Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01195 Latest Draft

Bill / Comm Sub Version Filed 04/13/2023

                             
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 1195  
January Session, 2023 
 
 
 
 
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 Section 14-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the 7 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 
(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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
incandescence; 47 
(9) "Camp trailer" includes any trailer designed for living or sleeping 48  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
issued to any commercial trailer; 108  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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(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 
time; or (C) the loss of qualification which follows any of the convictions 140  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
motor vehicle; 170  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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(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  Substitute 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  Substitute 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  Substitute 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  Substitute 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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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motor vehicles, state policeman or other official authorized to make 323 
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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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carrying not more than ten passengers including the operator thereof; 354 
(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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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(82) "Registration number" means the identifying number or letters, 382 
or both, assigned by the commissioner to a motor vehicle; 383 
(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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
[(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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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[(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 
[(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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
[(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  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 
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] such person's vehicle shall be 542 
impounded after notice and opportunity for hearing. A violation of any 543 
provision of subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section is a 544 
secondary violation. 545 
(g) Any person owning a vehicle having a window which has been 546 
tinted or darkened with any tinted material after factory delivery, shall 547 
present such vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles, by July 1, 548 
1996, to receive a sticker for any tinted or darkened window to indicate 549 
such tinting or darkening is in compliance with this section. Any person 550 
operating a motor vehicle, on or after July 1, 1996, in violation of this 551 
subsection shall be deemed to have committed an infraction. A violation 552 
of any provision of this subsection is a secondary violation. 553 
Sec. 5. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 14-18 of the general 554 
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 555 
(Effective October 1, 2023): 556 
(a) (1) Each motor vehicle for which one number plate has been issued 557 
shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a 558 
conspicuous place at the rear of such vehicle the number plate. The 559 
commissioner may issue a sticker denoting the expiration date of the 560 
registration. Such sticker shall be displayed in such place on the vehicle 561 
as the commissioner may direct. Such sticker may contain the 562 
corresponding letters and numbers of the registration and number plate 563 
issued by the commissioner. 564 
(2) Each motor vehicle for which two number plates have been issued 565  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a 566 
conspicuous place at the front and the rear of such vehicle the number 567 
plates. Displaying a number plate against a vehicle's rear window is a 568 
secondary violation, provided the numerals and letters on any such 569 
number plate are plainly legible. The commissioner may issue a sticker 570 
denoting the expiration date of the registration. Such sticker shall be 571 
displayed in such place on the vehicle as the commissioner may direct. 572 
Such sticker may contain the corresponding letters and numbers of the 573 
number plate issued by the commissioner. 574 
(b) Repealed by 1969, P.A. 247, S. 1. 575 
(c) Official number plates when displayed upon motor vehicles shall 576 
be [entirely] substantially unobscured and the numerals and letters 577 
thereon shall be plainly legible at all times. Such number plates shall be 578 
horizontal [,] and shall be fastened so as not to swing. [and, during the 579 
time when a motor vehicle is required to display lights, the rear number 580 
plate shall be so illuminated as to be legible at a distance of fifty feet.] 581 
Nothing may be affixed to a motor vehicle or to the official number 582 
plates displayed on such vehicle that obscures or impairs the visibility 583 
of [any information] the numerals and letters on such number plates. 584 
Not more than one number plate shall be displayed on the front or rear 585 
of any motor vehicle in operation upon the public highways of the state; 586 
provided any motor vehicle may, upon permission of the commissioner, 587 
display more than one number plate in front or rear, subject to such 588 
conditions as the commissioner prescribes. If any number plate supplied 589 
by the commissioner is lost, or if the registered number thereon becomes 590 
mutilated or illegible, the owner of or the person in control of the motor 591 
vehicle for which such number plate was furnished shall immediately 592 
place a temporary number plate bearing said registration number upon 593 
such motor vehicle, which temporary number plate shall conform to the 594 
regular number plate and shall be displayed as nearly as possible as 595 
[herein] provided in this section for such regular number plate; and such 596 
owner shall, within forty-eight hours after such loss or mutilation of the 597 
