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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1195
January Session, 2023
LCO No. 5390
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT ESTABLISHING SECONDARY TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2023) No officer may stop a 1
vehicle for a violation of any provision of title 14 of the general statutes 2
that is only a secondary violation. The provisions of this section shall 3
not prohibit enforcement of a secondary violation by automated 4
enforcement or by a mailed notice of violation or in the case of a vehicle 5
stopped for a violation that is not a secondary violation. 6
Sec. 2. Section 14-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the 7
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 8
Terms used in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless 9
another construction is clearly apparent from the language or context in 10
which the term is used or unless the construction is inconsistent with 11
the manifest intention of the General Assembly: 12
(1) "Activity vehicle" means a student transportation vehicle that is 13
used to transport students in connection with school-sponsored events 14
and activities, but is not used to transport students to and from school; 15 Raised Bill No. 1195
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(2) "Agricultural tractor" means a tractor or other form of 16
nonmuscular motive power used for transporting, hauling, plowing, 17
cultivating, planting, harvesting, reaping or other agricultural purposes 18
on any farm or other private property, or used for the purpose of 19
transporting, from one farm to another, agricultural implements and 20
farm products, provided the agricultural tractor is not used on any 21
highway for transporting a pay load or for some other commercial 22
purpose; 23
(3) "Antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle" means a motor 24
vehicle twenty years old or older which is being preserved because of 25
historic interest and which is not altered or modified from the original 26
manufacturer's specifications; 27
(4) "Apparent candle power" means an illumination equal to the 28
normal illumination in foot candles produced by any lamp or lamps, 29
divided by the square of the distance in feet between the lamp or lamps 30
and the point at which the measurement is made; 31
(5) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means (A) a fire department 32
vehicle, (B) a police vehicle, or (C) an authorized emergency medical 33
services vehicle, as defined in section 19a-175; 34
(6) "Autocycle" means a motor vehicle that meets the requirements of 35
a motorcycle under 49 CFR Part 571, and (A) does not have more than 36
three wheels in contact with the ground, (B) is designed to be controlled 37
with a steering mechanism and foot pedals for acceleration, braking or 38
shifting, (C) has a seat or seats that are fully or partially enclosed and in 39
which the occupants sit with their legs forward, and (D) is equipped 40
with safety belts, in accordance with section 14-100a, for all occupants; 41
(7) "Auxiliary driving lamp" means an additional lighting device on 42
a motor vehicle used primarily to supplement the general illumination 43
in front of a motor vehicle provided by the motor vehicle's head lamps; 44
(8) "Bulb" means a light source consisting of a glass bulb containing a 45
filament or substance capable of being electrically maintained at 46 Raised Bill No. 1195
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incandescence; 47
(9) "Camp trailer" includes any trailer designed for living or sleeping 48
purposes and used exclusively for camping or recreational purposes; 49
(10) "Camp trailer registration" means the type of registration issued 50
to any trailer that is for nonbusiness use and is limited to camp trailers 51
and utility trailers; 52
(11) "Camp vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is regularly used 53
to transport persons under eighteen years of age in connection with the 54
activities of any youth camp, as defined in section 19a-420; 55
(12) "Camper" means any motor vehicle designed or permanently 56
altered in such a way as to provide temporary living quarters for travel, 57
camping or recreational purposes; 58
(13) "Class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with 59
a motor that engages only when the rider operates the electric bicycle's 60
foot pedals, and disengages when the rider stops pedaling or such 61
electric bicycle reaches the speed of twenty miles per hour; 62
(14) "Class 2 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with 63
a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the electric bicycle, and 64
disengages when the brakes are applied or such electric bicycle reaches 65
the speed of twenty miles per hour; 66
(15) "Class 3 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with 67
a motor that engages only when the rider operates the electric bicycle's 68
foot pedals, and disengages when the rider stops pedaling or such 69
electric bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight miles per hour; 70
(16) "Combination registration" means the type of registration issued 71
to a motor vehicle used for both private passenger and commercial 72
purposes if such vehicle does not have a gross vehicle weight rating in 73
excess of twelve thousand five hundred pounds; 74
(17) "Commercial driver's license" or "CDL" means a license issued to 75 Raised Bill No. 1195
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an individual in accordance with the provisions of sections 14-44a to 14-76
44m, inclusive, which authorizes such individual to drive a commercial 77
motor vehicle; 78
(18) "Commercial driver's license information system" or "CDLIS" 79
means the national database of holders of commercial driver's licenses 80
established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 81
pursuant to Section 12007 of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act 82
of 1986; 83
(19) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a vehicle designed or used to 84
transport passengers or property, except a vehicle used for farming 85
purposes in accordance with 49 CFR 383.3(d), fire fighting apparatus or 86
an emergency vehicle, as defined in section 14-283, or a recreational 87
vehicle in private use, which (A) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 88
twenty-six thousand and one pounds or more, or a gross combination 89
weight rating of twenty-six thousand and one pounds or more, inclusive 90
of a towed unit or units with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 91
ten thousand pounds; (B) is designed to transport sixteen or more 92
passengers, including the driver, or is designed to transport more than 93
ten passengers, including the driver, and is used to transport students 94
under the age of twenty-one years to and from school; or (C) is 95
transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in 96
accordance with 49 CFR 172, Subpart F, as amended, or any quantity of 97
a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73; 98
(20) "Commercial registration" means the type of registration 99
required for any motor vehicle designed or used to transport 100
merchandise, freight or persons in connection with any business 101
enterprise, unless a more specific type of registration is authorized and 102
issued by the commissioner for such class of vehicle; 103
(21) "Commercial trailer" means a trailer used in the conduct of a 104
business to transport freight, materials or equipment whether or not 105
permanently affixed to the bed of the trailer; 106
(22) "Commercial trailer registration" means the type of registration 107 Raised Bill No. 1195
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issued to any commercial trailer; 108
(23) "Commissioner" includes the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 109
and any assistant to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles who is 110
