic authority of any 351
town, city or borough seeks to establish a pedestrian safety zone on a 352
state highway that passes through a downtown or community center, 353
the commissioner or traffic authority shall submit a written request to 354
the Office of State Traffic Administration and include with such request 355
the engineering study and speed management plan conducted pursuant 356
to subsection (b) of this section. The Office of the State Traffic 357
Administration shall be the sole authority for establishing a pedestrian 358
safety zone on a state highway and shall provide a written explanation 359
of the reasons for denying any such request. 360
(e) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may adopt 361
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the 362
general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section. 363
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 14-36 of the general statutes is 364
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 365
1, 2021): 366
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section and section 14-40a, 367
no person shall operate a motor vehicle on any public highway of this 368
state or private road on which a speed limit has been established in 369
accordance with [subsection (a) of] section 14-218a, as amended by this 370
act, or section 8 of this act, until such person has obtained a motor 371
vehicle operator's license. 372
Sec. 10. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 14-219 of the general statutes 373
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 374 Raised Bill No. 5429
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October 1, 2021): 375
(a) No person shall operate any motor vehicle (1) upon any highway, 376
road or any parking area for ten cars or more, at such a rate of speed as 377
to endanger the life of any occupant of such motor vehicle, but not the 378
life of any other person than such an occupant; (2) at a rate of speed 379
greater than fifty-five miles per hour upon any highway other than a 380
highway specified in subsection (b) of section 14-218a, as amended by 381
this act, for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with 382
the provisions of said subsection; (3) at a rate of speed greater than sixty-383
five miles per hour upon any highway specified in subsection (b) of 384
section 14-218a, as amended by this act, for which a speed limit has been 385
established in accordance with the provisions of said subsection; or (4) 386
if such person is under eighteen years of age, upon any highway or road 387
for which a speed limit of less than sixty-five miles per hour has been 388
established in accordance with subsection (a) of section 14-218a, as 389
amended by this act, or section 8 of this act, at a rate of speed more than 390
twenty miles per hour above such speed limit. 391
(b) Any person who operates a motor vehicle (1) on a multiple lane, 392
limited access highway other than a highway specified in subsection (b) 393
of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, for which a speed limit has 394
been established in accordance with the provisions of said subsection at 395
a rate of speed greater than fifty-five miles per hour but not greater than 396
seventy miles per hour, (2) on a multiple lane, limited access highway 397
specified in subsection (b) of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, for 398
which a speed limit has been established in accordance with the 399
provisions of said subsection at a rate of speed greater than sixty-five 400
miles per hour but not greater than seventy miles per hour, (3) on any 401
other highway at a rate of speed greater than fifty-five miles per hour 402
but not greater than sixty miles per hour, or (4) if such person is under 403
eighteen years of age, upon any highway or road for which a speed limit 404
of less than sixty-five miles per hour has been established in accordance 405
with subsection (a) of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, or section 406
8 of this act, at a rate of speed more than twenty miles per hour above 407
such speed limit, shall commit an infraction, provided any such person 408 Raised Bill No. 5429
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operating a truck, as defined in section 14-260n, shall have committed a 409
violation and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more 410
than one hundred fifty dollars. 411
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 14-222 of the general statutes is 412
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 413
1, 2021): 414
(a) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public 415
highway of the state, or any road of any specially chartered municipal 416
association or of any district organized under the provisions of chapter 417
105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads 418
and sidewalks, or in any parking area for ten cars or more or upon any 419
private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance 420
with the provisions of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, or section 421
8 of this act or upon any school property recklessly, having regard to the 422
width, traffic and use of such highway, road, school property or parking 423
area, the intersection of streets and the weather conditions. The 424
operation of a motor vehicle upon any such highway, road or parking 425
area for ten cars or more at such a rate of speed as to endanger the life 426
of any person other than the operator of such motor vehicle, or the 427
operation, downgrade, upon any highway, of any motor vehicle with a 428
commercial registration with the clutch or gears disengaged, or the 429
operation knowingly of a motor vehicle with defective mechanism, shall 430
constitute a violation of the provisions of this section. The operation of 431
a motor vehicle upon any such highway, road or parking area for ten 432
cars or more at a rate of speed greater than eighty-five miles per hour 433
shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section. 434
Sec. 12. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 14-283 of the 435
