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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 304
February Session, 2022
LCO No. 2580
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE POLICE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TASK FORCE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 7-291b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 2
Not later than January 1, 2016, each law enforcement unit, as defined 3
in section 7-294a, shall develop and implement guidelines for the 4
recruitment, retention and promotion of minority police officers, as 5
defined in section 7-294a. Such guidelines shall promote achieving the 6
goal of racial, gender, ideological and ethnic diversity within the law 7
enforcement unit and community involvement. 8
Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than thirty days after the 9
effective date of this section, the Board of Regents for Higher Education 10
shall select a public institution of higher education to study and evaluate 11
the role and impact school resource officers have on students with 12
disabilities. 13
(b) As part of such study, the selected public institution of higher 14 Raised Bill No. 304
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education shall: 15
(1) Determine how many school resource officers are employed in 16
this state and the number of such officers in each school district; 17
(2) Detail the funding mechanisms each district uses to employ school 18
resource officers; 19
(3) Develop metrics for assessing the efficacy of school resource 20
officers, particularly in the context of interactions with students with 21
disabilities; 22
(4) Determine the chain of command structure when students with 23
disabilities experience crises in school, including who responds and 24
when; 25
(5) Determine what the process is for entering into memoranda of 26
understanding between school districts, boards of education and school 27
resource officers, and public accessibility to such process; and 28
(6) Explore other issues that the public institution of higher education 29
conducting the study deems relevant to such study. 30
(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the selected public institution 31
shall report its findings and any recommendations in accordance with 32
the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes to the joint 33
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 34
matters relating to education. 35
Sec. 3. Section 7-294d of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 36
is amended by adding subsection (h) as follows (Effective October 1, 37
2022): 38
(NEW) (h) (1) The chief law enforcement officer of each law 39
enforcement unit shall report to the council any violation where the 40
holder has been found by the law enforcement unit, pursuant to 41
procedures established by such unit, to have: (A) Used unreasonable, 42
excessive, or illegal force that causes serious physical injury or the death 43 Raised Bill No. 304
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of another person, or to have used unreasonable, excessive or illegal 44
force that was likely to cause serious physical injury or death to another 45
person; (B) while acting in a law enforcement capacity, failed to 46
intervene or stop the use of unreasonable, excessive or illegal force by 47
another police officer that caused serious physical injury or death to 48
another person, or unreasonable, excessive or illegal force that was 49
likely to cause serious physical injury or death to another person, or to 50
notify a supervisor and submit a written report of such acts where the 51
holder has personal knowledge of such acts and the ability to prevent 52
such acts; (C) intentionally intimidated or harassed another person 53
based upon actual or perceived protected class membership, identity or 54
expression and in doing so threatens to commit or causes physical injury 55
to another person; and (D) been terminated, dismissed, resigned or 56
retired pursuant to the provisions of section 7-291c. 57
(2) If the chief law enforcement officer of any municipal police 58
department or the Department of Emergency Services and Public 59
Protection fails to report to the council as required in subdivision (1) of 60
this subsection, the council shall notify the Office of Policy and 61
Management of such failure and the office shall recommend and the 62
Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may order an 63
appropriate penalty in the form of the withholding of state funds from 64
such municipal police department or the Department of Emergency 65
Services and Public Protection, as applicable. 66
Sec. 4. Section 7-294ee of the general statutes is repealed and the 67
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective form passage): 68
(a) [Until December 31, 2024, the] The Police Officer Standards and 69
Training Council, established under section 7-294b, and the 70
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the 71
commissioner's designee, shall jointly develop, adopt and revise, as 72
necessary, minimum standards and practices for the administration, 73
[and] management and operation of law enforcement units, as defined 74
in section 7-294a. Such minimum standards and practices shall be based 75
upon standards established by the International Association of Chiefs of 76 Raised Bill No. 304
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Police and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement 77
Agencies, Inc., and shall include, but need not be limited to, standards 78
and practices regarding bias-based policing, use of force, response to 79
crimes of family violence, use of body-worn recording equipment, 80
complaints that allege misconduct by police officers, use of electronic 81
defense weapons, eyewitness identification procedures, notifications in 82
death and related events and pursuits by police officers. Not later than 83
July 1, 2022, the council shall, within available appropriations, divide 84
the minimum standards and practices into three tiers, to be known as 85
tier one, tier two and tier three. Tier one shall consist of minimum 86
standards and practices designed to protect law enforcement units from 87
liability, enhance the delivery of services and improve public confidence 88
in law enforcement units. Tier two shall consist of minimum standards 89
and practices for the administration, management and operation of law 90
enforcement units. Tier three shall consist of higher minimum standards 91
and practices for the administration, management and operation of law 92
enforcement units. The council shall post [such] the minimum standards 93
and practices of each tier on the council's Internet web site and 94
disseminate [such] the minimum standards and practices of each tier to 95
law enforcement units. The council and commissioner or the 96
commissioner's designee shall jointly develop a process to review a law 97
enforcement unit's compliance with [such] the minimum standards and 98
practices of each tier and issue a certificate of compliance with [law 99
enforcement] the minimum standards and practices of tier one, tier two 100
or tier three, as the case may be, to a law enforcement unit that meets or 101
exceeds [such] the minimum standards and practices of such tier. 102
(b) On and after January 1, 2019, and until [December 31, 2024] June 103
30, 2022, each law enforcement unit shall adopt and maintain (1) the 104
minimum standards and practices developed by the council pursuant to 105
subsection (a) of this section, or (2) a higher level of accreditation 106
standards developed by the council or the Commission on Accreditation 107
for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. 108
(c) On and after July 1, 2022, and until December 31, 2022, each law 109
enforcement unit shall adopt and maintain the minimum standards and 110 Raised Bill No. 304
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practices of tier one developed by the council pursuant to subsection (a) 111
of this section. 112
(d) On and after January 1, 2023, and until December 31, 2024, each 113
law enforcement unit shall adopt and maintain the minimum standards 114
and practices of tier two developed by the council pursuant to 115
subsection (a) of this section. 116
[(c)] (e) On and after January 1, 2025, each law enforcement unit shall 117
[obtain and maintain accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation 118
for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. If a law enforcement until fails to 119
obtain or maintain such accreditation, the council shall work with the 120
law enforcement unit to obtain and maintain such accreditation] adopt 121
and maintain the minimum standards and practices of tier three 122
developed by the council pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 123
[(d)] (f) No civil action may be brought against a law enforcement 124
unit for damages arising from the failure of the law enforcement unit to 125
[(1)] adopt and maintain [such] the minimum standards and practices 126
or a higher level of accreditation standards pursuant to [subsection (b) 127
of] this section. [, or (2) obtain and maintain accreditation by the 128
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., 129
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.] 130