designated and authorized by, and who is acting for, the Commissioner 111
of Motor Vehicles under a designation; except that the deputy 112
commissioners of motor vehicles and the Attorney General are deemed, 113
unless the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles otherwise provides, to be 114
designated and authorized by, and acting for, the Commissioner of 115
Motor Vehicles under a designation; 116
(24) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as provided in 117
section 21a-240 and the federal laws and regulations incorporated in 118
chapter 420b; 119
(25) "Conviction" means an unvacated adjudication of guilt, or a 120
determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the 121
law in a court of original jurisdiction or an authorized administrative 122
tribunal, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure 123
the person's appearance in court, the payment of a fine or court cost, or 124
violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether or 125
not the penalty is rebated, suspended or probated; 126
(26) "Dealer" includes any person actively engaged in buying, selling 127
or exchanging motor vehicles or trailers who has an established place of 128
business in this state and who may, incidental to such business, repair 129
motor vehicles or trailers, or cause them to be repaired by persons in his 130
or her employ; 131
(27) "Disqualification" means a withdrawal of the privilege to drive a 132
commercial motor vehicle, which occurs as a result of (A) any 133
suspension, revocation, or cancellation by the commissioner of the 134
privilege to operate a motor vehicle; (B) a determination by the Federal 135
Highway Administration, under the rules of practice for motor carrier 136
safety contained in 49 CFR 386, as amended from time to time, that a 137
person is no longer qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle 138
under the standards set forth in 49 CFR 391, as amended from time to 139 Raised Bill No. 1195
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time; or (C) the loss of qualification which follows any of the convictions 140
or administrative actions specified in section 14-44k; 141
(28) "Drive" means to drive, operate or be in physical control of a 142
motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle being towed by another; 143
(29) "Driver" means any person who drives, operates or is in physical 144
control of a commercial motor vehicle, or who is required to hold a 145
commercial driver's license; 146
(30) "Driver's license" or "operator's license" means a valid 147
Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license or a license issued by 148
another state or foreign jurisdiction authorizing the holder thereof to 149
operate a motor vehicle on the highways; 150
(31) "Electric bicycle" means a bicycle equipped with operable foot 151
pedals and an electric motor of fewer than seven hundred fifty watts of 152
power that is either a class 1, class 2 or class 3 bicycle. "Electric bicycle" 153
does not include a dirt bike or an all-terrain vehicle; 154
(32) "Electric foot scooter" means a device (A) that weighs not more 155
than seventy-five pounds, (B) that has two or three wheels, handlebars 156
and a floorboard that can be stood upon while riding, (C) that is 157
powered by an electric motor and human power, and (D) whose 158
maximum speed, with or without human propulsion on a paved level 159
surface, is not more than twenty miles per hour; 160
(33) "Employee" means any operator of a commercial motor vehicle, 161
including full-time, regularly employed drivers, casual, intermittent or 162
occasional drivers, drivers under contract and independent owner-163
operator contractors, who, while in the course of operating a commercial 164
motor vehicle, are either directly employed by, or are under contract to, 165
an employer; 166
(34) "Employer" means any person, including the United States, a 167
state or any political subdivision thereof, who owns or leases a 168
commercial motor vehicle, or assigns a person to drive a commercial 169 Raised Bill No. 1195
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motor vehicle; 170
(35) "Farm implement" means a vehicle designed and adapted 171
exclusively for agricultural, horticultural or livestock-raising operations 172
and which is not operated on a highway for transporting a pay load or 173
for any other commercial purpose; 174
(36) "Felony" means any offense, as defined in section 53a-25 and 175
includes any offense designated as a felony under federal law; 176
(37) "Fatality" means the death of a person as a result of a motor 177
vehicle accident; 178
(38) "Foreign jurisdiction" means any jurisdiction other than a state of 179
the United States; 180
(39) "Fuels" means (A) all products commonly or commercially 181
known or sold as gasoline, including casinghead and absorption or 182
natural gasoline, regardless of their classification or uses, (B) any liquid 183
prepared, advertised, offered for sale or sold for use, or commonly and 184
commercially used, as a fuel in internal combustion engines, which, 185
when subjected to distillation in accordance with the standard method 186
of test for distillation of gasoline, naphtha, kerosene and similar 187
petroleum products by "American Society for Testing Materials Method 188
D-86", shows not less than ten per cent distilled (recovered) below 347° 189
Fahrenheit (175° Centigrade) and not less than ninety-five per cent 190
distilled (recovered) below 464° Fahrenheit (240° Centigrade); provided 191
the term "fuels" does not include commercial solvents or naphthas 192
which distill, by "American Society for Testing Materials Method D-86", 193
not more than nine per cent at 176° Fahrenheit and which have a 194
distillation range of 150° Fahrenheit, or less, or liquefied gases which 195
would not exist as liquids at a temperature of 60° Fahrenheit and a 196
pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute, and (C) any liquid 197
commonly referred to as "gasohol" which is prepared, advertised, 198
offered for sale or sold for use, or commonly and commercially used, as 199
a fuel in internal combustion engines, consisting of a blend of gasoline 200
and a minimum of ten per cent by volume of ethyl or methyl alcohol; 201 Raised Bill No. 1195
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(40) "Garage" includes every place of business where motor vehicles 202
are, for compensation, received for housing, storage or repair; 203
(41) "Gross vehicle weight rating" or "GVWR" means the value 204
specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a 205
single or a combination (articulated) vehicle. The GVWR of a 206
combination (articulated) vehicle commonly referred to as the "gross 207
combination weight rating" or GCWR is the GVWR of the power unit 208
plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units; 209
(42) "Gross weight" means the light weight of a vehicle plus the 210
weight of any load on the vehicle, provided, in the case of a tractor-211
trailer unit, "gross weight" means the light weight of the tractor plus the 212
light weight of the trailer or semitrailer plus the weight of the load on 213
the vehicle; 214
(43) "Hazardous materials" has the same meaning as provided in 49 215
CFR 383.5; 216
(44) "Head lamp" means a lighting device affixed to the front of a 217
motor vehicle projecting a high intensity beam which lights the road in 218
front of the vehicle so that it can proceed safely during the hours of 219
darkness; 220
(45) "High-mileage vehicle" means a motor vehicle having the 221
following characteristics: (A) Not less than three wheels in contact with 222
the ground; (B) a completely enclosed seat on which the driver sits; (C) 223
a single or two cylinder, gasoline or diesel engine or an electric-powered 224
engine; and (D) efficient fuel consumption; 225
(46) "Highway" includes any state or other public highway, road, 226