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 436
thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 437
(b) (1) The operator of any emergency vehicle may (A) park or stand 438
such vehicle, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter, (B) except as 439
provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, proceed past any red light 440 Raised Bill No. 5429
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or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down or stopping to 441
the extent necessary for the safe operation of such vehicle, (C) exceed 442
the posted speed limits or other speed limits imposed by or pursuant to 443
section 14-218a, as amended by this act, [or] 14-219, as amended by this 444
act, or section 8 of this act as long as such operator does not endanger 445
life or property by so doing, and (D) disregard statutes, ordinances or 446
regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specific 447
directions. 448
Sec. 13. Section 53a-213 of the general statutes is repealed and the 449
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 450
(a) A person is guilty of drinking while operating a motor vehicle 451
when he drinks any alcoholic liquor while operating a motor vehicle 452
upon a public highway of this state or upon any road of any specially 453
chartered municipal association or of any district organized under the 454
provisions of chapter 105, a purpose of which is the construction and 455
maintenance of roads and sidewalks, or in any parking area for ten cars 456
or more, or upon any private road on which a speed limit has been 457
established in accordance with the provisions of section 14-218a, as 458
amended by this act, or section 8 of this act or upon any school property. 459
As used in this section, "alcoholic liquor" has the same meaning as 460
provided in section 30-1. 461
(b) Drinking while operating a motor vehicle is a class C 462
misdemeanor. 463
Sec. 14. Subsection (h) of section 14-296aa of the general statutes is 464
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 465
1, 2021): 466
(h) Any person who violates this section shall be fined [one] two 467
hundred [fifty] dollars for a first violation, three hundred seventy-five 468
dollars for a second violation and [five] six hundred twenty-five dollars 469
for a third or subsequent violation. 470
Sec. 15. Section 14-21i of the general statutes is repealed and the 471 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 16 of 33
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 472
(a) [On and after January 1, 1998, the] The Commissioner of Motor 473
Vehicles shall issue greenways commemorative number plates of a 474
design to enhance public awareness of, [the] and provide funding for, 475
state and local efforts to preserve, restore and protect greenways. The 476
design shall be determined by agreement between the Commissioner of 477
Energy and Environmental Protection and the Commissioner of Motor 478
Vehicles. No use shall be made of such plates except as official 479
registration marker plates. 480
(b) (1) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall [establish, by 481
regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, a fee to be charged] 482
charge a fee of fifty dollars for a greenways commemorative number 483
[plates] plate, with letters and numbers selected by the commissioner, 484
in addition to the regular fee or fees prescribed for the registration of a 485
motor vehicle. [The fee shall be for such number plates with letters and 486
numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The 487
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may establish a higher fee for: (1) Such 488
number plates which contain letters in place of numbers as authorized 489
by section 14-49, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for plates issued 490
under said section; and (2) such number plates which are low number 491
plates, in accordance with section 14-160, in addition to the fee or fees 492
prescribed for plates issued under said section.] The commissioner shall 493
deposit fifteen dollars of such fee into an account controlled by the 494
Department of Motor Vehicles to be used for the cost of producing, 495
issuing, renewing and replacing such commemorative number plates, 496
and thirty-five dollars of such fee into the greenways commemorative 497
account established pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. 498
(2) The commissioner shall charge a fee of seventy dollars for a 499
greenways commemorative number plate that (A) contains letters in 500
place of numbers as authorized by section 14-49, or (B) is a low number 501
plate in accordance with section 14-160, in addition to the fee or fees 502
prescribed for plates issued under said sections. The commissioner shall 503
deposit fifteen dollars of such fee into an account controlled by the 504 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 17 of 33
Department of Motor Vehicles to be used for the cost of producing, 505
issuing, renewing and replacing such commemorative number plates, 506
and fifty-five dollars of such fee into the greenways commemorative 507
account. 508
(c) No additional renewal fee shall be charged for renewal of 509
registration for any motor vehicle bearing greenways commemorative 510
number plates which contain letters in place of numbers, or low number 511
plates, in excess of the renewal fee for greenways commemorative 512
number plates with letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner 513
of Motor Vehicles. No transfer fee shall be charged for transfer of an 514
existing registration to or from a registration with greenways 515
commemorative number plates. 516
(d) There is established an account to be known as the "greenways 517
commemorative account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account 518
within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys 519
required by law to be deposited in the account. The funds in the account 520
shall be expended by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 521
Protection to fund the greenways capital grant program established 522