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than October 1, 2022, 131
the Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall develop a 132
standardized state-wide reporting form and process for persons to file 133
complaints against police officers. The form shall clearly provide that 134
complaints may be made anonymously and need not be notarized. The 135
form shall solicit information about the race, ethnicity and gender of the 136
officer and complainant. The form shall be posted on the Department of 137
Emergency Services and Public Protection's and each municipality's 138
Internet web site and hard copies of the form shall be available at 139
municipal offices, including police stations and libraries. A complainant 140
may submit a completed form to the law enforcement unit employing 141
the officer who is the subject of the complaint. The council shall 142 Raised Bill No. 304
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collaborate with the Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities 143
to include information as part of the form that informs the complainant 144
of their right to also file a complaint with the commission. 145
(b) Each law enforcement unit shall immediately transmit data 146
collected from the form to the council as directed by the council. Such 147
data shall be tracked through a number system and shall not include 148
names or other identifying information of the complainant or any 149
officer. The council shall maintain a database of complaints which shall 150
be reported biannually in a manner publicly available. 151
(c) The council shall develop an audit policy that ensures law 152
enforcement units are complying with the provisions of subsections (a) 153
and (b) of this section. 154
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2022) No officer may stop a vehicle 155
for a violation of any provision of title 14 of the general statutes that is 156
only a secondary violation. The provisions of this section shall not 157
prohibit enforcement of a secondary violation by automated 158
enforcement or by a mailed notice of violation or in the case of a vehicle 159
stopped for a violation that is not a secondary violation. 160
Sec. 7. Section 14-1 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes is 161
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 162
1, 2022): 163
Terms used in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless 164
another construction is clearly apparent from the language or context in 165
which the term is used or unless the construction is inconsistent with 166
the manifest intention of the General Assembly: 167
(1) "Activity vehicle" means a student transportation vehicle that is 168
used to transport students in connection with school-sponsored events 169
and activities, but is not used to transport students to and from school; 170
(2) "Agricultural tractor" means a tractor or other form of 171
nonmuscular motive power used for transporting, hauling, plowing, 172 Raised Bill No. 304
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cultivating, planting, harvesting, reaping or other agricultural purposes 173
on any farm or other private property, or used for the purpose of 174
transporting, from one farm to another, agricultural implements and 175
farm products, provided the agricultural tractor is not used on any 176
highway for transporting a pay load or for some other commercial 177
purpose; 178
(3) "Antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle" means a motor 179
vehicle twenty years old or older which is being preserved because of 180
historic interest and which is not altered or modified from the original 181
manufacturer's specifications; 182
(4) "Apparent candle power" means an illumination equal to the 183
normal illumination in foot candles produced by any lamp or lamps, 184
divided by the square of the distance in feet between the lamp or lamps 185
and the point at which the measurement is made; 186
(5) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means (A) a fire department 187
vehicle, (B) a police vehicle, or (C) an ambulance; 188
(6) "Autocycle" means a motor vehicle that meets the requirements of 189
a motorcycle under 49 CFR Part 571, and (A) does not have more than 190
three wheels in contact with the ground, (B) is designed to be controlled 191
with a steering wheel and foot pedals for acceleration, braking or 192
shifting, (C) has a seat or seats that are fully or partially enclosed and in 193
which the occupants sit with their legs forward, and (D) is equipped 194
with safety belts, in accordance with section 14-100a, for all occupants; 195
(7) "Auxiliary driving lamp" means an additional lighting device on 196
a motor vehicle used primarily to supplement the general illumination 197
in front of a motor vehicle provided by the motor vehicle's head lamps; 198
(8) "Bulb" means a light source consisting of a glass bulb containing a 199
filament or substance capable of being electrically maintained at 200
incandescence; 201
(9) "Camp trailer" includes any trailer designed for living or sleeping 202 Raised Bill No. 304
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purposes and used exclusively for camping or recreational purposes; 203
(10) "Camp trailer registration" means the type of registration issued 204
to any trailer that is for nonbusiness use and is limited to camp trailers 205
and utility trailers; 206
(11) "Camp vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is regularly used 207
to transport persons under eighteen years of age in connection with the 208
activities of any youth camp, as defined in section 19a-420; 209
(12) "Camper" means any motor vehicle designed or permanently 210
altered in such a way as to provide temporary living quarters for travel, 211
camping or recreational purposes; 212
(13) "Class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with 213
a motor that engages only when the rider operates the electric bicycle's 214
foot pedals, and disengages when the rider stops pedaling or such 215
electric bicycle reaches the speed of twenty miles per hour; 216
(14) "Class 2 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with 217
a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the electric bicycle, and 218
disengages when the brakes are applied or such electric bicycle reaches 219
the speed of twenty miles per hour; 220
(15) "Class 3 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with 221
a motor that engages only when the rider operates the electric bicycle's 222
foot pedals, and disengages when the rider stops pedaling or such 223
electric bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight miles per hour; 224
(16) "Combination registration" means the type of registration issued 225
to a motor vehicle used for both private passenger and commercial 226
purposes if such vehicle does not have a gross vehicle weight rating in 227
excess of twelve thousand five hundred pounds; 228
(17) "Commercial driver's license" or "CDL" means a license issued to 229
an individual in accordance with the provisions of sections 14-44a to 14-230
44m, inclusive, which authorizes such individual to drive a commercial 231
motor vehicle; 232 Raised Bill No. 304
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(18) "Commercial driver's license information system" or "CDLIS" 233
means the national database of holders of commercial driver's licenses 234
established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 235
pursuant to Section 12007 of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act 236
of 1986; 237
(19) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a vehicle designed or used to 238
transport passengers or property, except a vehicle used for farming 239
purposes in accordance with 49 CFR 383.3(d), fire fighting apparatus or 240
an emergency vehicle, as defined in section 14-283, or a recreational 241
vehicle in private use, which (A) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 242
twenty-six thousand and one pounds or more, or a gross combination 243
weight rating of twenty-six thousand and one pounds or more, inclusive 244
of a towed unit or units with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 245
ten thousand pounds; (B) is designed to transport sixteen or more 246
passengers, including the driver, or is designed to transport more than 247
ten passengers, including the driver, and is used to transport students 248
under the age of twenty-one years to and from school; or (C) is 249
transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in 250
accordance with 49 CFR 172, Subpart F, as amended, or any quantity of 251
a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73; 252
(20) "Commercial registration" means the type of registration 253
required for any motor vehicle designed or used to transport 254
merchandise, freight or persons in connection with any business 255
enterprise, unless a more specific type of registration is authorized and 256
issued by the commissioner for such class of vehicle; 257
(21) "Commercial trailer" means a trailer used in the conduct of a 258
business to transport freight, materials or equipment whether or not 259
permanently affixed to the bed of the trailer; 260
(22) "Commercial trailer registration" means the type of registration 261
issued to any commercial trailer; 262