street, avenue, alley, driveway, parkway, place or dedicated roadway 227
for bus rapid transit service, under the control of the state or any 228
political subdivision of the state, dedicated, appropriated or opened to 229
public travel or other use; 230
(47) "Imminent hazard" means the existence of a condition that 231 Raised Bill No. 1195
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presents a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe 232
personal injury or a substantial endangerment to health, property, or the 233
environment may occur before the reasonably foreseeable completion 234
date of a formal proceeding begun to lessen the risk of that death, illness, 235
injury or endangerment; 236
(48) "Intersecting highway" includes any public highway which joins 237
another at an angle whether or not it crosses the other; 238
(49) "Light weight" means the weight of an unloaded motor vehicle 239
as ordinarily equipped and ready for use, exclusive of the weight of the 240
operator of the motor vehicle; 241
(50) "Limited access highway" means a state highway so designated 242
under the provisions of section 13b-27; 243
(51) "Local authorities" includes the board of aldermen, common 244
council, chief of police, warden and burgesses, board of selectmen or 245
other officials having authority for the enactment or enforcement of 246
traffic regulations within their respective towns, cities or boroughs; 247
(52) "Maintenance vehicle" means any vehicle in use by the state or 248
by any town, city, borough or district, any state bridge or parkway 249
authority or any public service company, as defined in section 16-1, in 250
the maintenance of public highways or bridges and facilities located 251
within the limits of public highways or bridges; 252
(53) "Manufacturer" means (A) a person, whether a resident or 253
nonresident, engaged in the business of constructing or assembling new 254
motor vehicles of a type required to be registered by the commissioner, 255
for operation upon any highway, except a utility trailer, which are 256
offered for sale in this state, or (B) a person who distributes new motor 257
vehicles to new car dealers licensed in this state; 258
(54) "Median divider" means an intervening space or physical barrier 259
or clearly indicated dividing section separating traffic lanes provided 260
for vehicles proceeding in opposite directions; 261 Raised Bill No. 1195
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(55) "Modified antique motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle twenty 262
years old or older which has been modified for safe road use, including, 263
but not limited to, modifications to the drive train, suspension, braking 264
system and safety or comfort apparatus; 265
(56) "Motor bus" includes any motor vehicle, except a taxicab, as 266
defined in section 13b-95, operated in whole or in part on any street or 267
highway in a manner affording a means of transportation by 268
indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers, or running on a 269
regular route or over any portion of a regular route or between fixed 270
termini; 271
(57) "Motor home" means a vehicular unit designed to provide living 272
quarters and necessary amenities which are built into an integral part 273
of, or permanently attached to, a truck or van chassis; 274
(58) "Motor-driven cycle" means any of the following vehicles that 275
have a seat height of not less than twenty-six inches and a motor having 276
a capacity of less than fifty cubic centimeters piston displacement: (A) A 277
motorcycle, other than an autocycle; (B) a motor scooter; or (C) a bicycle 278
with attached motor, except an electric bicycle; 279
(59) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle propelled or drawn by any 280
nonmuscular power, except aircraft, motor boats, road rollers, baggage 281
trucks used about railroad stations or other mass transit facilities, 282
electric battery-operated wheel chairs when operated by persons with 283
physical disabilities at speeds not exceeding fifteen miles per hour, golf 284
carts operated on highways solely for the purpose of crossing from one 285
part of the golf course to another, golf-cart-type vehicles operated on 286
roads or highways on the grounds of state institutions by state 287
employees, agricultural tractors, farm implements, such vehicles as run 288
only on rails or tracks, self-propelled snow plows, snow blowers and 289
lawn mowers, when used for the purposes for which they were 290
designed and operated at speeds not exceeding four miles per hour, 291
whether or not the operator rides on or walks behind such equipment, 292
motor-driven cycles, as defined in section 14-286, special mobile 293 Raised Bill No. 1195
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equipment, as defined in section 14-165, mini-motorcycles, as defined in 294
section 14-289j, electric bicycles, electric foot scooters and any other 295
vehicle not suitable for operation on a highway; 296
(60) "Motorcycle" means (A) an autocycle, as defined in this section, 297
or (B) a motor vehicle, with or without a side car, that has (i) not more 298
than three wheels in contact with the ground, (ii) a saddle or seat which 299
the rider straddles or a platform on which the rider stands, and (iii) 300
handlebars with which the rider controls the movement of the vehicle. 301
"Motorcycle" does not include a motor-driven cycle, an electric bicycle 302
or an electric foot scooter; 303
(61) "National Driver Registry" or "NDR" means the licensing 304
information system and database operated by the National Highway 305
Traffic Safety Administration and established pursuant to the National 306
Driver Registry Act of 1982, as amended; 307
(62) "New motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, the equitable or 308
legal title to which has never been transferred by a manufacturer, 309
distributor or dealer to an ultimate consumer; 310
(63) "Nonresident" means any person whose legal residence is in a 311
state other than Connecticut or in a foreign country; 312
(64) "Nonresident commercial driver's license" or "nonresident CDL" 313
means a commercial driver's license issued by a state to an individual 314
who resides in a foreign jurisdiction; 315
(65) "Nonskid device" means any device applied to the tires, wheels, 316
axles or frame of a motor vehicle for the purpose of increasing the 317
traction of the motor vehicle; 318
(66) "Number plate" means any sign or marker furnished by the 319
commissioner on which is displayed the registration number assigned 320
to a motor vehicle by the commissioner; 321
(67) "Officer" includes any constable, state marshal, inspector of 322
motor vehicles, state policeman or other official authorized to make 323 Raised Bill No. 1195
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arrests or to serve process, provided the officer is in uniform or displays 324
the officer's badge of office in a conspicuous place when making an 325
arrest; 326
(68) "Operator" means any person who operates a motor vehicle or 327
who steers or directs the course of a motor vehicle being towed by 328
another motor vehicle and includes a driver; 329
(69) "Out-of-service order" means an order (A) issued by a person 330
having inspection authority, as defined in regulations adopted by the 331
commissioner pursuant to section 14-163c, or by an authorized official 332
of the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor 333
Carrier Safety Administration pursuant to any provision of federal law, 334
to prohibit any motor vehicle specified in subsection (a) of section 14-335
163c from being operated on any highway, or to prohibit a driver from 336
operating any such motor vehicle, or (B) issued by the United States 337
Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety 338
Administration, pursuant to any provision of federal law, to prohibit 339
any motor carrier, as defined in Section 386.2 of Title 49 of the Code of 340