pursuant to section 23-101 and the bikeway, pedestrian walkway, 523
recreational trail and greenway grant program described in section 23-524
103. 525
[(d)] (e) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles [, in consultation with 526
the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, shall] may 527
adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 528
establish standards and procedures for the issuance, renewal and 529
replacement of greenways commemorative number plates. 530
Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) For the purposes of this 531
section and section 17 of this act: (1) "Automated traffic enforcement 532
safety device" means a photographic device, radar device, laser device 533
or other electrical or mechanical device that (A) records the speed of 534
motor vehicles traveling in a maintenance work zone, and (B) produces 535
one or more recorded images that indicate the date, time and location of 536 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 18 of 33
the image of each motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by 537
twelve miles per hour or more in the maintenance work zone and 538
allegedly committing a violation specified in subsection (e) of section 539
14-219 of the general statutes, as amended by this act; (2) "maintenance 540
work zone" means an area of any limited access highway where 541
maintenance work is being performed by the Department of 542
Transportation; and (3) "highway worker" has the same meaning as 543
provided in section 14-212d of the general statutes. 544
(b) (1) The Commissioner of Transportation may install, operate and 545
maintain automated traffic enforcement safety devices in a maintenance 546
work zone, provided sworn members of the Division of State Police 547
within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection are 548
not performing highway traffic enforcement or traffic control in such 549
maintenance work zone. The commissioner may enter into an 550
agreement with a contractor for such installation, operation and 551
maintenance. Such safety devices may only be operational on or after 552
July 1, 2022, provided the commissioner has adopted regulations 553
concerning such safety devices pursuant to section 17 of this act. 554
(2) The commissioner shall post signs that indicate the use of an 555
automated traffic enforcement safety device at a distance of not less than 556
five hundred feet in advance of a maintenance work zone in which such 557
safety device is installed and operational. Such safety device shall not 558
be operational unless one or more highway workers are in the 559
maintenance work zone. Such safety device shall be removed from the 560
maintenance work zone upon completion of the maintenance work. 561
(3) An automated traffic enforcement safety device shall be installed 562
in a manner to only record images of the number plate of a motor 563
vehicle, and shall not record images of the occupants of such motor 564
vehicle or of any other persons or vehicles in the vicinity at the time the 565
images are recorded. 566
(c) Whenever an automated traffic enforcement safety device detects 567
and produces one or more recorded images of the number plate of a 568 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 19 of 33
motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by twelve miles per hour 569
or more in a maintenance work zone and allegedly committing a 570
violation specified in subsection (e) of section 14-219 of the general 571
statutes, a sworn member of the Division of State Police within the 572
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall review 573
the recorded images provided by such safety device. If, after such 574
review, such member determines that there are reasonable grounds to 575
believe that a violation has occurred, such member may issue a citation 576
for the alleged violation. If such member authorizes the issuance of a 577
citation for the alleged violation, the Division of State Police shall, not 578
later than ten days after the alleged violation, mail the citation to the 579
registered owner of the motor vehicle together with a copy of the 580
recorded images. Any person who receives a citation pursuant to this 581
subsection shall follow the procedures set forth in section 51-164n of the 582
general statutes. 583
(d) As provided in subsection (b) of section 14-107 of the general 584
statutes, proof of the registration number of the motor vehicle therein 585
concerned shall be prima facie evidence that the owner was the operator 586
thereof, except that, in the case of a leased or rented motor vehicle, such 587
proof shall be prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator 588
thereof. A recorded image that clearly shows the number plate of a 589
motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by twelve miles per hour 590
or more in a maintenance work zone shall be sufficient proof of the 591
identity of the motor vehicle. 592
(e) A prima facie presumption of accuracy sufficient to support a 593
conviction under subsection (e) of section 14-219 of the general statutes 594
will be accorded to an automated traffic enforcement safety device 595
installed, operated and maintained pursuant to this section only upon 596
testimony by a Department of Transportation employee or contractor 597
involved in the installation, operation or maintenance of such safety 598
device that: (1) The employee or contractor has adequate training and 599
experience in the installation, operation and maintenance of such safety 600
device; (2) such safety device was in proper working condition at the 601
time such safety device detected and produced one or more recorded 602 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 20 of 33
images of the motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by twelve 603
miles per hour or more in a maintenance work zone, and established by 604
proof that suggested methods of testing the proper functioning of such 605
safety device were followed; (3) such safety device was used in an area 606
where road conditions provide a minimum possibility of distortion; and 607