(23) "Commissioner" includes the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 263
and any assistant to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles who is 264 Raised Bill No. 304
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designated and authorized by, and who is acting for, the Commissioner 265
of Motor Vehicles under a designation; except that the deputy 266
commissioners of motor vehicles and the Attorney General are deemed, 267
unless the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles otherwise provides, to be 268
designated and authorized by, and acting for, the Commissioner of 269
Motor Vehicles under a designation; 270
(24) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as provided in 271
section 21a-240 and the federal laws and regulations incorporated in 272
chapter 420b; 273
(25) "Conviction" means an unvacated adjudication of guilt, or a 274
determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the 275
law in a court of original jurisdiction or an authorized administrative 276
tribunal, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure 277
the person's appearance in court, the payment of a fine or court cost, or 278
violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether or 279
not the penalty is rebated, suspended or probated; 280
(26) "Dealer" includes any person actively engaged in buying, selling 281
or exchanging motor vehicles or trailers who has an established place of 282
business in this state and who may, incidental to such business, repair 283
motor vehicles or trailers, or cause them to be repaired by persons in his 284
or her employ; 285
(27) "Disqualification" means a withdrawal of the privilege to drive a 286
commercial motor vehicle, which occurs as a result of (A) any 287
suspension, revocation, or cancellation by the commissioner of the 288
privilege to operate a motor vehicle; (B) a determination by the Federal 289
Highway Administration, under the rules of practice for motor carrier 290
safety contained in 49 CFR 386, as amended from time to time, that a 291
person is no longer qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle 292
under the standards set forth in 49 CFR 391, as amended from time to 293
time; or (C) the loss of qualification which follows any of the convictions 294
or administrative actions specified in section 14-44k; 295
(28) "Drive" means to drive, operate or be in physical control of a 296 Raised Bill No. 304
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motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle being towed by another; 297
(29) "Driver" means any person who drives, operates or is in physical 298
control of a commercial motor vehicle, or who is required to hold a 299
commercial driver's license; 300
(30) "Driver's license" or "operator's license" means a valid 301
Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license or a license issued by 302
another state or foreign jurisdiction authorizing the holder thereof to 303
operate a motor vehicle on the highways; 304
(31) "Electric bicycle" means a bicycle equipped with operable foot 305
pedals and an electric motor of fewer than seven hundred fifty watts of 306
power that is either a class 1, class 2 or class 3 bicycle. "Electric bicycle" 307
does not include a dirt bike or an all-terrain vehicle; 308
(32) "Electric foot scooter" means a device (A) that weighs not more 309
than seventy-five pounds, (B) that has two or three wheels, handlebars 310
and a floorboard that can be stood upon while riding, (C) that is 311
powered by an electric motor and human power, and (D) whose 312
maximum speed, with or without human propulsion on a paved level 313
surface, is not more than twenty miles per hour; 314
(33) "Employee" means any operator of a commercial motor vehicle, 315
including full-time, regularly employed drivers, casual, intermittent or 316
occasional drivers, drivers under contract and independent owner-317
operator contractors, who, while in the course of operating a commercial 318
motor vehicle, are either directly employed by, or are under contract to, 319
an employer; 320
(34) "Employer" means any person, including the United States, a 321
state or any political subdivision thereof, who owns or leases a 322
commercial motor vehicle, or assigns a person to drive a commercial 323
motor vehicle; 324
(35) "Farm implement" means a vehicle designed and adapted 325
exclusively for agricultural, horticultural or livestock-raising operations 326 Raised Bill No. 304
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and which is not operated on a highway for transporting a pay load or 327
for any other commercial purpose; 328
(36) "Felony" means any offense, as defined in section 53a-25 and 329
includes any offense designated as a felony under federal law; 330
(37) "Fatality" means the death of a person as a result of a motor 331
vehicle accident; 332
(38) [Foreign jurisdiction"] "Foreign jurisdiction" means any 333
jurisdiction other than a state of the United States; 334
(39) "Fuels" means (A) all products commonly or commercially 335
known or sold as gasoline, including casinghead and absorption or 336
natural gasoline, regardless of their classification or uses, (B) any liquid 337
prepared, advertised, offered for sale or sold for use, or commonly and 338
commercially used, as a fuel in internal combustion engines, which, 339
when subjected to distillation in accordance with the standard method 340
of test for distillation of gasoline, naphtha, kerosene and similar 341
petroleum products by "American Society for Testing Materials Method 342
D-86", shows not less than ten per cent distilled (recovered) below 347° 343
Fahrenheit (175° Centigrade) and not less than ninety-five per cent 344
distilled (recovered) below 464° Fahrenheit (240° Centigrade); provided 345
the term "fuels" does not include commercial solvents or naphthas 346
which distill, by "American Society for Testing Materials Method D-86", 347
not more than nine per cent at 176° Fahrenheit and which have a 348
distillation range of 150° Fahrenheit, or less, or liquefied gases which 349
would not exist as liquids at a temperature of 60° Fahrenheit and a 350
pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute, and (C) any liquid 351
commonly referred to as "gasohol" which is prepared, advertised, 352
offered for sale or sold for use, or commonly and commercially used, as 353
a fuel in internal combustion engines, consisting of a blend of gasoline 354
and a minimum of ten per cent by volume of ethyl or methyl alcohol; 355
(40) "Garage" includes every place of business where motor vehicles 356
are, for compensation, received for housing, storage or repair; 357 Raised Bill No. 304
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(41) "Gross vehicle weight rating" or "GVWR" means the value 358
specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a 359
single or a combination (articulated) vehicle. The GVWR of a 360
combination (articulated) vehicle commonly referred to as the "gross 361
combination weight rating" or GCWR is the GVWR of the power unit 362
plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units; 363
(42) "Gross weight" means the light weight of a vehicle plus the 364
weight of any load on the vehicle, provided, in the case of a tractor-365
trailer unit, "gross weight" means the light weight of the tractor plus the 366
light weight of the trailer or semitrailer plus the weight of the load on 367
the vehicle; 368
(43) "Hazardous materials" has the same meaning as provided in 49 369
CFR 383.5; 370
(44) "Head lamp" means a lighting device affixed to the front of a 371
motor vehicle projecting a high intensity beam which lights the road in 372
front of the vehicle so that it can proceed safely during the hours of 373
darkness; 374
(45) "High-mileage vehicle" means a motor vehicle having the 375
following characteristics: (A) Not less than three wheels in contact with 376
the ground; (B) a completely enclosed seat on which the driver sits; (C) 377
a single or two cylinder, gasoline or diesel engine or an electric-powered 378
engine; and (D) efficient fuel consumption; 379
(46) "Highway" includes any state or other public highway, road, 380
street, avenue, alley, driveway, parkway, place or dedicated roadway 381
for bus rapid transit service, under the control of the state or any 382
political subdivision of the state, dedicated, appropriated or opened to 383
public travel or other use; 384
(47) "Imminent hazard" means the existence of a condition that 385
presents a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe 386
personal injury or a substantial endangerment to health, property, or the 387
environment may occur before the reasonably foreseeable completion 388 Raised Bill No. 304
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date of a formal proceeding begun to lessen the risk of that death, illness, 389
injury or endangerment; 390
(48) "Intersecting highway" includes any public highway which joins 391
another at an angle whether or not it crosses the other; 392
(49) "Light weight" means the weight of an unloaded motor vehicle 393
as ordinarily equipped and ready for use, exclusive of the weight of the 394
operator of the motor vehicle; 395
(50) "Limited access highway" means a state highway so designated 396
under the provisions of section 13b-27; 397
(51) "Local authorities" includes the board of aldermen, common 398