Federal Regulations, from engaging in commercial motor vehicle 341
operations; 342
(70) "Owner" means any person holding title to a motor vehicle, or 343
having the legal right to register the same, including purchasers under 344
conditional bills of sale; 345
(71) "Parked vehicle" means a motor vehicle in a stationary position 346
within the limits of a public highway; 347
(72) "Passenger and commercial motor vehicle" means a motor 348
vehicle used for private passenger and commercial purposes which is 349
eligible for combination registration; 350
(73) "Passenger motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the 351
private transportation of persons and their personal belongings, 352
designed to carry occupants in comfort and safety, with a capacity of 353
carrying not more than ten passengers including the operator thereof; 354 Raised Bill No. 1195
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(74) "Passenger registration" means the type of registration issued to 355
a passenger motor vehicle unless a more specific type of registration is 356
authorized and issued by the commissioner for such class of vehicle; 357
(75) "Person" includes any individual, corporation, limited liability 358
company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business trust or 359
other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state or any 360
political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or 361
requires; 362
(76) "Pick-up truck" means a motor vehicle with an enclosed forward 363
passenger compartment and an open rearward compartment used for 364
the transportation of property; 365
(77) "Pneumatic tires" means tires inflated or inflatable with air; 366
(78) "Pole trailer" means a trailer which is (A) intended for 367
transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, logs, pipes 368
or structural members, which loads are capable of sustaining 369
themselves as beams between supporting connections, and (B) designed 370
to be drawn by a motor vehicle and attached or secured directly to the 371
motor vehicle by any means including a reach, pole or boom; 372
(79) "Public passenger endorsement" means an endorsement issued 373
to an individual, which authorizes such individual to transport 374
passengers, including, but not limited to, passengers who are students 375
in accordance with subsection (b) or (c) of section 14-36a; 376
(80) "Recreational vehicle" includes the camper, camp trailer and 377
motor home classes of vehicles; 378
(81) "Registration" includes the certificate of motor vehicle 379
registration and the number plate or plates used in connection with such 380
registration; 381
(82) "Registration number" means the identifying number or letters, 382
or both, assigned by the commissioner to a motor vehicle; 383 Raised Bill No. 1195
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(83) "Resident", for the purpose of registering motor vehicles, 384
includes any person who is a legal resident of this state, as the 385
commissioner may presume from the fact that such person occupies a 386
place of dwelling in this state for more than six months in a year, or any 387
person, firm or corporation owning or leasing a motor vehicle used or 388
operated in intrastate business in this state, or a firm or corporation 389
having its principal office or place of business in this state; 390
(84) "School bus" means any school bus, as defined in section 14-275, 391
including a commercial motor vehicle used to transport preschool, 392
elementary school or secondary school students from home to school, 393
from school to home, or to and from school-sponsored events, but does 394
not include a bus used as a common carrier; 395
(85) "Second" violation or "subsequent" violation means an offense 396
committed not more than three years after the date of an arrest which 397
resulted in a previous conviction for a violation of the same statutory 398
provision, except in the case of a violation of section 14-215, 14-224, 14-399
227a or 14-227m, "second" violation or "subsequent" violation means an 400
offense committed not more than ten years after the date of an arrest 401
which resulted in a previous conviction for a violation of the same 402
statutory provision; 403
(86) "Secondary violation" means a violation of any provision of this 404
title that may be enforced only in accordance with the provisions of 405
section 1 of this act; 406
[(86)] (87) "Semitrailer" means any trailer type vehicle designed and 407
used in conjunction with a motor vehicle so that some part of its own 408
weight and load rests on or is carried by another vehicle; 409
[(87)] (88) "Serious traffic violation" means a conviction of any of the 410
following offenses: (A) Excessive speeding, involving a single offense in 411
which the speed is fifteen miles per hour or more above the posted 412
speed limit, in violation of section 14-218a or 14-219; (B) reckless driving 413
in violation of section 14-222; (C) following too closely in violation of 414
section 14-240 or 14-240a; (D) improper or erratic lane changes, in 415 Raised Bill No. 1195
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violation of section 14-236; (E) using a hand-held mobile telephone or 416
other electronic device or typing, reading or sending text or a text 417
message with or from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device in 418
violation of subsection (e) of section 14-296aa while operating a 419
commercial motor vehicle; (F) driving a commercial motor vehicle 420
without a valid commercial driver's license in violation of section 14-36a 421
or 14-44a; (G) failure to carry a commercial driver's license in violation 422
of section 14-44a; (H) failure to have the proper class of license or 423
endorsement, or violation of a license restriction in violation of section 424
14-44a; or (I) a violation of any provision of chapter 248, by an operator 425
who holds a commercial driver's license or instruction permit that 426
results in the death of another person; 427
[(88)] (89) "Service bus" includes any vehicle except a vanpool vehicle 428
or a school bus designed and regularly used to carry ten or more 429
passengers when used in private service for the transportation of 430
persons without charge to the individual; 431
[(89)] (90) "Service car" means any motor vehicle used by a 432
manufacturer, dealer or repairer for emergency motor vehicle repairs on 433
the highways of this state, for towing or for the transportation of 434
necessary persons, tools and materials to and from the scene of such 435
emergency repairs or towing; 436
[(90)] (91) "Shoulder" means that portion of a highway immediately 437
adjacent and contiguous to the travel lanes or main traveled portion of 438
the roadway; 439
[(91)] (92) "Solid tires" means tires of rubber, or other elastic material 440
approved by the Commissioner of Transportation, which do not depend 441
on confined air for the support of the load; 442
[(92)] (93) "Spot lamp" or "spot light" means a lighting device 443
projecting a high intensity beam, the direction of which can be readily 444
controlled for special or emergency lighting as distinguished from 445
ordinary road illumination; 446 Raised Bill No. 1195
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[(93)] (94) "State" means any state of the United States and the District 447
of Columbia unless the context indicates a more specific reference to the 448
state of Connecticut; 449
[(94)] (95) "Stop" means complete cessation of movement; 450
[(95)] (96) "Student" means any person under the age of twenty-one 451
years who is attending a preprimary, primary or secondary school 452
program of education; 453
[(96)] (97) "Tail lamp" means a lighting device affixed to the rear of a 454
motor vehicle showing a red light to the rear and indicating the presence 455
of the motor vehicle when viewed from behind; 456
[(97)] (98) "Tank vehicle" means any commercial motor vehicle 457