(4) such safety device was expertly tested within a reasonable time 608
following the date such safety device detected and produced one or 609
more recorded images of the motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed 610
limit by twelve miles per hour or more in a maintenance work zone, and 611
such testing was done by means which do not rely on the internal 612
calibrations of such safety device. 613
(f) All defenses shall be available to any person who is alleged to have 614
committed a violation specified in subsection (e) of section 14-219 of the 615
general statutes that is detected and recorded by an automated traffic 616
enforcement safety device, including, but not limited to, that (1) the 617
violation was necessary to allow the passage of an authorized 618
emergency vehicle, (2) the violation was necessary to avoid injuring the 619
person or property of another, (3) the violation took place during a 620
period of time in which the motor vehicle had been reported as being 621
stolen to a law enforcement unit, as defined in section 7-294a of the 622
general statutes, and had not been recovered prior to the time of the 623
violation, (4) the person was convicted of committing a violation 624
specified in subsection (e) of section 14-219 of the general statutes while 625
in a maintenance work zone for the same incident based upon a separate 626
and distinct citation issued by an officer, (5) the person was not 627
operating the motor vehicle at the time of the violation, or (6) the 628
violation was necessary in order for the person to comply with any other 629
general statute or regulation concerning the operation of a motor 630
vehicle. 631
(g) No person shall be subject to prosecution for both committing a 632
violation specified in subsection (e) of section 14-219 of the general 633
statutes that is detected and recorded by an automated traffic 634
enforcement safety device and section 14-212d of the general statutes 635
because of the same offense. 636 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 21 of 33
Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) Prior to the operation of 637
an automated traffic enforcement safety device in a maintenance work 638
zone or a school zone pursuant to the pilot program established 639
pursuant to section 21 of this act, the Commissioner of Transportation, 640
shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 641
of the general statutes, regarding the privacy, security, collection, use 642
and disclosure of recorded images and any other data produced by an 643
automated traffic enforcement safety device. Such regulations shall 644
include, but need not be limited to: (1) Procedures to ensure the privacy 645
and security of recorded images; (2) a description of any other data 646
produced by an automated traffic enforcement safety device and 647
collected by the department, municipality or a contractor; and (3) 648
provisions to appropriately limit access to recorded images and other 649
such data. 650
(b) No recorded image or other such data produced by an automated 651
traffic enforcement safety device shall be sold or disclosed by the 652
Department of Transportation, municipality or a contractor to any 653
person or entity except where the disclosure is made: (1) Between the 654
department, the municipality, a contractor, the Division of State Police 655
within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or 656
municipal police department pursuant to section 16 of this act or the 657
pilot program established pursuant to section 21 of this act; (2) pursuant 658
to a judicial order, including a search warrant or a subpoena, in a 659
criminal proceeding; or (3) to comply with federal or state law or 660
regulation. 661
(c) Not less than ten days after a disclosure of a recorded image or 662
other such data is made pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of 663
subsection (b) of this section, the Department of Transportation, the 664
municipality or a contractor shall send or transmit, in a manner 665
determined by the department, municipality or contractor, a notification 666
to the person who was the subject of the judicial order regarding such 667
disclosure. The department, municipality or contractor shall not be 668
required to send such notice by mail if the United States Postal Service 669
has determined that mail is undeliverable to such person at the address 670 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 22 of 33
for such person that is in the records of the department, municipality or 671
contractor. 672
(d) A recorded image and any other data produced by an automated 673
traffic enforcement safety device shall be destroyed (1) sixty days after 674
the date of the alleged violation, if a citation is not issued for such 675
alleged violation pursuant to subsection (c) of section 16 of this act or 676
subsection (c) of section 21 of this act, or (2) upon final disposition of the 677
case to which it pertains, if a citation is issued for such alleged violation 678
pursuant to subsection (c) of section 16 of this act or subsection (c) of 679
section 21 of this act. 680
(e) The Department of Transportation, municipality or a contractor 681
may disclose aggregate information and other data collected from the 682
use of an automated traffic enforcement safety device that does not 683
directly or indirectly identify a motor vehicle for research purposes 684
authorized by the Commissioner of Transportation. 685
(f) (1) Commencing one year from the date an automated traffic 686
enforcement safety device is operational in a maintenance work zone in 687
this state, and every year thereafter, the Department of Transportation 688
or a contractor shall conduct an internal audit of the department's or 689
contractor's compliance with the regulations adopted pursuant to 690
subsection (a) of this section. 691
(2) Commencing one year from the date an automated traffic 692
enforcement safety device is operational in a school zone pursuant to 693
the pilot program established pursuant to section 21 of this act, and each 694
year of the pilot program, the municipality or a contractor shall conduct 695