council, chief of police, warden and burgesses, board of selectmen or 399
other officials having authority for the enactment or enforcement of 400
traffic regulations within their respective towns, cities or boroughs; 401
(52) "Maintenance vehicle" means any vehicle in use by the state or 402
by any town, city, borough or district, any state bridge or parkway 403
authority or any public service company, as defined in section 16-1, in 404
the maintenance of public highways or bridges and facilities located 405
within the limits of public highways or bridges; 406
(53) "Manufacturer" means (A) a person, whether a resident or 407
nonresident, engaged in the business of constructing or assembling new 408
motor vehicles of a type required to be registered by the commissioner, 409
for operation upon any highway, except a utility trailer, which are 410
offered for sale in this state, or (B) a person who distributes new motor 411
vehicles to new car dealers licensed in this state; 412
(54) "Median divider" means an intervening space or physical barrier 413
or clearly indicated dividing section separating traffic lanes provided 414
for vehicles proceeding in opposite directions; 415
(55) "Modified antique motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle twenty 416
years old or older which has been modified for safe road use, including, 417
but not limited to, modifications to the drive train, suspension, braking 418 Raised Bill No. 304
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system and safety or comfort apparatus; 419
(56) "Motor bus" includes any motor vehicle, except a taxicab, as 420
defined in section 13b-95, operated in whole or in part on any street or 421
highway in a manner affording a means of transportation by 422
indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers, or running on a 423
regular route or over any portion of a regular route or between fixed 424
termini; 425
(57) "Motor home" means a vehicular unit designed to provide living 426
quarters and necessary amenities which are built into an integral part 427
of, or permanently attached to, a truck or van chassis; 428
(58) "Motor-driven cycle" means any of the following vehicles that 429
have a seat height of not less than twenty-six inches and a motor having 430
a capacity of less than fifty cubic centimeters piston displacement: (A) A 431
motorcycle, other than an autocycle; (B) a motor scooter; or (C) a bicycle 432
with attached motor, except an electric bicycle; 433
(59) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle propelled or drawn by any 434
nonmuscular power, except aircraft, motor boats, road rollers, baggage 435
trucks used about railroad stations or other mass transit facilities, 436
electric battery-operated wheel chairs when operated by persons with 437
physical disabilities at speeds not exceeding fifteen miles per hour, golf 438
carts operated on highways solely for the purpose of crossing from one 439
part of the golf course to another, golf-cart-type vehicles operated on 440
roads or highways on the grounds of state institutions by state 441
employees, agricultural tractors, farm implements, such vehicles as run 442
only on rails or tracks, self-propelled snow plows, snow blowers and 443
lawn mowers, when used for the purposes for which they were 444
designed and operated at speeds not exceeding four miles per hour, 445
whether or not the operator rides on or walks behind such equipment, 446
motor-driven cycles, as defined in section 14-286, special mobile 447
equipment, as defined in section 14-165, mini-motorcycles, as defined in 448
section 14-289j, electric bicycles, electric foot scooters and any other 449
vehicle not suitable for operation on a highway; 450 Raised Bill No. 304
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(60) "Motorcycle" means (A) an autocycle, as defined in this section, 451
or (B) a motor vehicle, with or without a side car, that has (i) not more 452
than three wheels in contact with the ground, (ii) a saddle or seat which 453
the rider straddles or a platform on which the rider stands, and (iii) 454
handlebars with which the rider controls the movement of the vehicle. 455
"Motorcycle" does not include a motor-driven cycle, an electric bicycle 456
or an electric foot scooter; 457
(61) "National Driver Registry" or "NDR" means the licensing 458
information system and database operated by the National Highway 459
Traffic Safety Administration and established pursuant to the National 460
Driver Registry Act of 1982, as amended; 461
(62) "New motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, the equitable or 462
legal title to which has never been transferred by a manufacturer, 463
distributor or dealer to an ultimate consumer; 464
(63) "Nonresident" means any person whose legal residence is in a 465
state other than Connecticut or in a foreign country; 466
(64) "Nonresident commercial driver's license" or "nonresident CDL" 467
means a commercial driver's license issued by a state to an individual 468
who resides in a foreign jurisdiction; 469
(65) "Nonskid device" means any device applied to the tires, wheels, 470
axles or frame of a motor vehicle for the purpose of increasing the 471
traction of the motor vehicle; 472
(66) "Number plate" means any sign or marker furnished by the 473
commissioner on which is displayed the registration number assigned 474
to a motor vehicle by the commissioner; 475
(67) "Officer" includes any constable, state marshal, inspector of 476
motor vehicles, state policeman or other official authorized to make 477
arrests or to serve process, provided the officer is in uniform or displays 478
the officer's badge of office in a conspicuous place when making an 479
arrest; 480 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 17 of 36
(68) "Operator" means any person who operates a motor vehicle or 481
who steers or directs the course of a motor vehicle being towed by 482
another motor vehicle and includes a driver; 483
(69) "Out-of-service order" means an order (A) issued by a person 484
having inspection authority, as defined in regulations adopted by the 485
commissioner pursuant to section 14-163c, or by an authorized official 486
of the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor 487
Carrier Safety Administration pursuant to any provision of federal law, 488
to prohibit any motor vehicle specified in subsection (a) of section 14-489
163c from being operated on any highway, or to prohibit a driver from 490
operating any such motor vehicle, or (B) issued by the United States 491
Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety 492
Administration, pursuant to any provision of federal law, to prohibit 493
any motor carrier, as defined in Section 386.2 of Title 49 of the Code of 494
Federal Regulations, from engaging in commercial motor vehicle 495
operations; 496
(70) "Owner" means any person holding title to a motor vehicle, or 497
having the legal right to register the same, including purchasers under 498
conditional bills of sale; 499
(71) "Parked vehicle" means a motor vehicle in a stationary position 500
within the limits of a public highway; 501
(72) "Passenger and commercial motor vehicle" means a motor 502
vehicle used for private passenger and commercial purposes which is 503
eligible for combination registration; 504
(73) "Passenger motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the 505
private transportation of persons and their personal belongings, 506
designed to carry occupants in comfort and safety, with a capacity of 507
carrying not more than ten passengers including the operator thereof; 508
(74) "Passenger registration" means the type of registration issued to 509
a passenger motor vehicle unless a more specific type of registration is 510
authorized and issued by the commissioner for such class of vehicle; 511 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 18 of 36
(75) "Person" includes any individual, corporation, limited liability 512
company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business trust or 513
other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state or any 514
political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or 515
requires; 516
(76) "Pick-up truck" means a motor vehicle with an enclosed forward 517
passenger compartment and an open rearward compartment used for 518
the transportation of property; 519
(77) "Pneumatic tires" means tires inflated or inflatable with air; 520
(78) "Pole trailer" means a trailer which is (A) intended for 521
transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, logs, pipes 522
or structural members, which loads are capable of sustaining 523
themselves as beams between supporting connections, and (B) designed 524
to be drawn by a motor vehicle and attached or secured directly to the 525
motor vehicle by any means including a reach, pole or boom; 526
(79) "Public passenger endorsement" means an endorsement issued 527
to an individual, which authorizes such individual to transport 528
passengers, including, but not limited to, passengers who are students 529
in accordance with subsection (b) or (c) of section 14-36a; 530
(80) "Recreational vehicle" includes the camper, camp trailer and 531
motor home classes of vehicles; 532
(81) "Registration" includes the certificate of motor vehicle 533
registration and the number plate or plates used in connection with such 534