designed to transport any liquid or gaseous material within a tank that 458
is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or its 459
chassis, which includes, but is not limited to, a cargo tank and portable 460
tank, as defined in 49 CFR 383.5, as amended, provided it does not 461
include a portable tank with a rated capacity not to exceed one thousand 462
gallons; 463
[(98)] (99) "Tractor" or "truck tractor" means a motor vehicle designed 464
and used for drawing a semitrailer; 465
[(99)] (100) "Tractor-trailer unit" means a combination of a tractor and 466
a trailer or a combination of a tractor and a semitrailer; 467
[(100)] (101) "Trailer" means any rubber-tired vehicle without motive 468
power drawn or propelled by a motor vehicle; 469
[(101)] (102) "Truck" means a motor vehicle designed, used or 470
maintained primarily for the transportation of property; 471
[(102)] (103) "Ultimate consumer" means, with respect to a motor 472
vehicle, the first person, other than a dealer, who in good faith purchases 473
the motor vehicle for purposes other than resale; 474 Raised Bill No. 1195
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[(103)] (104) "United States" means the fifty states and the District of 475
Columbia; 476
[(104)] (105) "Used motor vehicle" includes any motor vehicle which 477
has been previously separately registered by an ultimate consumer; 478
[(105)] (106) "Utility trailer" means a trailer designed and used to 479
transport personal property, materials or equipment, whether or not 480
permanently affixed to the bed of the trailer; 481
[(106)] (107) "Vanpool vehicle" includes all motor vehicles, the 482
primary purpose of which is the daily transportation, on a prearranged 483
nonprofit basis, of individuals between home and work, and which: (A) 484
If owned by or leased to a person, or to an employee of the person, or to 485
an employee of a local, state or federal government unit or agency 486
located in Connecticut, are manufactured and equipped in such manner 487
as to provide a seating capacity of at least seven but not more than 488
fifteen individuals, or (B) if owned by or leased to a regional ride-489
sharing organization in the state recognized by the Commissioner of 490
Transportation, are manufactured and equipped in such manner as to 491
provide a seating capacity of at least six but not more than nineteen 492
individuals; 493
[(107)] (108) "Vehicle" includes any device suitable for the 494
conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, 495
whether operated on wheels, runners, a cushion of air or by any other 496
means. The term does not include devices propelled or drawn by human 497
power or devices used exclusively on tracks; 498
[(108)] (109) "Vehicle identification number" or "VIN" means a series 499
of Arabic numbers and Roman letters that is assigned to each new motor 500
vehicle that is manufactured within or imported into the United States, 501
in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 565, unless another 502
sequence of numbers and letters has been assigned to a motor vehicle 503
by the commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-504
149; 505 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 18 of 31
[(109)] (110) "Wrecker" means a vehicle which is registered, designed, 506
equipped and used for the purposes of towing or transporting wrecked 507
or disabled motor vehicles for compensation or for related purposes by 508
a person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with the provisions 509
of subpart (D) of part III of this chapter or a vehicle contracted for the 510
consensual towing or transporting of one or more motor vehicles to or 511
from a place of sale, purchase, salvage or repair. 512
Sec. 3. Subdivision (1) of section 14-212 of the general statutes is 513
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 514
1, 2023): 515
(1) The following terms shall be construed as they are defined in 516
section 14-1, as amended by this act: "Agricultural tractor", "authorized 517
emergency vehicle", "class 1 electric bicycle", "class 2 electric bicycle", 518
"class 3 electric bicycle", "commissioner", "driver", "electric bicycle", 519
"electric foot scooter", "fuels", "gross weight", "head lamp", "high-520
mileage vehicle", "highway", "light weight", "limited access highway", 521
"maintenance vehicle", "motor bus", "motorcycle", "motor vehicle 522
registration", "nonresident", "nonskid device", "number plate", "officer", 523
"operator", "owner", "passenger motor vehicle", "passenger and 524
commercial motor vehicle", "person", "pneumatic tires", "pole trailer", 525
"registration", "registration number", "second offense", "secondary 526
violation", "semitrailer", "shoulder", "solid tires", "stop", "subsequent 527
offense", "tail lamp", "tank vehicle", "tractor", "tractor-trailer unit", 528
"trailer", "truck" and "vanpool vehicle"; 529
Sec. 4. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 14-99g of the general statutes 530
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 531
October 1, 2023): 532
(f) Any person who violates any provision of subsections (b) to (e), 533
inclusive, of this section shall be deemed to have committed an 534
infraction for each offense. Any person who violates any provision of 535
subsection (b) of this section shall remove such object or material which 536
obstructs [his] such person's clear and full view of the road and report 537 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 19 of 31
within sixty days to the police department which issued the infractions 538
complaint to present [his] such person's vehicle for inspection and to 539
demonstrate compliance with the provisions of this section. If such 540
person fails to report to such police department and is cited for a 541
subsequent violation of this section, his vehicle shall be impounded after 542
notice and opportunity for hearing. A violation of any provision of 543
subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section is a secondary violation. 544
(g) Any person owning a vehicle having a window which has been 545
tinted or darkened with any tinted material after factory delivery, shall 546
present such vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles, by July 1, 547
1996, to receive a sticker for any tinted or darkened window to indicate 548
such tinting or darkening is in compliance with this section. Any person 549
operating a motor vehicle, on or after July 1, 1996, in violation of this 550
subsection shall be deemed to have committed an infraction. A violation 551
of any provision of this subsection is a secondary violation. 552
Sec. 5. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 14-18 of the general 553
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 554
(Effective October 1, 2023): 555
(a) (1) Each motor vehicle for which one number plate has been issued 556
shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a 557
conspicuous place at the rear of such vehicle the number plate. The 558
commissioner may issue a sticker denoting the expiration date of the 559
registration. Such sticker shall be displayed in such place on the vehicle 560
as the commissioner may direct. Such sticker may contain the 561
corresponding letters and numbers of the registration and number plate 562
issued by the commissioner. 563
(2) Each motor vehicle for which two number plates have been issued 564
shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a 565
conspicuous place at the front and the rear of such vehicle the number 566
plates. Displaying a number plate against a vehicle's rear window is a 567
secondary violation, provided the numerals and letters on any such 568
number plate are plainly legible. The commissioner may issue a sticker 569 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 20 of 31
denoting the expiration date of the registration. Such sticker shall be 570
displayed in such place on the vehicle as the commissioner may direct. 571