an internal audit of the municipality's or contractor's compliance with 696
the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 697
(g) Commencing one year from the date an automated traffic 698
enforcement safety device is operational in a maintenance work zone in 699
this state, and every year thereafter, the Department of Transportation 700
shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 701
of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 702 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 23 of 33
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation. Such 703
report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The number of times 704
number plates are recorded by an automated traffic enforcement safety 705
device; (2) the number of times the department or a contractor disclosed 706
recorded images or other data produced by an automated traffic 707
enforcement safety device pursuant to a search warrant in a criminal 708
proceeding; (3) the number of times the department or contractor 709
disclosed recorded images or other data pursuant to a subpoena in a 710
criminal proceeding; (4) the number of requests for recorded images or 711
other data received by the department or a contractor, including the 712
identity of the person or entity who made each such request and a copy 713
of each such request; and (5) the results of the internal audit conducted 714
pursuant to subsection (f) of this section. 715
(h) A recorded image or other data produced by an automated traffic 716
enforcement safety device shall not be deemed a public record, for 717
purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200 718
of the general statutes. 719
Sec. 18. (Effective October 1, 2021) The Commissioner of 720
Transportation shall develop and implement a public awareness 721
campaign to educate the public concerning (1) unsafe driving in a 722
highway work zone, as defined in section 14-212d of the general 723
statutes, and a school zone, established pursuant to section 14-212b of 724
the general statutes, as amended by this act, and (2) the possible use of 725
an automated traffic enforcement safety device, as defined in subsection 726
(a) of section 16 of this act, in a maintenance work zone, as defined in 727
subsection (a) of section 16 of this act, and a school zone. 728
Sec. 19. Section 14-212g of the general statutes is repealed and the 729
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2022): 730
(a) There is established an account to be known as the "work zone 731
safety account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the 732
Special Transportation Fund. The account shall contain any moneys 733
required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account 734 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 24 of 33
shall be expended by the Department of Transportation to [protect the 735
safety of workers in highway work zones, as defined in section 14-212d, 736
through (1) highway traffic enforcement, including, but not limited to, 737
the expansion of the "Operation Big Orange" program, and (2) the 738
purchase and implementation of technology and equipment. Any use of 739
moneys in the work zone safety account by the department, other than 740
for the "Operation Big Orange" program or direct traffic enforcement in 741
work zones, shall be approved by the Highway Work Zone Safety 742
Advisory Council, as described in section 14-212e] pay the costs of 743
sworn members of the Division of State Police within the Department of 744
Emergency Services and Public Protection who are engaged in highway 745
traffic enforcement or traffic control in highway work zones, as defined 746
in section 14-212d. 747
(b) Upon receipt of the moneys paid pursuant to subdivisions (4) and 748
(5) of subsection (b) of section 13b-61, the State Treasurer shall transfer 749
nine thousand dollars of such moneys monthly to the work zone safety 750
account established in subsection (a) of this section. 751
Sec. 20. Section 14-219c of the general statutes is repealed and the 752
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 753
[A] Except as provided in subsection (e) of section 16 of this act and 754
subsection (f) of section 21 of this act, a prima facie presumption of 755
accuracy sufficient to support a conviction under section 14-219, as 756
amended by this act, will be accorded to a radar, speed monitoring laser, 757
vascar device or any other speed monitoring device approved by the 758
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection only upon 759
testimony by a competent police officer that: (1) The police officer 760
operating the radar, laser, vascar device or other device has adequate 761
training and experience in its operation; (2) the radar, laser, vascar 762
device or other device was in proper working condition at the time of 763
the arrest, established by proof that suggested methods of testing the 764
proper functioning of the device were followed; (3) the radar, laser, 765
vascar device or other device was used in an area where road conditions 766
provide a minimum possibility of distortion; (4) if moving radar was 767 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 25 of 33
used, the speed of the patrol car was verified; and (5) the radar, laser, 768
vascar device or other device was expertly tested within a reasonable 769
time following the arrest, and such testing was done by means which do 770
not rely on the internal calibrations of such radar, laser, vascar device or 771
other device. 772
Sec. 21. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) For the purposes of this 773
section: (1) "Automated traffic enforcement safety device" means a 774
photographic device, radar device, laser device or other electrical or 775
mechanical device that (A) records the speed of motor vehicles traveling 776
in a school zone, and (B) produces one or more recorded images that 777
indicate the date, time and location of the image of each motor vehicle 778
exceeding the posted speed limit by eleven miles per hour or more in 779
the school zone and allegedly committing a violation specified in section 780