registration; 535
(82) "Registration number" means the identifying number or letters, 536
or both, assigned by the commissioner to a motor vehicle; 537
(83) "Resident", for the purpose of registering motor vehicles, 538
includes any person who is a legal resident of this state, as the 539
commissioner may presume from the fact that such person occupies a 540
place of dwelling in this state for more than six months in a year, or any 541 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 19 of 36
person, firm or corporation owning or leasing a motor vehicle used or 542
operated in intrastate business in this state, or a firm or corporation 543
having its principal office or place of business in this state; 544
(84) "School bus" means any school bus, as defined in section 14-275, 545
including a commercial motor vehicle used to transport preschool, 546
elementary school or secondary school students from home to school, 547
from school to home, or to and from school-sponsored events, but does 548
not include a bus used as a common carrier; 549
(85) "Second" violation or "subsequent" violation means an offense 550
committed not more than three years after the date of an arrest which 551
resulted in a previous conviction for a violation of the same statutory 552
provision, except in the case of a violation of section 14-215, 14-224, 14-553
227a or 14-227m, "second" violation or "subsequent" violation means an 554
offense committed not more than ten years after the date of an arrest 555
which resulted in a previous conviction for a violation of the same 556
statutory provision; 557
(86) "Secondary violation" means a violation of any provision of this 558
title that may be enforced only in accordance with the provisions of 559
section 1 of this act; 560
[(86)] (87) "Semitrailer" means any trailer type vehicle designed and 561
used in conjunction with a motor vehicle so that some part of its own 562
weight and load rests on or is carried by another vehicle; 563
[(87)] (88) "Serious traffic violation" means a conviction of any of the 564
following offenses: (A) Excessive speeding, involving a single offense in 565
which the speed is fifteen miles per hour or more above the posted 566
speed limit, in violation of section 14-218a or 14-219; (B) reckless driving 567
in violation of section 14-222; (C) following too closely in violation of 568
section 14-240 or 14-240a; (D) improper or erratic lane changes, in 569
violation of section 14-236; (E) using a hand-held mobile telephone or 570
other electronic device or typing, reading or sending text or a text 571
message with or from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device in 572
violation of subsection (e) of section 14-296aa while operating a 573 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 20 of 36
commercial motor vehicle; (F) driving a commercial motor vehicle 574
without a valid commercial driver's license in violation of section 14-36a 575
or 14-44a; (G) failure to carry a commercial driver's license in violation 576
of section 14-44a; (H) failure to have the proper class of license or 577
endorsement, or violation of a license restriction in violation of section 578
14-44a; or (I) a violation of any provision of chapter 248, by an operator 579
who holds a commercial driver's license or instruction permit that 580
results in the death of another person; 581
[(88)] (89) "Service bus" includes any vehicle except a vanpool vehicle 582
or a school bus designed and regularly used to carry ten or more 583
passengers when used in private service for the transportation of 584
persons without charge to the individual; 585
[(89)] (90) "Service car" means any motor vehicle used by a 586
manufacturer, dealer or repairer for emergency motor vehicle repairs on 587
the highways of this state, for towing or for the transportation of 588
necessary persons, tools and materials to and from the scene of such 589
emergency repairs or towing; 590
[(90)] (91) "Shoulder" means that portion of a highway immediately 591
adjacent and contiguous to the travel lanes or main traveled portion of 592
the roadway; 593
[(91)] (92) "Solid tires" means tires of rubber, or other elastic material 594
approved by the Commissioner of Transportation, which do not depend 595
on confined air for the support of the load; 596
[(92)] (93) "Spot lamp" or "spot light" means a lighting device 597
projecting a high intensity beam, the direction of which can be readily 598
controlled for special or emergency lighting as distinguished from 599
ordinary road illumination; 600
[(93)] (94) "State" means any state of the United States and the District 601
of Columbia unless the context indicates a more specific reference to the 602
state of Connecticut; 603 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 21 of 36
[(94)] (95) "Stop" means complete cessation of movement; 604
[(95)] (96) "Student" means any person under the age of twenty-one 605
years who is attending a preprimary, primary or secondary school 606
program of education; 607
[(96)] (97) "Tail lamp" means a lighting device affixed to the rear of a 608
motor vehicle showing a red light to the rear and indicating the presence 609
of the motor vehicle when viewed from behind; 610
[(97)] (98) "Tank vehicle" means any commercial motor vehicle 611
designed to transport any liquid or gaseous material within a tank that 612
is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or its 613
chassis, which includes, but is not limited to, a cargo tank and portable 614
tank, as defined in 49 CFR 383.5, as amended, provided it does not 615
include a portable tank with a rated capacity not to exceed one thousand 616
gallons; 617
[(98)] (99) "Tractor" or "truck tractor" means a motor vehicle designed 618
and used for drawing a semitrailer; 619
[(99)] (100) "Tractor-trailer unit" means a combination of a tractor and 620
a trailer or a combination of a tractor and a semitrailer; 621
[(100)] (101) "Trailer" means any rubber-tired vehicle without motive 622
power drawn or propelled by a motor vehicle; 623
[(101)] (102) "Truck" means a motor vehicle designed, used or 624
maintained primarily for the transportation of property; 625
[(102)] (103) "Ultimate consumer" means, with respect to a motor 626
vehicle, the first person, other than a dealer, who in good faith purchases 627
the motor vehicle for purposes other than resale; 628
[(103)] (104) "United States" means the fifty states and the District of 629
Columbia; 630
[(104)] (105) "Used motor vehicle" includes any motor vehicle which 631 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 22 of 36
has been previously separately registered by an ultimate consumer; 632
[(105)] (106) "Utility trailer" means a trailer designed and used to 633
transport personal property, materials or equipment, whether or not 634
permanently affixed to the bed of the trailer; 635
[(106)] (107) "Vanpool vehicle" includes all motor vehicles, the 636
primary purpose of which is the daily transportation, on a prearranged 637
nonprofit basis, of individuals between home and work, and which: (A) 638
If owned by or leased to a person, or to an employee of the person, or to 639
an employee of a local, state or federal government unit or agency 640
located in Connecticut, are manufactured and equipped in such manner 641
as to provide a seating capacity of at least seven but not more than 642
fifteen individuals, or (B) if owned by or leased to a regional ride-643
sharing organization in the state recognized by the Commissioner of 644
Transportation, are manufactured and equipped in such manner as to 645
provide a seating capacity of at least six but not more than nineteen 646
individuals; 647
[(107)] (108) "Vehicle" includes any device suitable for the 648
conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, 649
whether operated on wheels, runners, a cushion of air or by any other 650
means. The term does not include devices propelled or drawn by human 651
power or devices used exclusively on tracks; 652
[(108)] (109) "Vehicle identification number" or "VIN" means a series 653
of Arabic numbers and Roman letters that is assigned to each new motor 654
vehicle that is manufactured within or imported into the United States, 655
in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 565, unless another 656
sequence of numbers and letters has been assigned to a motor vehicle 657
by the commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-658
149; 659
[(109)] (110) "Wrecker" means a vehicle which is registered, designed, 660
equipped and used for the purposes of towing or transporting wrecked 661
or disabled motor vehicles for compensation or for related purposes by 662
a person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with the provisions 663 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 23 of 36
of subpart (D) of part III of this chapter or a vehicle contracted for the 664
consensual towing or transporting of one or more motor vehicles to or 665
from a place of sale, purchase, salvage or repair. 666
Sec. 8. Subdivision (1) of section 14-212 of the 2022 supplement to the 667
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 668
thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 669
(1) The following terms shall be construed as they are defined in 670
section 14-1, as amended by this act: "Agricultural tractor", "authorized 671