Such sticker may contain the corresponding letters and numbers of the 572
number plate issued by the commissioner. 573
(b) Repealed by 1969, P.A. 247, S. 1. 574
(c) Official number plates when displayed upon motor vehicles shall 575
be [entirely] substantially unobscured and the numerals and letters 576
thereon shall be plainly legible at all times. Such number plates shall be 577
horizontal, and shall be fastened so as not to swing. [and, during the 578
time when a motor vehicle is required to display lights, the rear number 579
plate shall be so illuminated as to be legible at a distance of fifty feet.] 580
Nothing may be affixed to a motor vehicle or to the official number 581
plates displayed on such vehicle that obscures or impairs the visibility 582
of [any information] the numerals and letters on such number plates. 583
Not more than one number plate shall be displayed on the front or rear 584
of any motor vehicle in operation upon the public highways of the state; 585
provided any motor vehicle may, upon permission of the commissioner, 586
display more than one number plate in front or rear, subject to such 587
conditions as the commissioner prescribes. If any number plate supplied 588
by the commissioner is lost, or if the registered number thereon becomes 589
mutilated or illegible, the owner of or the person in control of the motor 590
vehicle for which such number plate was furnished shall immediately 591
place a temporary number plate bearing said registration number upon 592
such motor vehicle, which temporary number plate shall conform to the 593
regular number plate and shall be displayed as nearly as possible as 594
herein provided for such regular number plate; and such owner shall, 595
within forty-eight hours after such loss or mutilation of the number 596
plate, give notice thereof to the commissioner and apply for a new 597
number plate. The commissioner may issue a permit to operate with 598
such temporary plate and shall supply new number plates upon 599
payment of the fee therefor as provided in section 14-50a. Upon receipt 600
of such new number plates and new certificate, the remaining old 601
number plate, if any, and certificate shall be surrendered to the 602
commissioner. 603 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 21 of 31
Sec. 6. Section 14-96a of the general statutes is repealed and the 604
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 605
(a) Every vehicle upon a highway within this state shall display such 606
lighted lamps and illuminating devices as may be required under the 607
provisions of this section and sections [14-96a] 14-96b to 14-96aa, 608
inclusive, (1) at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour 609
before sunrise, (2) at any time when, due to insufficient light or 610
unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the 611
highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of five hundred feet 612
ahead, and (3) at any time during periods of precipitation, including, 613
but not limited to, periods of snow, rain or fog. 614
(b) Whenever in said sections any requirement is declared as to 615
distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects 616
visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, such 617
requirement shall apply during the times stated in subsection (a) of this 618
section in respect to a vehicle without load when upon a straight, level, 619
unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a 620
different time or condition is expressly stated. 621
(c) Whenever in said sections any requirement is declared as to the 622
mounted height of lamps or devices, such requirement shall mean the 623
height measured from the center of such lamps or devices to the level 624
ground upon which the vehicle stands when such vehicle is without a 625
load. 626
(d) Failure to [provide lighted] illuminate lamps and illuminating 627
devices at such time as required by this section shall be an infraction. 628
(e) To the extent that a violation concerning the number, placement, 629
intensity of lamps or illuminating devices or any other technical 630
specifications concerning lamps or illuminating devices provided for in 631
sections 14-96b to 14-96aa, inclusive, would also constitute a violation 632
under this section, such violation shall be enforced under sections 14-633
96b to 14-96aa, inclusive, and not under this section. 634 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 22 of 31
Sec. 7. Section 14-96c of the general statutes is repealed and the 635
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 636
(a) After October 1, 1967, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and 637
pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a 638
combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps 639
mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in subsection (a) 640
of section 14-96a, as amended by this act, shall emit a red light plainly 641
visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear, except that 642
passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to October 1, 1957, and 643
motorcycles shall have at least one such tail lamp. On a combination of 644
vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be 645
seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than 646
one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as 647
widely spaced laterally as practicable. 648
(b) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a mounted 649
height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches. 650
(c) The rear registration plate shall be so illumined with a white light 651
as to render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any 652
tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for 653
illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted 654
whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted, except 655
that any vehicle equipped by the manufacturer with daytime running 656
lamps which meet federal requirements may have such daytime 657
running lamps illuminated without illumination of the tail lamps or rear 658
registration plate. 659
(d) Failure to have tail lamps or failure to illuminate the rear 660
registration plate as required in this section shall be an infraction. 661
Failure to have two functioning tail lamps shall be a secondary violation 662
if the vehicle has one illuminated and functioning tail lamp. Failure to 663
illuminate the rear registration plate shall be a secondary offense. 664
Sec. 8. Section 14-96d of the general statutes is repealed and the 665
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 666 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 23 of 31
(a) Each motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer shall carry 667
on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two or more 668
red reflectors meeting the requirements of this section. Each motorcycle 669
shall carry at least one such reflector. 670
(b) Each such reflector shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height of 671
not less than fifteen inches nor more than sixty inches, and shall be of 672
such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night 673
from all distances within three hundred fifty feet to one hundred feet 674
from such vehicle when directly in front of upper beams of head lamps. 675
(c) Failure to carry and mount reflectors as required in this section 676
shall be an infraction. Failure to carry and mount two reflectors shall be 677
a secondary violation if a vehicle has one reflector. 678
Sec. 9. Section 14-96e of the general statutes is repealed and the 679
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 680
(a) Each motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer shall be 681
equipped with two or more stop lamps meeting the requirements of 682
subsection (a) of section 14-96r, except that passenger motor vehicles 683
manufactured or assembled prior to October 1, 1957, and motorcycles 684
shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp. On a combination of 685
vehicles, only the stop lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be 686
seen from the distance specified. 687
(b) Each motor vehicle in use on a highway shall be equipped with, 688
and required signals shall be given by, a turn signal lamp or lamps 689
complying with the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, 690
Title 49, Section 571.108, as amended from time to time. 691
(c) Failure to equip vehicles with stop lamps or a turn signal lamp or 692
lamps or turn signal devices as required by this section shall be an 693
infraction. Failure to equip a vehicle with two or more functioning stop 694
lamps shall be a secondary violation if the vehicle has one functioning 695
stop lamp and is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of 696
subsection (a) of this section. 697 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 24 of 31
Sec. 10. Section 14-96y of the general statutes is repealed and the 698
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 699
(a) [At all times specified in subsection (a) of section 14-96a, at least 700
two lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side at the front of 701
every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, except when] Each motor 702
vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall have at least two functioning head 703
lamps, one of which shall be located on each side at the front of such 704
vehicle, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations 705
governing lights on parked vehicles. 706
(b) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as herein 707
required is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or 708
any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of intensity 709
greater than three hundred candlepower, not more than a total of four 710
of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one 711
time when upon a highway. 712
(c) Failure to have two functioning head lamps as required by this 713
section shall be an infraction. Failure to have two functioning head 714
lamps shall be a secondary violation if the vehicle has one lighted head 715
lamp and is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of subsection 716
(a) of this section. 717
Sec. 11. Section 14-99f of the general statutes is repealed and the 718
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 719
(a) Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with a windshield of a type 720
prescribed by section 14-100 and a windshield cleaner or wiper in 721
effective working order located directly in front of the operator while in 722
use on the highway. The windshield shall be reasonably free of defects 723
and accumulations, inside and out, of snow, ice, condensation and dirt. 724
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a motorcycle or a 725
vehicle designed by the manufacturer for nonhighway operation 726
without a windshield. 727
(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle required to be equipped 728 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 25 of 31
with such a windshield if the windshield is in a condition to interfere 729
with an unobstructed view of the highway. 730
(c) No article, device, sticker or ornament shall be attached or affixed 731
to or hung on or in any motor vehicle in such a manner or location as to 732
interfere with the operator's unobstructed view of the highway or to 733
distract the attention of the operator. 734
(d) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. A 735
violation of subsection (c) of this section shall be a secondary violation 736
if the obstruction of the windshield is not substantial. 737
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 14-12 of the general statutes is 738
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 739
1, 2023): 740
(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated, towed or parked on any 741
highway, except as otherwise expressly provided, unless it is registered 742
with the commissioner, provided any motor vehicle may be towed for 743
repairs or necessary work if it bears the number plates of a licensed and 744
registered dealer, manufacturer or repairer and provided any motor 745
vehicle which is validly registered in another state may, for a period of 746
ninety days following establishment by the owner of residence in this 747
state, be operated on any highway without first being registered with 748
the commissioner. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, (1) a 749
person commits an infraction if such person (A) registers a motor 750
vehicle he or she does not own, or (B) operates, allows the operation of, 751
parks or allows the parking of an unregistered motor vehicle on any 752
highway, or (2) a resident of this state who operates or parks a motor 753
vehicle such resident owns with number plates issued by another state 754
on any highway shall be fined two hundred fifty dollars, except that the 755
fine shall be suspended for a first time violator who presents proof of 756
registration for the motor vehicle subsequent to the violation but prior 757
to the imposition of a fine. If the owner of a motor vehicle previously 758
registered with the commissioner, the registration of which expired not 759
more than [thirty] sixty days previously, operates, allows the operation 760 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 26 of 31
of, parks or allows that parking of such a motor vehicle, such owner 761
shall be fined the amount designated for the infraction of failure to 762
renew a registration, but the right to retain his or her operator's license 763
shall not be affected. Such infraction shall be a secondary violation. No 764
operator other than the owner shall be subject to penalty for the 765
operation or parking of such a previously registered motor vehicle. As 766
used in this subsection, the term "unregistered motor vehicle" includes 767
any vehicle that is not eligible for registration by the commissioner due 768
to the absence of necessary equipment or other characteristics of the 769
vehicle that make it unsuitable for highway operation, unless the 770
operation of such vehicle is expressly permitted by another provision of 771
this chapter or chapter 248. 772
Sec. 13. Subsection (d) of section 14-41 of the general statutes is 773
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 774
1, 2023): 775
(d) The commissioner may, at least fifteen days before the date on 776
which each motor vehicle operator's license or identity card expires, 777
notify the holder of such license or identity card of the expiration date, 778
in a manner determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall 779
not provide such notification by mail to any such licensee or identity 780
card holder if the United States Postal Service has determined that mail 781
is undeliverable to the address for such person that is documented in 782
the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Any previously 783
licensed operator who operates a motor vehicle within sixty days after 784
the expiration date of the operator's license without obtaining a renewal 785
of the license shall be fined in accordance with the amount designated 786
for the infraction of failure to renew a motor vehicle operator's license. 787
Any such infraction shall be a secondary violation. Any operator so 788
charged shall not be prosecuted under section 14-36 for the same act 789
constituting a violation under this section but section 14-36 shall apply 790
after the sixty-day period. 791
Sec. 14. Section 14-45 of the general statutes is repealed and the 792
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 793 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 27 of 31
(a) A person holding (1) a license for the operation of a motor vehicle, 794
issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in accordance with 795
section 14-36, or (2) an identity card, issued by said commissioner in 796