14-128a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or section 14-219 781
of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and (2) "school zone" 782
means an area designated by the Office of the State Traffic 783
Administration or the traffic authority of a town, city or borough 784
pursuant to section 14-212b of the general statutes, as amended by this 785
act. 786
(b) (1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in 787
consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, may establish a 788
pilot program to allow not more than ten municipalities to install, 789
operate and maintain automated traffic enforcement safety devices in 790
school zones located in such municipality for a period of five years from 791
the date such safety devices are operational. A municipality 792
participating in the pilot program may enter into an agreement with a 793
contractor for such installation, operation and maintenance. Such safety 794
devices may only be operational on or after July 1, 2022, provided the 795
commissioner has adopted regulations concerning such safety devices 796
pursuant to section 17 of this act. 797
(2) A participating municipality shall post signs that indicate the use 798
of an automated traffic enforcement safety device at a distance of not 799
less than five hundred feet in advance of a school zone in which such 800 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 26 of 33
safety device is installed and operational. Such safety device shall be 801
removed from the school zone upon completion of the pilot program. 802
(3) An automated traffic enforcement safety device shall be installed 803
in a manner to only record images of the number plate of a motor 804
vehicle, and shall not record images of the occupants of such motor 805
vehicle or of any other persons or vehicles in the vicinity at the time the 806
images are recorded. 807
(c) Whenever an automated traffic enforcement safety device detects 808
and produces one or more recorded images of the number plate of a 809
motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by eleven miles per hour 810
or more in a school zone and allegedly committing a violation specified 811
in section 14-128a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or 812
section 14-219 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, a sworn 813
member of the Division of State Police within the Department of 814
Emergency Services and Public Protection or a municipal police 815
department shall review the recorded images provided by such safety 816
device. If, after such review, such member determines that there are 817
reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, such 818
member may issue a citation for the alleged violation. If such member 819
authorizes the issuance of a citation for the alleged violation, the 820
Division of State Police or municipal police department shall, not later 821
than ten days after the alleged violation, mail the citation to the 822
registered owner of the motor vehicle together with a copy of the 823
recorded images. Any person who receives a citation pursuant to this 824
subsection shall follow the procedures set forth in section 51-164n of the 825
general statutes. 826
(d) (1) Any person who exceeds the posted speed limit by eleven 827
miles per hour or more in a school zone and commits a violation of 828
section 14-218a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or section 829
14-219 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, that was detected 830
and recorded by an automated traffic enforcement safety device shall be 831
fined seventy-five dollars for the first violation and ninety dollars for 832
any subsequent violation. 833 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 27 of 33
(2) The state shall remit to the municipalities in which the violations 834
occurred all amounts received in respect to the violation of subdivision 835
(1) of this subsection. 836
(e) As provided in subsection (b) of section 14-107 of the general 837
statutes, proof of the registration number of the motor vehicle shall be 838
prima facie evidence that the owner was the operator thereof, except 839
that, in the case of a leased or rented motor vehicle, such proof shall be 840
prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator thereof. A recorded 841
image that clearly shows the number plate of a motor vehicle exceeding 842
the posted speed limit by eleven miles per hour or more in a school zone 843
shall be sufficient proof of the identity of the motor vehicle. 844
(f) A prima facie presumption of accuracy sufficient to support a 845
conviction under section 14-218a of the general statutes, as amended by 846
this act, or section 14-219 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, 847
will be accorded to an automated traffic enforcement safety device 848
installed, operated and maintained pursuant to this section only upon 849
testimony by a municipal employee or contractor involved in the 850
installation, operation or maintenance of such safety device that: (1) The 851
employee or contractor has adequate training and experience in the 852
installation, operation and maintenance of such safety device; (2) such 853
safety device was in proper working condition at the time such safety 854
device detected and produced one or more recorded images of the 855
motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by eleven miles per hour 856
or more in a school zone, and established by proof that suggested 857
methods of testing the proper functioning of such safety device were 858
followed; (3) such safety device was used in an area where road 859
conditions provide a minimum possibility of distortion; and (4) such 860
safety device was expertly tested within a reasonable time following the 861
date such safety device detected and produced one or more recorded 862
images of the motor vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit by eleven 863
miles per hour or more in a school zone, and such testing was done by 864
means which do not rely on the internal calibrations of such safety 865
device. 866 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 28 of 33