number plate, give notice thereof to the commissioner and apply for a 598  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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new number plate. The commissioner may issue a permit to operate 599 
with such temporary plate and shall supply new number plates upon 600 
payment of the fee therefor as provided in section 14-50a. Upon receipt 601 
of such new number plates and new certificate, the remaining old 602 
number plate, if any, and certificate shall be surrendered to the 603 
commissioner. 604 
Sec. 6. Section 14-96a of the general statutes is repealed and the 605 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 606 
(a) Every vehicle upon a highway within this state shall display such 607 
lighted lamps and illuminating devices as may be required under the 608 
provisions of this section and sections [14-96a] 14-96b to 14-96aa, 609 
inclusive, (1) at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour 610 
before sunrise, (2) at any time when, due to insufficient light or 611 
unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the 612 
highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of five hundred feet 613 
ahead, and (3) at any time during periods of precipitation, including, 614 
but not limited to, periods of snow, rain or fog. 615 
(b) Whenever in said sections any requirement is declared as to 616 
distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects 617 
visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, such 618 
requirement shall apply during the times stated in subsection (a) of this 619 
section in respect to a vehicle without load when upon a straight, level, 620 
unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a 621 
different time or condition is expressly stated. 622 
(c) Whenever in said sections any requirement is declared as to the 623 
mounted height of lamps or devices, such requirement shall mean the 624 
height measured from the center of such lamps or devices to the level 625 
ground upon which the vehicle stands when such vehicle is without a 626 
load. 627 
(d) Failure to [provide lighted] illuminate lamps and illuminating 628 
devices at such time as required by this section shall be an infraction.  629  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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(e) To the extent that a violation concerning the number, placement 630 
or intensity of lamps or illuminating devices, or any other technical 631 
specifications concerning lamps or illuminating devices, provided for in 632 
sections 14-96b to 14-96aa, inclusive, would also constitute a violation 633 
under this section, such violation shall be enforced under sections 14-634 
96b to 14-96aa, inclusive, as applicable, and not under this section. 635 
Sec. 7. Section 14-96c of the general statutes is repealed and the 636 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 637 
(a) After October 1, 1967, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and 638 
pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a 639 
combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two tail lamps 640 
mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in subsection (a) 641 
of section 14-96a, as amended by this act, shall emit a red light plainly 642 
visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear, except that 643 
passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to October 1, 1957, and 644 
motorcycles shall have at least one such tail lamp. On a combination of 645 
vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be 646 
seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than 647 
one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as 648 
widely spaced laterally as practicable. 649 
(b) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a mounted 650 
height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches. 651 
(c) The rear registration plate shall be so illumined with a white light 652 
as to render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any 653 
tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for 654 
illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted 655 
whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted, except 656 
that any vehicle equipped by the manufacturer with daytime running 657 
lamps which meet federal requirements may have such daytime 658 
running lamps illuminated without illumination of the tail lamps or rear 659 
registration plate. 660  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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(d) Failure to have tail lamps or failure to illuminate the rear 661 
registration plate as required in this section shall be an infraction. 662 
Failure to illuminate the rear registration plate shall be a secondary 663 
violation.  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 
(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 the upper beams of head 675 
lamps. 676 
(c) Failure to carry and mount reflectors as required in this section 677 
shall be an infraction. Failure to carry and mount two reflectors shall be 678 
a secondary violation if a vehicle has one reflector. 679 
Sec. 9. Section 14-96y of the general statutes is repealed and the 680 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 681 
(a) [At all times specified in subsection (a) of section 14-96a, at least 682 
two lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side at the front of 683 
every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, except when] Each motor 684 
vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall have at least two functioning head 685 
lamps, one of which shall be located on each side at the front of such 686 
vehicle, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations 687 
governing lights on parked vehicles. 688 
(b) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as [herein] 689 
required by this section is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps or a 690  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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spot lamp or any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of 691 
intensity greater than three hundred candlepower, not more than a total 692 
of four of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any 693 
one time when upon a highway. 694 
(c) Failure to have two functioning head lamps as required by this 695 
section shall be an infraction. Failure to have two functioning head 696 
lamps shall be a secondary violation if the vehicle has one lighted head 697 
lamp and is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of subsection 698 
(a) of this section. 699 
Sec. 10. Section 14-99f of the general statutes is repealed and the 700 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 701 
