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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 333
February Session, 2022
AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF MOTOR VEHICLES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 14-46e of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 2
(a) The commissioner shall give due consideration to any 3
recommendations of the board and to any reports, records or opinions 4
submitted pursuant to sections 14-46a to 14-46g, inclusive, but such 5
recommendations, reports, records or opinions shall be merely advisory 6
and not binding on the commissioner. 7
(b) The commissioner may authorize a person whose license is 8
withdrawn under sections 14-46a to 14-46g, inclusive, to operate a motor 9
vehicle on a limited basis provided the following conditions are met: (1) 10
The commissioner, after [a hearing held in accordance with chapter 54] 11
consultation with the board, determines that such person does not have 12
a health problem that affects such person's ability to safely operate a 13
motor vehicle and has ordered that such person submit to and pass a 14
road skills test as a condition of license reinstatement; and (2) such 15
operation occurs only while the person is under the instruction of and 16
accompanied by a driving instructor licensed under section 14-73, as 17
amended by this act, or is in a vehicle with a motor vehicle testing agent 18 Substitute Bill No. 333
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who is administering a road skills test. Any person aggrieved by the 19
decision of the commissioner to deny such person the operation of a 20
motor vehicle on a limited basis shall be afforded an opportunity for a 21
hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. 22
(c) Any person who is the subject of any inquiry under sections 14-23
46a to 14-46g, inclusive, who refuses to submit to a physical examination 24
or provide other information requested by the commissioner or board 25
shall be considered unfit to operate a motor vehicle until [he or she] such 26
person complies with such request. 27
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 14-52 of the 2022 supplement to the 28
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 29
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 30
(b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each 31
applicant for a repairer's [or a limited repairer's] license shall furnish a 32
surety bond in the amount of [five] fifty thousand dollars. 33
(2) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each applicant 34
for a limited repairer's license shall furnish a surety bond in the amount 35
of ten thousand dollars. 36
[(2)] (3) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each 37
applicant for a new car dealer's or a used car dealer's license shall 38
furnish a surety bond in the amount of [fifty] sixty thousand dollars. 39
[(3)] (4) Each applicant for a leasing or rental license issued pursuant 40
to section 14-15, who is engaged in the leasing or renting of motor 41
vehicles for periods of thirty days or more, shall furnish a surety bond 42
in the amount of [ten] fifteen thousand dollars. 43
[(4)] (5) Each such bond required under subdivisions (1) to [(3)] (4), 44
inclusive, of this subsection shall be conditioned upon the applicant or 45
licensee complying with the provisions of any state or federal law or 46
regulation relating to the conduct of such business and provided as 47
indemnity for any loss sustained by any customer by reason of any acts 48 Substitute Bill No. 333
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of the licensee constituting grounds for suspension or revocation of the 49
license or such licensee going out of business. Each surety bond shall be 50
executed in the name of the state of Connecticut for the benefit of any 51
aggrieved customer, but the penalty of the bond shall not be invoked 52
except upon order of the commissioner after a hearing held before said 53
commissioner in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. For 54
purposes of this subdivision, "customer" does not include (A) any 55
person, firm or corporation that finances a licensed dealer's motor 56
vehicle inventory, or (B) any licensed dealer, in such person's capacity 57
as a dealer, who buys motor vehicles from or sells motor vehicles to 58
another licensed dealer. 59
[(5)] (6) The commissioner shall assess an administrative fee of two 60
hundred dollars against any licensee for failing to provide proof of bond 61
renewal or replacement on or before the date of the expiration of the 62
existing bond. Such fee shall be in addition to the license suspension or 63
revocation penalties and the civil penalties to which the licensee is 64
subject pursuant to section 14-64. 65
Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 14-52a of the 2022 supplement to the 66
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 67
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 68
(a) The commissioner may, after notice and hearing, refuse to grant 69
or renew a license to a person, firm or corporation to engage in the 70
business of selling or repairing motor vehicles pursuant to the 71
provisions of section 14-52, as amended by this act, if the applicant for, 72
or holder of, such a license, or an officer or major stockholder, if the 73
applicant or licensee is a firm or corporation, has been found liable in a 74
civil action for odometer fraud or operating a dealer, repairer or motor 75
