LCO No. 2217 1 of 29
General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5330
February Session, 2024
LCO No. 2217
Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION
Introduced by:
(TRA)
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 22a-32 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 2
(a) No regulated activity shall be conducted upon any wetland 3
without a permit. Any person proposing to conduct or cause to be 4
conducted a regulated activity upon any wetland shall file an 5
application for a permit with the commissioner, in such form and with 6
such information as the commissioner may prescribe. Such application 7
shall include a detailed description of the proposed work and a map 8
showing the area of wetland directly affected, with the location of the 9
proposed work thereon, together with the names of the owners of record 10
of adjacent land and known claimants of water rights in or adjacent to 11
the wetland of whom the applicant has notice. The commissioner shall 12
cause a copy of such application to be mailed or sent by electronic means 13
to the chief administrative officer in the town or towns where the 14
proposed work, or any part thereof, is located, and the [chairman] 15 Raised Bill No. 5330
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chairperson of the conservation commission and shellfish commission 16
of the town or towns where the proposed work, or any part thereof, is 17
located. The commissioner or the commissioner's duly designated 18
hearing officer shall hold a public hearing on such application, 19
provided, whenever the commissioner determines that the regulated 20
activity for which a permit is sought is not likely to have a significant 21
impact on the wetland, the commissioner may waive the requirement 22
for public hearing after publishing notice, in a newspaper having 23
general circulation in each town wherever the proposed work or any 24
part thereof is located, of the commissioner's intent to waive said 25
requirement and of the commissioner's tentative decision regarding the 26
application, except that the commissioner shall hold a hearing on such 27
application upon request of the applicant or upon receipt of a petition, 28
signed by at least twenty-five persons, requesting such a hearing. The 29
following shall be notified of the hearing by mail or by electronic means 30
not less than fifteen days prior to the date set for the hearing: All of those 31
persons and agencies who are entitled to receive a copy of such 32
application in accordance with the terms [hereof] of this subsection and 33
all owners of record of adjacent land and known claimants to water 34
rights in or adjacent to the wetland of whom the applicant has notice. 35
The commissioner shall cause notice of the commissioner's tentative 36
decision regarding the application and such hearing to be published at 37
least once not more than thirty days and not fewer than ten days before 38
the date set for the hearing in the newspaper having a general 39
circulation in each town where the proposed work, or any part thereof, 40
is located. All applications and maps and documents relating thereto 41
shall be open for public inspection at the office of the commissioner. At 42
such hearing, any person or persons may appear and be heard. 43
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) of this 44
section, no public hearing shall be required on such application upon 45
receipt of a petition, signed by at least twenty-five persons, if (A) the 46
regulated activity is a transit-oriented development project, as defined 47
in section 13b-79kk, a transportation project or any other infrastructure 48
project, but not a project located at an airport, as defined in section 15-49 Raised Bill No. 5330
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34; (B) the federal government requires public participation regarding 50
such regulated activity; (C) the person proposing to conduct or cause to 51
be conducted such regulated activity sought public input on such 52
regulated activity by implementing a plan approved by an agency of the 53
federal government; and (D) such person submits to the commissioner 54
a copy of the approved plan for public participation, a written summary 55
of the opportunities for public participation that were provided and a 56
copy or record of any comments received regarding such regulated 57
activity and how such comments were responded to or addressed, 58
unless the provisions of subdivision (2) of this section apply. 59
(2) The commissioner shall hold a hearing on such application upon 60
receipt of a petition, signed by at least twenty-five persons, that sets 61
forth specific facts that demonstrate that the legal rights, duties or 62
privileges of at least one person who signed the petition will be, or may 63
reasonably be expected to be, affected by such regulated activity, or that 64
alleges that the regulated activity involves conduct which has, or which 65
is reasonably likely to have, the effect of unreasonably polluting, 66
impairing or destroying the public trust in the air, water or other natural 67
resources of the state. Any such petition shall identify the relevant 68
statutory or regulatory provision which the petitioners claim such 69
proposed regulated activity does not satisfy. The commissioner shall 70
provide a copy of any such petition received to the person proposing to 71
conduct or cause to be conducted such regulated activity, who, not more 72
than seven business days after receipt of such petition, may object to 73
such petition on the basis that the petition does not contain the specific 74
factual demonstration required by this subsection. The commissioner 75
shall determine whether the petition satisfies the requirements of this 76
subsection and shall send notice of such determination, in writing, to 77
the person proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted such 78
regulated activity and the person who submitted the petition. 79
Sec. 2. Subsection (k) of section 22a-39 of the general statutes is 80
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 81
2024): 82 Raised Bill No. 5330
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(k) (1) Conduct a public hearing no sooner than thirty days and not 83