(a) Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with a windshield of a type 702 
prescribed by section 14-100 and a windshield cleaner or wiper in 703 
effective working order located directly in front of the operator while in 704 
use on the highway. The windshield shall be reasonably free of defects 705 
and accumulations, inside and out, of snow, ice, condensation and dirt. 706 
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a motorcycle or a 707 
vehicle designed by the manufacturer for nonhighway operation 708 
without a windshield. 709 
(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle required to be equipped 710 
with such a windshield if the windshield is in a condition to interfere 711 
with an unobstructed view of the highway. 712 
(c) No article, device, sticker or ornament shall be attached or affixed 713 
to or hung on or in any motor vehicle in such a manner or location as to 714 
interfere with the operator's unobstructed view of the highway or to 715 
distract the attention of the operator. 716 
(d) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. A 717 
violation of subsection (c) of this section shall be a secondary violation 718 
if the obstruction of the windshield is not substantial. 719 
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 14-12 of the general statutes is 720  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 721 
1, 2023): 722 
(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated, towed or parked on any 723 
highway, except as otherwise expressly provided, unless it is registered 724 
with the commissioner, provided any motor vehicle may be towed for 725 
repairs or necessary work if it bears the number plates of a licensed and 726 
registered dealer, manufacturer or repairer and provided any motor 727 
vehicle which is validly registered in another state may, for a period of 728 
ninety days following establishment by the owner of residence in this 729 
state, be operated on any highway without first being registered with 730 
the commissioner. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, (1) a 731 
person commits an infraction if such person (A) registers a motor 732 
vehicle [he or she] such person does not own, or (B) operates, allows the 733 
operation of, parks or allows the parking of an unregistered motor 734 
vehicle on any highway, or (2) a resident of this state who operates or 735 
parks a motor vehicle such resident owns with number plates issued by 736 
another state on any highway shall be fined two hundred fifty dollars, 737 
except that the fine shall be suspended for a first time violator who 738 
presents proof of registration for the motor vehicle subsequent to the 739 
violation but prior to the imposition of a fine. If the owner of a motor 740 
vehicle previously registered with the commissioner, the registration of 741 
which expired not more than [thirty] sixty days previously, operates, 742 
allows the operation of, parks or allows that parking of such a motor 743 
vehicle, such owner shall be fined the amount designated for the 744 
infraction of failure to renew a registration, but the right to retain his or 745 
her operator's license shall not be affected. Such violation shall be a 746 
secondary violation. No operator other than the owner shall be subject 747 
to penalty for the operation or parking of such a previously registered 748 
motor vehicle. As used in this subsection, the term "unregistered motor 749 
vehicle" includes any vehicle that is not eligible for registration by the 750 
commissioner due to the absence of necessary equipment or other 751 
characteristics of the vehicle that make it unsuitable for highway 752 
operation, unless the operation of such vehicle is expressly permitted by 753 
another provision of this chapter or chapter 248. 754  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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Sec. 12. Subsection (d) of section 14-41 of the general statutes is 755 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 756 
1, 2023): 757 
(d) The commissioner may, at least fifteen days before the date on 758 
which each motor vehicle operator's license or identity card expires, 759 
notify the holder of such license or identity card of the expiration date, 760 
in a manner determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall 761 
not provide such notification by mail to any such licensee or identity 762 
card holder if the United States Postal Service has determined that mail 763 
is undeliverable to the address for such person that is documented in 764 
the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Any previously 765 
licensed operator who operates a motor vehicle within sixty days after 766 
the expiration date of the operator's license without obtaining a renewal 767 
of the license shall be fined in accordance with the amount designated 768 
for the infraction of failure to renew a motor vehicle operator's license. 769 
A violation of this subsection shall be a secondary violation. Any 770 
operator so charged shall not be prosecuted under section 14-36 for the 771 
same act constituting a violation under this section but section 14-36 772 
shall apply after the sixty-day period. 773 
Sec. 13. Section 14-45 of the general statutes is repealed and the 774 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 775 
(a) A person holding (1) a license for the operation of a motor vehicle, 776 
issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in accordance with 777 
section 14-36, or (2) an identity card, issued by said commissioner in 778 
accordance with section 1-1h, shall notify the commissioner within 779 
forty-eight hours of any change of such person's address. The 780 
notification shall include such person's old address and new address. 781 
(b) In IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection 782 
(b) of section 46b-231, upon written notification by the Department of 783 
Social Services that the address listed for the holder of a motor vehicle 784 
operator's license or the holder of an identity card is incorrect, the 785 
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall notify the operator that the 786  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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correct address must be furnished to the department. The commissioner 787 
shall refuse to issue or renew a motor vehicle operator's license if the 788 
address furnished by the applicant is determined to be incorrect. The 789 
department shall notify the Department of Social Services of the current 790 
address of holders of motor vehicle operator's licenses when a change 791 
of address is reported. 792 
(c) Failure of the holder of a motor vehicle operator's license or 793 