vehicle recycler business without a license, convicted of a violation of 76
any provision of laws pertaining to the business of a motor vehicle 77
dealer or repairer, including a motor vehicle recycler, or convicted of 78
any violation of any provision of laws involving fraud, larceny or 79
deprivation or misappropriation of property, in the courts of the United 80
States or any state. Each applicant for such a license shall be 81 Substitute Bill No. 333
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fingerprinted and submit to state and national criminal history records 82
checks, conducted in accordance with section 29-17a, [and based on the 83
applicant's name and date of birth,] not more than thirty days before 84
such application is made and provide the results of such records [check] 85
checks to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The commissioner may 86
require a person, firm or corporation to submit its application 87
electronically. Upon renewal of such license, a licensee shall make full 88
disclosure of any such civil judgment or conviction under penalty of 89
false statement. 90
Sec. 4. Section 14-69 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes is 91
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 92
2022): 93
(a) No person shall engage in the business of conducting a drivers' 94
school without being licensed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. 95
An application for a license shall be in writing and shall contain such 96
information as the commissioner requires. Each applicant for a license 97
shall be fingerprinted before such application is approved. The 98
commissioner shall subject each applicant for a license to state and 99
national criminal history records checks conducted in accordance with 100
section 29-17a, and a check of the state child abuse and neglect registry 101
established pursuant to section 17a-101k. If any such applicant has a 102
criminal record or is listed on the state child abuse and neglect registry, 103
the commissioner shall make a determination of whether to issue a 104
license to conduct a drivers' school in accordance with the standards and 105
procedures set forth in section 14-44 and the regulations adopted 106
pursuant to said section. If the application is approved, the applicant 107
shall be granted a license upon the payment of a fee of seven hundred 108
dollars and [a deposit with the commissioner of a bond of a] submission 109
of a surety bond from a surety company authorized to do business in 110
this state, conditioned [on] upon the faithful performance by the 111
applicant of any contract to furnish instruction, [in either case] in such 112
amount as the commissioner may require. [, such] Such surety bond [to] 113
shall be held by the commissioner to satisfy any execution issued against 114 Substitute Bill No. 333
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such school in a cause arising out of failure of such school to perform 115
such contract. For each additional place of business of such school, the 116
commissioner shall charge a fee of one hundred seventy-six dollars, 117
except if the licensee opens an additional place of business with one year 118
or less remaining on the term of its license, the commissioner shall 119
charge a fee of eighty-eight dollars for each such additional place of 120
business for the year, or any part thereof, remaining on the term of such 121
license. No license or surety bond shall be required in the case of any 122
board of education, or any public, private or parochial school, which 123
conducts a course in driver education established in accordance with 124
sections 14-36e and 14-36f. A license so issued shall be valid for two 125
years. The commissioner shall issue a license certificate or certificates to 126
each licensee, one of which shall be displayed in each place of business 127
of the licensee. In case of the loss, mutilation or destruction of a license 128
certificate, the commissioner shall issue a duplicate license certificate to 129
the licensee upon proof of the facts and the payment of a fee of twenty 130
dollars. 131
(b) The biennial fee for the renewal of a license shall be seven hundred 132
dollars and the biennial renewal fee for each additional place of business 133
shall be one hundred seventy-six dollars, except if the licensee opens an 134
additional place of business with one year or less remaining on the term 135
of its license, the commissioner shall charge a fee of eighty-eight dollars 136
for each such additional place of business for the year, or any part 137
thereof, remaining on the term of such license. If the commissioner has 138
not received a complete renewal application and all applicable renewal 139
fees on or before the expiration date of an applicant's license, the 140
commissioner shall charge such applicant, in addition to such renewal 141
fees, a late fee of seven hundred dollars. Upon the expiration date of a 142
license, the licensee shall cease to conduct business until such time as 143
the licensee's application for renewal is approved by the commissioner. 144
The commissioner shall not renew any license under this section that 145
has expired for more than sixty days. 146
(c) Any person who engages in the business of conducting a drivers' 147 Substitute Bill No. 333
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school without being licensed in accordance with this section shall be 148
guilty of a class B misdemeanor. 149
Sec. 5. Section 14-73 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes is 150