emergency vehicle", "class 1 electric bicycle", "class 2 electric bicycle", 672
"class 3 electric bicycle", "commissioner", "driver", "electric bicycle", 673
"electric foot scooter", "fuels", "gross weight", "head lamp", "high-674
mileage vehicle", "highway", "light weight", "limited access highway", 675
"maintenance vehicle", "motor bus", "motorcycle", "motor vehicle 676
registration", "nonresident", "nonskid device", "number plate", "officer", 677
"operator", "owner", "passenger motor vehicle", "passenger and 678
commercial motor vehicle", "person", "pneumatic tires", "pole trailer", 679
"registration", "registration number", "second offense", "secondary 680
violation", "semitrailer", "shoulder", "solid tires", "stop", "subsequent 681
offense", "tail lamp", "tank vehicle", "tractor", "tractor-trailer unit", 682
"trailer", "truck" and "vanpool vehicle"; 683
Sec. 9. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 14-99g of the general statutes 684
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 685
October 1, 2022): 686
(f) Any person who violates any provision of subsections (b) to (e), 687
inclusive, of this section shall be deemed to have committed an 688
infraction for each offense. Any person who violates any provision of 689
subsection (b) of this section shall remove such object or material which 690
obstructs his clear and full view of the road and report within sixty days 691
to the police department which issued the infractions complaint to 692
present his vehicle for inspection and to demonstrate compliance with 693
the provisions of this section. If such person fails to report to such police 694
department and is cited for a subsequent violation of this section, his 695 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 24 of 36
vehicle shall be impounded after notice and opportunity for hearing. A 696
violation of any provision of subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this 697
section is a secondary violation. 698
(g) Any person owning a vehicle having a window which has been 699
tinted or darkened with any tinted material after factory delivery, shall 700
present such vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles, by July 1, 701
1996, to receive a sticker for any tinted or darkened window to indicate 702
such tinting or darkening is in compliance with this section. Any person 703
operating a motor vehicle, on or after July 1, 1996, in violation of this 704
subsection shall be deemed to have committed an infraction. A violation 705
of any provision of this subsection is a secondary violation. 706
Sec. 10. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 14-18 of the general 707
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 708
(Effective October 1, 2022): 709
(a) (1) Each motor vehicle for which one number plate has been issued 710
shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a 711
conspicuous place at the rear of such vehicle the number plate. The 712
commissioner may issue a sticker denoting the expiration date of the 713
registration. Such sticker shall be displayed in such place on the vehicle 714
as the commissioner may direct. Such sticker may contain the 715
corresponding letters and numbers of the registration and number plate 716
issued by the commissioner. 717
(2) Each motor vehicle for which two number plates have been issued 718
shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a 719
conspicuous place at the front and the rear of such vehicle the number 720
plates. Provided the numerals and letters on any such plate are plainly 721
legible, displaying a number plate against a vehicle's rear window is a 722
secondary violation. The commissioner may issue a sticker denoting the 723
expiration date of the registration. Such sticker shall be displayed in 724
such place on the vehicle as the commissioner may direct. Such sticker 725
may contain the corresponding letters and numbers of the number plate 726
issued by the commissioner. 727 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 25 of 36
(b) Repealed by 1969, P.A. 247, S. 1. 728
(c) Official number plates when displayed upon motor vehicles shall 729
be [entirely] substantially unobscured and the numerals and letters 730
thereon shall be plainly legible at all times. Such number plates shall be 731
horizontal, and shall be fastened so as not to swing. [and, during the 732
time when a motor vehicle is required to display lights, the rear number 733
plate shall be so illuminated as to be legible at a distance of fifty feet.] 734
Nothing may be affixed to a motor vehicle or to the official number 735
plates displayed on such vehicle that obscures or impairs the visibility 736
of [any information] the numerals and letters on such number plates. 737
Not more than one number plate shall be displayed on the front or rear 738
of any motor vehicle in operation upon the public highways of the state; 739
provided any motor vehicle may, upon permission of the commissioner, 740
display more than one number plate in front or rear, subject to such 741
conditions as the commissioner prescribes. If any number plate supplied 742
by the commissioner is lost, or if the registered number thereon becomes 743
mutilated or illegible, the owner of or the person in control of the motor 744
vehicle for which such number plate was furnished shall immediately 745
place a temporary number plate bearing said registration number upon 746
such motor vehicle, which temporary number plate shall conform to the 747
regular number plate and shall be displayed as nearly as possible as 748
herein provided for such regular number plate; and such owner shall, 749
within forty-eight hours after such loss or mutilation of the number 750
plate, give notice thereof to the commissioner and apply for a new 751
number plate. The commissioner may issue a permit to operate with 752
such temporary plate and shall supply new number plates upon 753
payment of the fee therefor as provided in section 14-50a. Upon receipt 754
of such new number plates and new certificate, the remaining old 755
number plate, if any, and certificate shall be surrendered to the 756
commissioner. 757
Sec. 11. Section 14-96a of the general statutes is repealed and the 758
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 759
(a) Every vehicle upon a highway within this state shall display such 760 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 26 of 36
lighted lamps and illuminating devices as may be required under the 761
provisions of sections 14-96a to 14-96aa, inclusive, as amended by this 762
act, (1) at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before 763
sunrise, (2) at any time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable 764
atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not 765
clearly discernible at a distance of five hundred feet ahead, and (3) at 766
any time during periods of precipitation, including, but not limited to, 767
periods of snow, rain or fog. 768
(b) Whenever in said sections any requirement is declared as to 769
distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects 770
visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, such 771
requirement shall apply during the times stated in subsection (a) of this 772
section in respect to a vehicle without load when upon a straight, level, 773
unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a 774
different time or condition is expressly stated. 775
(c) Whenever in said sections any requirement is declared as to the 776
mounted height of lamps or devices, such requirement shall mean the 777
height measured from the center of such lamps or devices to the level 778
ground upon which the vehicle stands when such vehicle is without a 779
load. 780
(d) Failure to [provide lighted] illuminate lamps and illuminating 781
devices at such time as required by this section shall be an infraction. 782
(e) To the extent that a violation concerning the number, placement, 783
intensity of lamps or illuminating devices or any other technical 784
specifications concerning lamps or illuminating devices provided for in 785
sections 14-96b to 14-96aa, inclusive, would also constitute a violation 786
under this section, such violation shall be enforced under sections 14-787
96b to 14-96aa, inclusive, and not under this section. 788
Sec. 12. Section 14-96c of the general statutes is repealed and the 789
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 790
(a) After October 1, 1967, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and 791 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 27 of 36
pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a 792
combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps 793
mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in subsection (a) 794
of section 14-96a, as amended by this act, shall emit a red light plainly 795
visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear, except that 796
passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to October 1, 1957, and 797
motorcycles shall have at least one such tail lamp. On a combination of 798
vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be 799
seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than 800
one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as 801
widely spaced laterally as practicable. 802
(b) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a mounted 803