(g) All defenses shall be available to any person who is alleged to 867
have committed a violation specified in section 14-218a of the general 868
statutes, as amended by this act, or section 14-219 of the general statutes, 869
as amended by this act, that is detected and recorded by an automated 870
traffic enforcement safety device, including, but not limited to, that (1) 871
the violation was necessary to allow the passage of an authorized 872
emergency vehicle, (2) the violation was necessary to avoid injuring the 873
person or property of another, (3) the violation took place during a 874
period of time in which the motor vehicle had been reported as being 875
stolen to a law enforcement unit, as defined in section 7-294a of the 876
general statutes, and had not been recovered prior to the time of the 877
violation, (4) the person was convicted of committing a violation 878
specified in section 14-218a of the general statutes, as amended by this 879
act, or section 14-219 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, 880
while in a school zone for the same incident based upon a separate and 881
distinct citation issued by an officer, (5) the person was not operating 882
the motor vehicle at the time of the violation, or (6) the violation was 883
necessary in order for the person to comply with any other general 884
statute or regulation concerning the operation of a motor vehicle. 885
(h) Commencing one year from the date an automated traffic 886
enforcement safety device is operational in a school zone in this state, 887
and every year thereafter, each participating municipality shall submit 888
a report to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Such 889
report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The number of times 890
number plates are recorded by an automated traffic enforcement safety 891
device; (2) the number of times the municipality or a contractor 892
disclosed recorded images or other data produced by an automated 893
traffic enforcement safety device pursuant to a search warrant in a 894
criminal proceeding; (3) the number of times the municipality or 895
contractor disclosed recorded images or other data pursuant to a 896
subpoena in a criminal proceeding; (4) the number of requests for 897
recorded images or other data received by the municipality or a 898
contractor, including the identity of the person or entity who made each 899
such request and a copy of each such request; and (5) the results of the 900 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 29 of 33
internal audit conducted pursuant to subsection (f) of section 17 of this 901
act. The secretary shall compile the reports and shall submit, in 902
accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, on an annual basis, 903
a consolidated report and any recommendations regarding the pilot 904
program to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 905
having cognizance of matters relating to transportation. 906
Sec. 22. Section 14-212b of the general statutes is repealed and the 907
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 908
(a) As used in this section, "local highway" means a highway that is 909
under the control of a town, city or borough; and "local traffic authority" 910
means the traffic authority of a town, city or borough. 911
(b) (1) At the request of the legislative body of a town, city or borough, 912
the Office of the State Traffic Administration may designate as a school 913
zone any part of a state highway that is adjacent to school property or 914
is, in the opinion of said office, sufficiently close to school property as to 915
constitute a risk to the public safety under all the circumstances. At the 916
request of such legislative body, the commission may revoke any such 917
designation. (2) A local traffic authority may designate as a school zone, 918
and may revoke any such designation, any part of a local highway that 919
is adjacent to school property or is, in the opinion of the local traffic 920
authority, sufficiently close to school property as to constitute a risk to 921
the public safety under all the circumstances. 922
(c) The Superior Court shall impose an additional fee equivalent to 923
one hundred per cent of the fine established or imposed for the violation 924
of the provisions of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, or 14-219, 925
as amended by this act, for any such violation committed in a school 926
zone designated in a conspicuous manner by the Office of the State 927
Traffic Administration or local traffic authority. The provisions of this 928
section shall not apply to a violation of section 14-219, as amended by 929
this act, that was detected and recorded by an automated traffic 930
enforcement safety device in the pilot program established pursuant to 931
section 21 of this act. 932 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 30 of 33
(d) The Office of the State Traffic Administration with regard to a 933
state highway or the local traffic authority with regard to a local 934
highway shall cause to be posted a sign approved by the Office of the 935
State Traffic Administration (1) at the beginning of a school zone in each 936
direction that traffic is permitted to flow which shall read as follows: 937
"SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD FINES DOUBLED", and (2) at the end of such 938
zone in each direction that traffic is permitted to flow which shall read 939
as follows: "END SCHOOL ZONE". 940
Sec. 23. Section 14-295a of the general statutes is repealed and the 941
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 942
An assessment of five dollars shall be imposed against any person 943
who is convicted of a violation of section 14-219, as amended by this act, 944
14-222, 14-227a or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of 945
section 14-227n or who pleads nolo contendere to a violation of section 946
14-219, as amended by this act, and pays the fine by mail. Such 947
assessment shall be in addition to any fee, cost or surcharge imposed 948
pursuant to any other provision of the general statutes. All assessments 949
collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund 950
and credited to the brain injury prevention and services account 951
established under section 14-295b. The provisions of this section shall 952
not apply to a violation of section 14-219, as amended by this act, that 953
was detected and recorded by an automated traffic enforcement safety 954
device in the pilot program established pursuant to section 21 of this act. 955
Sec. 24. Subsection (a) of section 54-143 of the general statutes is 956
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 957
1, 2021): 958
(a) A cost of twenty dollars shall be imposed against any person 959
convicted of a felony, and a cost of fifteen dollars shall be imposed 960
against any person convicted of a misdemeanor or convicted under 961
section 14-219, as amended by this act, 14-222, 14-224, 14-225, 14-227a or 962
14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, or 963
who pleads nolo contendere to a violation of section 14-219, as amended 964 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 31 of 33
by this act, and pays the fine by mail, and the taxation of costs or the 965
collection of fees and expenses as provided by law may be imposed on 966
appeal to the Supreme Court or Appellate Court. The provisions of this 967
section shall not apply to a violation of section 14-219, as amended by 968
this act, that was detected and recorded by an automated traffic 969
enforcement safety device in the pilot program established pursuant to 970
section 21 of this act. 971
Sec. 25. Section 13b-70 of the general statutes is repealed and the 972
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 973
Each person who pays a motor vehicle related fine, penalty or other 974
charge, as defined in subsection (g) of section 13b-59, shall pay, on and 975
after July 1, 1989, an additional amount equal to fifty per cent of the 976
amount of such fine, penalty or other charge imposed. Any such 977
additional amount shall be rounded off to the next highest dollar. The 978
provisions of this section shall not apply to any fine, penalty or other 979
charge required by or levied pursuant to (1) section 14-64 and section 980
14-150, and (2) section 14-219, as amended by this act, that was detected 981
and recorded by an automated traffic enforcement safety device in the 982
pilot program established pursuant to section 21 of this act. 983
Sec. 26. Section 54-143a of the general statutes is repealed and the 984
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 985
A cost of twenty dollars shall be imposed against any person 986
convicted of a violation, as defined in section 53a-27, under any 987
provision of section 12-487 or sections 13b-410a to 13b-410c, inclusive; 988
any regulation adopted in accordance with the provisions of section 12-989
484, 12-487 or 13b-410; or a violation of section 14-147, 14-219, as 990
amended by this act, 14-266, 14-267a, 14-269 or 14-270, chapter 268 or 991
subsection (a) of section 22a-250, or any section of the general statutes 992
the violation of which is deemed an infraction, or who forfeits a cash 993
bond or guaranteed bail bond certificate posted under section 14-140a 994
or under reciprocal agreements made with other states for the alleged 995
violation of any of said sections, or who pleads nolo contendere to a 996 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 32 of 33
violation of any of said sections and pays the fine by mail; except that 997
such cost shall be thirty-five dollars for a violation of any section of the 998
general statutes the violation of which is deemed an infraction and 999
carries a fine of thirty-five dollars or more. The costs imposed by this 1000
section shall be deposited in the General Fund and shall be in addition 1001
to any costs imposed by section 54-143, as amended by this act. The 1002
provisions of this section shall not apply to a violation of section 14-219, 1003
as amended by this act, that was detected and recorded by an automated 1004
traffic enforcement safety device in the pilot program established 1005
pursuant to section 21 of this act. 1006
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2021 14-300(c)
Sec. 2 from passage New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 14-311(d)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 5 October 1, 2021 51-56a
Sec. 6 October 1, 2021 14-251
Sec. 7 July 1, 2021 14-218a
Sec. 8 July 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 9 October 1, 2021 14-36(a)
Sec. 10 October 1, 2021 14-219(a) and (b)
Sec. 11 October 1, 2021 14-222(a)
Sec. 12 October 1, 2021 14-283(b)(1)
Sec. 13 October 1, 2021 53a-213
Sec. 14 October 1, 2021 14-296aa(h)
Sec. 15 October 1, 2021 14-21i
Sec. 16 October 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 17 October 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 18 October 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 19 January 1, 2022 14-212g
Sec. 20 October 1, 2021 14-219c
Sec. 21 October 1, 2021 New section
Sec. 22 October 1, 2021 14-212b
Sec. 23 October 1, 2021 14-295a
Sec. 24 October 1, 2021 54-143(a)
Sec. 25 October 1, 2021 13b-70 Raised Bill No. 5429
LCO No. 1511 33 of 33
Sec. 26 October 1, 2021 54-143a
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) require motorists to grant the right-of-way to pedestrians who
affirmatively indicate their intention to cross the road in a crosswalk; (2)
increase the fine for operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held
mobile telephone or electronic device; (3) increase the additional fee
provided to municipalities for certain traffic violations; (4) establish a
fine for opening the door of a motor vehicle in a way that impedes the
travel of a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle; (5) allow local traffic
authorities to establish speed limits and pedestrian safety zones; (6)
establish the greenways commemorative account; (7) allow the use of
automated traffic enforcement safety devices within maintenance work
zones; and (8) establish a pilot program to use automated traffic
enforcement safety devices in school zones.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]