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 151
2022): 152
(a) No person shall be employed by [any such school licensee] a 153
drivers' school to give instruction in driving a motor vehicle unless such 154
person is licensed to act as an instructor or master instructor by the 155
commissioner. 156
(b) Application for an instructor's license or a master instructor's 157
license shall be in writing and shall contain such information as the 158
commissioner requires. Each applicant for a license shall be 159
fingerprinted and shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the 160
commissioner that such applicant: (1) [is] Is of good moral character 161
considering such person's state and national criminal history records 162
checks conducted in accordance with section 29-17a, and record, if any, 163
on the state child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to 164
section 17a-101k. If any applicant for a license or the renewal of a license 165
has a criminal record or is listed on the state child abuse and neglect 166
registry, the commissioner shall make a determination of whether to 167
issue or renew an instructor's license or master instructor's license in 168
accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in section 14-44 169
and the regulations adopted pursuant to said section; (2) has held a 170
license to drive a motor vehicle for the past [four] five consecutive years 171
and has a driving record satisfactory to the commissioner, including no 172
record of a conviction or administrative license suspension for a drug or 173
alcohol-related offense during such [four-year] five-year period; (3) has 174
[had a recent medical] passed a physical examination, administered not 175
more than ninety days prior to the date of application, by a physician, 176
physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to 177
practice within the state and the physician, physician assistant or 178
advanced practice registered nurse certifies that the applicant is 179
physically fit to operate a motor vehicle and [instruct] provide 180 Substitute Bill No. 333
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instruction in driving; (4) has received a high school diploma or has an 181
equivalent academic education; and (5) has completed an instructor 182
training course of forty-five clock hours given by a school or agency 183
approved by the commissioner, except that any such course given by an 184
institution under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees of the 185
Connecticut State University System shall be approved by the 186
commissioner and the State Board of Education. During the period of 187
licensure, an instructor shall notify the commissioner, within forty-eight 188
hours, of an arrest or conviction for a misdemeanor or felony, or an 189
arrest, conviction or administrative license suspension for a drug or 190
alcohol-related offense. Upon such notification, the commissioner may 191
suspend, revoke or withdraw the instructor's license or master 192
instructor's license pursuant to the provisions of section 14-79, as 193
amended by this act. 194
(c) The commissioner may deny the application of any person for an 195
instructor's license or a master instructor's license if [he] the 196
commissioner determines that the applicant has made a material false 197
statement or concealed a material fact in connection with his or her 198
application for the instructor's license or master instructor's license. 199
(d) The commissioner shall conduct such written, oral and practical 200
examinations, as [he] the commissioner deems necessary, to determine 201
whether an applicant has sufficient skill in the operation of motor 202
vehicles to ensure their safe operation, a satisfactory knowledge of the 203
motor vehicle laws and the ability to impart such skill and knowledge 204
to others. If the applicant successfully completes the examinations and 205
meets all other requirements of this section, the commissioner shall issue 206
an instructor's license or a master instructor's license, as the case may 207
be, to such applicant. The license shall be valid for use only in 208
connection with a drivers' school or schools licensed pursuant to section 209
14-69, as amended by this act. If the applicant fails the examination, such 210
applicant may apply for reexamination after five days. The license and 211
the license renewal shall be valid for two years. 212
(e) The licensee shall be reexamined periodically in accordance with 213 Substitute Bill No. 333
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standards specified in regulations adopted under section 14-78. 214
(f) The commissioner may establish, by regulations adopted in 215
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, standards and procedures 216
for the training and licensing of master instructors who are qualified to 217
train driving instructors. [The provisions of subsection (b) of this section 218
and section 14-74 shall apply to master instructors.] 219
(g) The fee for an instructor's license, or for any renewal thereof, shall 220
be one hundred dollars. The fee for a master instructor's license, or for 221
any renewal thereof, shall be two hundred dollars. If the commissioner 222
has not received a complete renewal application and fee on or before the 223
expiration date of an applicant's license, such applicant shall be charged, 224
in addition to the renewal fee, a late fee in an amount equal to the fee 225
for such applicant's license. The commissioner shall not renew an 226