accordance with section 1-1h, shall notify the commissioner within 797
forty-eight hours of any change of such person's address. The 798
notification shall include such person's old address and new address. 799
(b) In IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection 800
(b) of section 46b-231, upon written notification by the Department of 801
Social Services that the address listed for the holder of a motor vehicle 802
operator's license or the holder of an identity card is incorrect, the 803
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall notify the operator that the 804
correct address must be furnished to the department. The commissioner 805
shall refuse to issue or renew a motor vehicle operator's license if the 806
address furnished by the applicant is determined to be incorrect. The 807
department shall notify the Department of Social Services of the current 808
address of holders of motor vehicle operator's licenses when a change 809
of address is reported. 810
(c) Failure of the holder of a motor vehicle operator's license or 811
identity card to give the notice required by this section shall be an 812
infraction and a secondary violation. 813
Sec. 15. Section 14-213 of the general statutes is repealed and the 814
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 815
Each operator of a motor vehicle shall carry his operator's license 816
while operating such vehicle. Failure to carry such operator's license as 817
required by the provisions of this section shall be an infraction and a 818
secondary violation. 819
Sec. 16. Section 14-215b of the general statutes is repealed and the 820
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 821
Any person whose motor vehicle operator's license has been 822
suspended who operates a motor vehicle after the expiration of such 823
period of suspension without obtaining the reinstatement of such 824 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 28 of 31
license shall (1) during the first sixty days after such expiration, be 825
deemed to have failed to renew such license and be subject to the 826
penalty for failure to renew a motor vehicle operator's license under 827
subsection (c) of section 14-41, and such infraction shall be a secondary 828
violation, and (2) after said sixty-day period, be subject to the penalty 829
for operating a motor vehicle without a license under section 14-36. Any 830
operator so charged shall not be prosecuted under section 14-215 for the 831
same act constituting a violation under this section. 832
Sec. 17. Section 14-21b of the general statutes is repealed and the 833
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 834
(a) The commissioner shall issue fully reflectorized safety number 835
plates for new registrations and renewal registrations issued on and 836
after January 1, 2000, for passenger, combination and commercial 837
registrations and other registrations as the commissioner deems feasible 838
within funds and personnel available. Each plate shall bear the words 839
"Constitution State" and "Connecticut". The commissioner shall issue 840
two fully reflectorized safety number plates in accordance with a 841
schedule established by the commissioner in such quantities as the 842
commissioner deems feasible within the funds and personnel available. 843
No safety fee shall be charged for the issuance of the replacement 844
number plates for such renewals. 845
(b) No additional charge shall be made for the issuance of such new 846
or replacement fully reflectorized plates, except for the safety fee 847
provided for in subsection (w) of section 14-49. 848
(c) The owner or lessee of each registered motor vehicle who is issued 849
two fully reflectorized safety number plates by the commissioner shall 850
display such plates on such motor vehicle as provided in section 14-18, 851
as amended by this act. A violation of this subsection shall be an 852
infraction and a secondary violation. 853
Sec. 18. Subsection (e) of section 14-80 of the general statutes is 854
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 855
1, 2023): 856 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 29 of 31
(e) Every motor vehicle shall, when operated on a highway, be 857
equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting 858
sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 859
two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an 860
unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. A violation of this 861
subsection shall be a secondary violation. 862
Sec. 19. Section 14-99 of the general statutes is repealed and the 863
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 864
(a) Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror attached to 865
and so located and adjusted on such vehicle as to give the operator 866
thereof a clear reflected view of the highway directly to the rear of or on 867
a line parallel to the left side of the body of such motor vehicle. Any such 868
infraction shall be a secondary violation. 869
(b) Any person operating a motor vehicle with a commercial 870
registration so constructed or which may be so loaded that the operator 871
is prevented from having a free and unobstructed view of the highway 872
immediately to the rear and at the left side of the same shall, by means 873
of such mirror, make frequent observations of the approach of vehicles 874
from the rear. When operating at below the posted speed limits and 875
when so approached or overtaken, the operator of such motor vehicle 876
shall drive to the extreme right of the traveled way as promptly as safety 877
will permit, giving the vehicle approaching from the rear opportunity 878
to pass. 879
(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. 880
Sec. 20. Section 14-285 of the general statutes is repealed and the 881
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 882
Each vehicle, except a motor vehicle, which is so constructed or which 883
is so loaded that the driver is prevented from having a free and 884
unobstructed view of the highway immediately to the rear and at the 885
sides of the same, shall be equipped with a mirror or reflector attached 886
to and so located and adjusted on such vehicle as to give the operator 887 Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 30 of 31
thereof a clear reflected view of the highway directly to the rear on a line 888
parallel to the side of the body of such vehicle. Any person operating 889
such a vehicle shall make observations for the approach of vehicles from 890
the rear and, when so approached, shall drive to the right of the center 891
line of the traveled way as promptly as safety will permit, giving the 892
vehicle approaching from the rear opportunity to pass in safety. Any 893
person who violates any provision of this section shall be deemed to 894
have committed an infraction and be fined fifty dollars for each offense. 895
Any such infraction shall be a secondary violation.896
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 2 October 1, 2023 14-1
Sec. 3 October 1, 2023 14-212(1)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2023 14-99g(f) and (g)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2023 14-18(a) to (c)
Sec. 6 October 1, 2023 14-96a
Sec. 7 October 1, 2023 14-96c
Sec. 8 October 1, 2023 14-96d
Sec. 9 October 1, 2023 14-96e
Sec. 10 October 1, 2023 14-96y
Sec. 11 October 1, 2023 14-99f
Sec. 12 October 1, 2023 14-12(a)
Sec. 13 October 1, 2023 14-41(d)
Sec. 14 October 1, 2023 14-45
Sec. 15 October 1, 2023 14-213
Sec. 16 October 1, 2023 14-215b
Sec. 17 October 1, 2023 14-21b
Sec. 18 October 1, 2023 14-80(e)
Sec. 19 October 1, 2023 14-99
Sec. 20 October 1, 2023 14-285
Statement of Purpose:
To establish secondary traffic violations and prohibit a law enforcement
officer from stopping a motor vehicle for a secondary traffic violation. Raised Bill No. 1195
LCO No. 5390 31 of 31
[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.]