identity card to give the notice required by this section shall be an 794 
infraction and a secondary violation. 795 
Sec. 14. Section 14-213 of the general statutes is repealed and the 796 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 797 
Each [operator of] person who operates a motor vehicle shall carry 798 
[his] such person's operator's license while operating such vehicle. 799 
Failure to carry such operator's license as required by the provisions of 800 
this section shall be an infraction and a secondary violation. 801 
Sec. 15. Section 14-215b of the general statutes is repealed and the 802 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 803 
Any person whose motor vehicle operator's license has been 804 
suspended who operates a motor vehicle after the expiration of such 805 
period of suspension without obtaining the reinstatement of such 806 
license shall (1) during the first sixty days after such expiration, be 807 
deemed to have failed to renew such license and be subject to the 808 
penalty for failure to renew a motor vehicle operator's license under 809 
subsection (c) of section 14-41, and such violation shall be a secondary 810 
violation, and (2) after said sixty-day period, be subject to the penalty 811 
for operating a motor vehicle without a license under section 14-36. Any 812 
operator so charged shall not be prosecuted under section 14-215 for the 813 
same act constituting a violation under this section. 814 
Sec. 16. Section 14-21b of the general statutes is repealed and the 815 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 816  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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(a) The commissioner shall issue fully reflectorized safety number 817 
plates for new registrations and renewal registrations issued on and 818 
after January 1, 2000, for passenger, combination and commercial 819 
registrations and other registrations as the commissioner deems feasible 820 
within funds and personnel available. Each plate shall bear the words 821 
"Constitution State" and "Connecticut". The commissioner shall issue 822 
two fully reflectorized safety number plates in accordance with a 823 
schedule established by the commissioner in such quantities as the 824 
commissioner deems feasible within the funds and personnel available. 825 
No safety fee shall be charged for the issuance of the replacement 826 
number plates for such renewals. 827 
(b) No additional charge shall be made for the issuance of such new 828 
or replacement fully reflectorized plates, except for the safety fee 829 
provided for in subsection (w) of section 14-49. 830 
(c) The owner or lessee of each registered motor vehicle who is issued 831 
two fully reflectorized safety number plates by the commissioner shall 832 
display such plates on such motor vehicle as provided in section 14-18, 833 
as amended by this act. A violation of this subsection shall be an 834 
infraction and a secondary violation. 835 
Sec. 17. Subsection (e) of section 14-80 of the general statutes is 836 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 837 
1, 2023): 838 
(e) Every motor vehicle shall, when operated on a highway, be 839 
equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting 840 
sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 841 
two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an 842 
unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. A violation of this 843 
subsection shall be a secondary violation. 844 
Sec. 18. Section 14-99 of the general statutes is repealed and the 845 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 846 
(a) Each motor vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror attached to 847  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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and so located and adjusted on such vehicle as to give the operator 848 
thereof a clear reflected view of the highway directly to the rear of or on 849 
a line parallel to the left side of the body of such motor vehicle. A 850 
violation of this subsection shall be a secondary violation. 851 
(b) Any person operating a motor vehicle with a commercial 852 
registration so constructed or which may be so loaded that the operator 853 
is prevented from having a free and unobstructed view of the highway 854 
immediately to the rear and at the left side of the same shall, by means 855 
of such mirror, make frequent observations of the approach of vehicles 856 
from the rear. When operating at below the posted speed limits and 857 
when so approached or overtaken, the operator of such motor vehicle 858 
shall drive to the extreme right of the traveled way as promptly as safety 859 
will permit, giving the vehicle approaching from the rear opportunity 860 
to pass. 861 
(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. 862 
Sec. 19. Section 14-285 of the general statutes is repealed and the 863 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 864 
Each vehicle, except a motor vehicle, which is so constructed or which 865 
is so loaded that the driver is prevented from having a free and 866 
unobstructed view of the highway immediately to the rear and at the 867 
sides of the same, shall be equipped with a mirror or reflector attached 868 
to and so located and adjusted on such vehicle as to give the operator 869 
thereof a clear reflected view of the highway directly to the rear on a line 870 
parallel to the side of the body of such vehicle. Any person operating 871 
such a vehicle shall make observations for the approach of vehicles from 872 
the rear and, when so approached, shall drive to the right of the center 873 
line of the traveled way as promptly as safety will permit, giving the 874 
vehicle approaching from the rear opportunity to pass in safety. Any 875 
person who violates any provision of this section shall be deemed to 876 
have committed an infraction and be fined fifty dollars for each offense. 877 
Such violation shall be a secondary violation. 878  Substitute Bill No. 1195 
 
 
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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 14-96y 
Sec. 10 October 1, 2023 14-99f 
Sec. 11 October 1, 2023 14-12(a) 
Sec. 12 October 1, 2023 14-41(d) 
Sec. 13 October 1, 2023 14-45 
Sec. 14 October 1, 2023 14-213 
Sec. 15 October 1, 2023 14-215b 
Sec. 16 October 1, 2023 14-21b 
Sec. 17 October 1, 2023 14-80(e) 
Sec. 18 October 1, 2023 14-99 
Sec. 19 October 1, 2023 14-285 
 
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:   
In Sections 4(f), 5(c), 6(e), 7(d), 11, 12(d), 15, 18(a) and 19, conforming 
changes were made concerning the use of the word "violation". 
 
JUD Joint Favorable Subst.