instructor's license or a master instructor's license that has expired for 227
more than sixty days. 228
(h) Any person who is not licensed in accordance with this section 229
shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor if such person: (1) Engages in 230
the business of providing, for compensation, instruction in driving a 231
motor vehicle; or (2) is employed by a drivers' school to give instruction 232
in driving a motor vehicle. 233
Sec. 6. Section 14-74 of the general statutes is repealed and the 234
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 235
The commissioner may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew any 236
instructor's license or master instructor's license if: (1) The licensee has 237
made a material false statement or concealed a material fact in 238
connection with [his] the licensee's application for the license or any 239
renewal thereof; (2) the licensee has failed to comply with any of the 240
provisions of this part or any of the regulations adopted by the 241
commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, 242
pursuant to this part; or (3) the licensee has been guilty of fraud or 243
fraudulent practices in relation to securing for [himself] the licensee or 244 Substitute Bill No. 333
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another person a license to drive a motor vehicle. 245
Sec. 7. Section 14-79 of the general statutes is repealed and the 246
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 247
[The] (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the 248
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, after notice and opportunity for 249
a hearing, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, suspend, [or] 250
revoke or withdraw the license or licenses of any licensee or impose a 251
civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each violation 252
on any person or firm that violates any provision of this part. In addition 253
to, or in lieu of, the imposition of any penalty authorized by this section, 254
the commissioner may order any such licensee to make restitution to 255
any aggrieved customer. 256
(b) If the commissioner determines that an imminent threat to public 257
safety or welfare exists by reason of a licensee's continued possession of 258
an instructor's license or a master instructor's license, the commissioner 259
shall suspend, revoke or withdraw such license and schedule a hearing, 260
in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, not later than twenty 261
days after the date of such suspension, revocation or withdrawal. 262
Sec. 8. Subsection (h) of section 14-227b of the 2022 supplement to the 263
general statutes, as amended by section 118 of public act 21-1 of the June 264
special session, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 265
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 266
(h) If, after a hearing under subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of this 267
section, the commissioner finds in the negative on any one of the issues 268
specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C) or (D) of said subdivision, the 269
commissioner shall reinstate such license or operating privilege. If, after 270
a hearing under subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of this section, the 271
commissioner finds in the negative on any one of the issues specified in 272
subparagraph (A), (B), (C) or (D) of said subdivision, the commissioner 273
shall reinstate such license or operating privilege. If, after such hearing 274
under subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (g) of this section, the 275 Substitute Bill No. 333
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commissioner does not find on any one of said issues in the negative or 276
if such person fails to appear at such hearing, the commissioner shall 277
affirm the suspension contained in the suspension notice for the 278
appropriate period specified in subsection (i) of this section. The 279
commissioner shall render a decision at the conclusion of such hearing 280
and send a notice of the decision by bulk certified mail or by personal 281
delivery, as defined in section 4-166, to such person. The notice of such 282
decision sent by bulk certified mail or by personal delivery to the 283
address of such person as shown by the records of the commissioner 284
shall be sufficient notice to such person that such person's operator's 285
license or operating privilege is reinstated or suspended, as the case may 286
be. A notice of the decision shall only be transmitted by personal 287
delivery if the operator has consented, in writing, to such personal 288
delivery. 289
Sec. 9. Section 14-270c of the general statutes is repealed and the 290
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 291
(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles [shall] may, in the 292
commissioner's discretion, staff [,] and [shall] coordinate the coverage 293
and hours of operation of [,] the official weighing areas as follows: 294
(1) Greenwich: Eight work shifts in each seven-day period from 295
Sunday through Saturday. No such shifts shall be worked 296
consecutively, except that two shifts may be worked consecutively on 297
not more than three days; 298
(2) Danbury: The Department of Motor Vehicles [shall] may staff six 299
work shifts in each seven-day period from Sunday through Saturday. 300
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles [shall, whenever possible,] may 301