height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches. 804
(c) The rear registration plate shall be so illumined with a white light 805
as to render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any 806
tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for 807
illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted 808
whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted, except 809
that any vehicle equipped by the manufacturer with daytime running 810
lamps which meet federal requirements may have such daytime 811
running lamps illuminated without illumination of the tail lamps or rear 812
registration plate. 813
(d) Failure to have tail lamps or failure to illuminate the rear 814
registration plate as required in this section shall be an infraction. 815
Failure to have two functioning tail lamps shall be a secondary violation 816
if the vehicle has one illuminated and functioning tail lamp. Failure to 817
illuminate the rear registration plate shall be a secondary offense. 818
Sec. 13. Section 14-96d of the general statutes is repealed and the 819
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 820
(a) Each motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer shall carry 821
on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two or more 822
red reflectors meeting the requirements of this section. Each motorcycle 823 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 28 of 36
shall carry at least one such reflector. 824
(b) Each such reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height of 825
not less than fifteen inches nor more than sixty inches, and shall be of 826
such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night 827
from all distances within three hundred fifty feet to one hundred feet 828
from such vehicle when directly in front of upper beams of head lamps. 829
(c) Failure to carry and mount reflectors as required in this section 830
shall be an infraction. Failure to carry and mount two reflectors shall be 831
a secondary violation if a vehicle has one reflector. 832
Sec. 14. Section 14-96e of the general statutes is repealed and the 833
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 834
(a) Each motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer shall be 835
equipped with two or more stop lamps meeting the requirements of 836
subsection (a) of section 14-96r, except that passenger motor vehicles 837
manufactured or assembled prior to October 1, 1957, and motorcycles 838
shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp. On a combination of 839
vehicles, only the stop lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be 840
seen from the distance specified. 841
(b) Each motor vehicle in use on a highway shall be equipped with, 842
and required signals shall be given by, a turn signal lamp or lamps 843
complying with the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, 844
Title 49, Section 571.108, as amended. 845
(c) Failure to equip vehicles with stop lamps or a turn signal lamp or 846
lamps or turn signal devices as required by this section shall be an 847
infraction. Failure to equip a vehicle with two or more functioning stop 848
lamps shall be a secondary violation if the vehicle has one functioning 849
stop lamp and is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of 850
subsection (a) of this section. 851
Sec. 15. Section 14-96y of the general statutes is repealed and the 852
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 853 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 29 of 36
(a) [At all times specified in subsection (a) of section 14-96a, at least 854
two lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side at the front of 855
every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, except when] Each motor 856
vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall have at least two functioning head 857
lamps, one of which shall be located on each side at the front of such 858
vehicle, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations 859
governing lights on parked vehicles. 860
(b) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as herein 861
required is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or 862
any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of intensity 863
greater than three hundred candlepower, not more than a total of four 864
of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one 865
time when upon a highway. 866
(c) Failure to have two functioning head lamps as required by this 867
section shall be an infraction. Failure to have two functioning head 868
lamps shall be a secondary violation if the vehicle has one lighted head 869
lamp and is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of subsection 870
(a) of this section. 871
Sec. 16. Section 14-99f of the general statutes is repealed and the 872
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 873
(a) Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with a windshield of a type 874
prescribed by section 14-100 and a windshield cleaner or wiper in 875
effective working order located directly in front of the operator while in 876
use on the highway. The windshield shall be reasonably free of defects 877
and accumulations, inside and out, of snow, ice, condensation and dirt. 878
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a motorcycle or a 879
vehicle designed by the manufacturer for nonhighway operation 880
without a windshield. 881
(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle required to be equipped 882
with such a windshield if the windshield is in a condition to interfere 883
with an unobstructed view of the highway. 884 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 30 of 36
(c) No article, device, sticker or ornament shall be attached or affixed 885
to or hung on or in any motor vehicle in such a manner or location as to 886
interfere with the operator's unobstructed view of the highway or to 887
distract the attention of the operator. 888
(d) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. A 889
violation of subsection (c) of this section shall be a secondary violation 890
if the obstruction of the windshield is not substantial. 891
Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 14-12 of the 2022 supplement to the 892
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 893
thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 894
(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated, towed or parked on any 895
highway, except as otherwise expressly provided, unless it is registered 896
with the commissioner, provided any motor vehicle may be towed for 897
repairs or necessary work if it bears the number plates of a licensed and 898
registered dealer, manufacturer or repairer and provided any motor 899
vehicle which is validly registered in another state may, for a period of 900
ninety days following establishment by the owner of residence in this 901
state, be operated on any highway without first being registered with 902
the commissioner. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, (1) a 903
person commits an infraction if such person (A) registers a motor 904
vehicle he or she does not own, or (B) operates, allows the operation of, 905
parks or allows the parking of an unregistered motor vehicle on any 906
highway, or (2) a resident of this state who operates or parks a motor 907
vehicle such resident owns with number plates issued by another state 908
on any highway shall be fined two hundred fifty dollars, except that the 909
fine shall be suspended for a first time violator who presents proof of 910
registration for the motor vehicle subsequent to the violation but prior 911
to the imposition of a fine. If the owner of a motor vehicle previously 912
registered with the commissioner, the registration of which expired not 913
more than [thirty] sixty days previously, operates, allows the operation 914
of, parks or allows that parking of such a motor vehicle, such owner 915
shall be fined the amount designated for the infraction of failure to 916
renew a registration, but the right to retain his or her operator's license 917 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 31 of 36
shall not be affected. Such infraction shall be a secondary violation. No 918
operator other than the owner shall be subject to penalty for the 919
operation or parking of such a previously registered motor vehicle. As 920
used in this subsection, the term "unregistered motor vehicle" includes 921
any vehicle that is not eligible for registration by the commissioner due 922
to the absence of necessary equipment or other characteristics of the 923
vehicle that make it unsuitable for highway operation, unless the 924
operation of such vehicle is expressly permitted by another provision of 925
this chapter or chapter 248. 926
Sec. 18. Subsection (d) of section 14-41 of the 2022 supplement to the 927
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 928
thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 929
(d) The commissioner may, at least fifteen days before the date on 930
which each motor vehicle operator's license or identity card expires, 931
notify the holder of such license or identity card of the expiration date, 932
in a manner determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall 933
not provide such notification by mail to any such licensee or identity 934
card holder if the United States Postal Service has determined that mail 935
is undeliverable to the address for such person that is documented in 936
the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Any previously 937
licensed operator who operates a motor vehicle within sixty days after 938
the expiration date of the operator's license without obtaining a renewal 939
of the license shall be fined in accordance with the amount designated 940
for the infraction of failure to renew a motor vehicle operator's license. 941
Any such infraction shall be a secondary violation. Any operator so 942
charged shall not be prosecuted under section 14-36 for the same act 943
constituting a violation under this section but section 14-36 shall apply 944
after the sixty-day period. 945
Sec. 19. Section 14-45 of the general statutes is repealed and the 946
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 947
(a) A person holding (1) a license for the operation of a motor vehicle, 948
issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in accordance with 949 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 32 of 36
section 14-36, or (2) an identity card, issued by said commissioner in 950
accordance with section 1-1h, shall notify the commissioner within 951
forty-eight hours of any change of such person's address. The 952
notification shall include such person's old address and new address. 953
(b) In IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection 954
(b) of section 46b-231, upon written notification by the Department of 955
Social Services that the address listed for the holder of a motor vehicle 956
operator's license or the holder of an identity card is incorrect, the 957
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall notify the operator that the 958
correct address must be furnished to the department. The commissioner 959
shall refuse to issue or renew a motor vehicle operator's license if the 960
address furnished by the applicant is determined to be incorrect. The 961
department shall notify the Department of Social Services of the current 962
address of holders of motor vehicle operator's licenses when a change 963
of address is reported. 964
(c) Failure of the holder of a motor vehicle operator's license or 965
identity card to give the notice required by this section shall be an 966
infraction and a secondary violation. 967
Sec. 20. Section 14-213 of the general statutes is repealed and the 968
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 969
Each operator of a motor vehicle shall carry his operator's license 970
while operating such vehicle. Failure to carry such operator's license as 971
required by the provisions of this section shall be an infraction and a 972
secondary violation. 973
Sec. 21. Section 14-215b of the general statutes is repealed and the 974
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 975
Any person whose motor vehicle operator's license has been 976
suspended who operates a motor vehicle after the expiration of such 977
period of suspension without obtaining the reinstatement of such 978
license shall (1) during the first sixty days after such expiration, be 979
deemed to have failed to renew such license and be subject to the 980 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 33 of 36
penalty for failure to renew a motor vehicle operator's license under 981
subsection (c) of section 14-41, and such infraction shall be a secondary 982
violation, and (2) after said sixty-day period, be subject to the penalty 983
for operating a motor vehicle without a license under section 14-36. Any 984
operator so charged shall not be prosecuted under section 14-215 for the 985
same act constituting a violation under this section. 986
Sec. 22. Section 14-21b of the general statutes is repealed and the 987
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 988
(a) The commissioner shall issue fully reflectorized safety number 989
plates for new registrations and renewal registrations issued on and 990
after January 1, 2000, for passenger, combination and commercial 991
registrations and other registrations as the commissioner deems feasible 992
within funds and personnel available. Each plate shall bear the words 993
"Constitution State" and "Connecticut". The commissioner shall issue 994
two fully reflectorized safety number plates in accordance with a 995
schedule established by the commissioner in such quantities as the 996
commissioner deems feasible within the funds and personnel available. 997
No safety fee shall be charged for the issuance of the replacement 998
number plates for such renewals. 999
(b) No additional charge shall be made for the issuance of such new 1000
or replacement fully reflectorized plates, except for the safety fee 1001
provided for in subsection (w) of section 14-49. 1002
(c) The owner or lessee of each registered motor vehicle who is issued 1003
two fully reflectorized safety number plates by the commissioner shall 1004
display such plates on such motor vehicle as provided in section 14-18, 1005
as amended by this act. A violation of this subsection shall be an 1006
infraction and a secondary violation. 1007
Sec. 23. Subsection (e) of section 14-80 of the general statutes is 1008
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1009
1, 2022): 1010
(e) Every motor vehicle shall, when operated on a highway, be 1011 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 34 of 36
equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting 1012
sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 1013
two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an 1014
unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. A violation of this 1015
subsection shall be a secondary violation. 1016
Sec. 24. Section 14-99 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1017
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 1018
(a) Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror attached to 1019
and so located and adjusted on such vehicle as to give the operator 1020
thereof a clear reflected view of the highway directly to the rear of or on 1021
a line parallel to the left side of the body of such motor vehicle. Any such 1022
infraction shall be a secondary violation. 1023
(b) Any person operating a motor vehicle with a commercial 1024
registration so constructed or which may be so loaded that the operator 1025
is prevented from having a free and unobstructed view of the highway 1026
immediately to the rear and at the left side of the same shall, by means 1027
of such mirror, make frequent observations of the approach of vehicles 1028
from the rear. When operating at below the posted speed limits and 1029
when so approached or overtaken, the operator of such motor vehicle 1030
shall drive to the extreme right of the traveled way as promptly as safety 1031
will permit, giving the vehicle approaching from the rear opportunity 1032
to pass. 1033
(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. 1034
Sec. 25. Section 14-285 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1035
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2022): 1036
Each vehicle, except a motor vehicle, which is so constructed or which 1037
is so loaded that the driver is prevented from having a free and 1038
unobstructed view of the highway immediately to the rear and at the 1039
sides of the same, shall be equipped with a mirror or reflector attached 1040
to and so located and adjusted on such vehicle as to give the operator 1041
thereof a clear reflected view of the highway directly to the rear on a line 1042 Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 35 of 36
parallel to the side of the body of such vehicle. Any person operating 1043
such a vehicle shall make observations for the approach of vehicles from 1044
the rear and, when so approached, shall drive to the right of the center 1045
line of the traveled way as promptly as safety will permit, giving the 1046
vehicle approaching from the rear opportunity to pass in safety. Any 1047
person who violates any provision of this section shall be deemed to 1048
have committed an infraction and be fined fifty dollars for each offense. 1049
Any such infraction shall be a secondary violation. 1050
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2022 7-291b
Sec. 2 from passage New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2022 7-294d
Sec. 4 form passage 7-294ee
Sec. 5 from passage New section
Sec. 6 October 1, 2022 New section
Sec. 7 October 1, 2022 14-1
Sec. 8 October 1, 2022 14-212(1)
Sec. 9 October 1, 2022 14-99g(f) and (g)
Sec. 10 October 1, 2022 14-18(a) to (c)
Sec. 11 October 1, 2022 14-96a
Sec. 12 October 1, 2022 14-96c
Sec. 13 October 1, 2022 14-96d
Sec. 14 October 1, 2022 14-96e
Sec. 15 October 1, 2022 14-96y
Sec. 16 October 1, 2022 14-99f
Sec. 17 October 1, 2022 14-12(a)
Sec. 18 October 1, 2022 14-41(d)
Sec. 19 October 1, 2022 14-45
Sec. 20 October 1, 2022 14-213
Sec. 21 October 1, 2022 14-215b
Sec. 22 October 1, 2022 14-21b
Sec. 23 October 1, 2022 14-80(e)
Sec. 24 October 1, 2022 14-99
Sec. 25 October 1, 2022 14-285
Raised Bill No. 304
LCO No. 2580 36 of 36
Statement of Purpose:
To implement recommendations of the police transparency and
accountability task force.
[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.]