coordinate coverage between this official weighing area and the official 302
weighing area in Greenwich in order to ensure concurrent coverage; 303
(3) Union: Between five and eight work shifts in each seven-day 304
period from Sunday through Saturday; and 305
(4) Portable scale locations: The Commissioner of Emergency Services 306 Substitute Bill No. 333
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and Public Protection shall assign troopers to work ten shifts in each 307
seven-day period from Sunday through Saturday to conduct 308
commercial motor vehicle enforcement throughout the four 309
geographical areas established by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 310
with concentration in areas that have fewer hours of operation for the 311
permanent weighing areas. 312
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles [shall] may adjust the work 313
shifts [required] set forth in subsection (a) of this section on a daily basis 314
in order to effectuate an unpredictable schedule. 315
(c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may assign personnel to the 316
permanent weighing areas in Waterford and Middletown or to the 317
portable scale operations. 318
(d) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 319
in consultation with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall assign 320
one trooper to each weighing area working shift in each seven-day 321
period from Sunday through Saturday to enforce laws relative to the 322
safe movement of all vehicles on the highways of the state. 323
(e) In addition to the weighing area commercial motor vehicle 324
enforcement activities, the Department of Emergency Services and 325
Public Protection shall perform roaming commercial motor vehicle 326
enforcement on the highways of the state and such work shall be 327
assigned to troopers trained in commercial motor vehicle enforcement. 328
Sec. 10. Section 14-282 of the general statutes is repealed and the 329
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 330
(a) Any person who is the owner or becomes the owner of a motor 331
vehicle formerly used as a school bus who discontinues the use of such 332
vehicle for the transportation of school children as stated in sections 14-333
275 and 14-280 shall cause the same to be painted another color, readily 334
distinguishable from "National School Bus Chrome". [On and after July 335
1, 1990, each such motor vehicle ten years old or older shall be presented 336
for inspection every two years at any Department of Motor Vehicles 337 Substitute Bill No. 333
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office.] 338
(b) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. 339
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 14-227b of the 2022 supplement to 340
the general statutes, as amended by section 118 of public act 21-1 of the 341
June special session, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 342
thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 343
(a) Any person who operates a motor vehicle in this state shall be 344
deemed to have given such person's consent to: (1) A chemical test of 345
such person's blood, breath or urine; and (2) a nontestimonial portion of 346
a drug influence evaluation conducted by a drug recognition expert. If 347
such person is a minor, such person's parent or parents or guardian shall 348
also be deemed to have given their consent for such test or evaluation. 349
As used in this section, "motor vehicle" includes a snowmobile and all-350
terrain vehicle, as such terms are defined in section 14-379. 351
Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2022) Any appointment for the on-352
the-road skills test portion of the examination for a motor vehicle 353
operator's license administered by a motor vehicle inspector agent or an 354
agent of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles at a drivers' school, 355
licensed in accordance with the provisions of section 14-69 of the general 356
statutes, as amended by this act, shall be made available to all students 357
of such school who are otherwise eligible to take such test. 358
Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 359
shall develop a plan to increase the frequency of the on-the-road skills 360
test portion of the examination for a motor vehicle operator's license 361
offered or conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The 362
commissioner shall consider the feasibility of partnering with other 363
public entities or independent contractors to conduct or offer such 364
examination. Not later than January 1, 2023, the commissioner shall 365
submit such plan, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of 366
the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 367
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation. 368 Substitute Bill No. 333
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2022 14-46e
Sec. 2 July 1, 2022 14-52(b)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2022 14-52a(a)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2022 14-69
Sec. 5 July 1, 2022 14-73
Sec. 6 July 1, 2022 14-74
Sec. 7 July 1, 2022 14-79
Sec. 8 July 1, 2022 14-227b(h)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2022 14-270c
Sec. 10 July 1, 2022 14-282
Sec. 11 July 1, 2022 14-227b(a)
Sec. 12 October 1, 2022 New section
Sec. 13 from passage New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 9(b), "required" was changed to "[required] set forth" for
consistency with the changes made in Section 9(a).
TRA Joint Favorable Subst.