later than sixty days following the receipt by said commissioner of any 84
inland wetlands application, provided whenever the commissioner 85
determines that the regulated activity for which a permit is sought is not 86
likely to have a significant impact on the wetland or watercourse, [he] 87
the commissioner may waive the requirement for public hearing after 88
[(1)] (A) publishing notice, in a newspaper having general circulation in 89
each town wherever the proposed work or any part thereof is located, 90
of [his] the commissioner's intent to waive said requirement, and [(2)] 91
(B) mailing or providing by electronic means notice of such intent to the 92
chief administrative officer in the town or towns where the proposed 93
work, or any part thereof, is located, and the [chairman] chairperson of 94
the conservation commission and inland wetlands agency of each such 95
town or towns, except that the commissioner shall hold a hearing on 96
such application upon receipt, not later than thirty days after such notice 97
has been published, sent or mailed, of a petition signed by at least 98
twenty-five persons requesting such a hearing. The commissioner shall 99
[(A)] (i) publish notice of such hearing at least once not more than thirty 100
days and not fewer than ten days before the date set for the hearing in a 101
newspaper having a general circulation in each town where the 102
proposed work, or any part thereof, is located, and [(B)] (ii) mail or 103
provide by electronic means notice of such hearing to the chief 104
administrative officer in the town or towns where the proposed work, 105
or any part thereof, is located, and the chairman of the conservation 106
commission and inland wetlands agency of each such town or towns. 107
All applications and maps and documents relating thereto shall be open 108
for public inspection at the office of the commissioner. The 109
commissioner shall state upon [his] the commissioner's records [his] the 110
commissioner's findings and reasons for the action taken. 111
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 112
subsection, no public hearing shall be required on such application 113
upon receipt of a petition, signed by at least twenty-five persons, if (A) 114
the regulated activity is a transit-oriented development project, as 115
defined in section 13b-79kk, a transportation project or any other 116 Raised Bill No. 5330
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infrastructure project, but not a project located at an airport, as defined 117
in section 15-34; (B) the federal government requires public participation 118
regarding such regulated activity; (C) the person proposing to conduct 119
or cause to be conducted such regulated activity sought public input on 120
such regulated activity by implementing a plan approved by an agency 121
of the federal government; and (D) such person submits to the 122
commissioner a copy of the approved plan for public participation, a 123
written summary of the opportunities for public participation that were 124
provided and a copy or record of any comments received regarding 125
such regulated activity and how such comments were responded to or 126
addressed, unless the provisions of subdivision (3) of this subsection 127
apply. 128
(3) The commissioner shall hold a hearing upon receipt of a petition, 129
signed by at least twenty-five persons, that sets forth specific facts that 130
demonstrate that the legal rights, duties or privileges of at least one 131
person who signed the petition will be, or may reasonably be expected 132
to be, affected by such regulated activity, or that alleges that the 133
regulated activity involves conduct that has, or which is reasonably 134
likely to have, the effect of unreasonably polluting, impairing or 135
destroying the public trust in the air, water or other natural resources of 136
the state. Any such petition shall identify the relevant statutory or 137
regulatory provision which the petitioners claim such proposed 138
regulated activity does not satisfy. The commissioner shall provide a 139
copy of any such petition received to the person proposing to conduct 140
or cause to be conducted such regulated activity, who, not more than 141
seven business days after receipt of such petition, may object to such 142
petition on the basis that the petition does not contain the specific factual 143
demonstration required by this subdivision. The commissioner shall 144
determine whether the petition satisfies the requirements of this 145
subdivision and shall send notice of such determination, in writing, to 146
the person proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted such 147
regulated activity and the person who submitted the petition; 148
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 22a-361 of the general statutes is 149
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 150 Raised Bill No. 5330
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2024): 151
(b) (1) The commissioner, at least thirty days before approving or 152
denying an application for a permit, shall provide or require the 153
applicant to provide notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, 154
or by electronic means to the applicant, to the Connecticut Port 155
Authority, as appropriate, the Attorney General and the Commissioner 156
of Agriculture and to the chief executive officer, the [chairmen] 157
chairpersons of the planning, zoning, harbor management and shellfish 158
commissions of each town in which such structure, fill, obstruction, 159
encroachment or dredging is to be located or work to be performed, and 160
to the owner of each franchised oyster ground and the lessee of each 161
leased oyster ground within which such work is to be performed and 162
shall publish such notice once in a newspaper having a substantial 163
circulation in the area affected. Such notice shall contain [(1)] (A) the 164
name of the applicant; [(2)] (B) the location and nature of the proposed 165
activities; [(3)] (C) the tentative decision regarding the application; and 166
[(4)] (D) any additional information the commissioner deems necessary. 167
There shall be a comment period following the public notice during 168
which interested persons may submit written comments. The 169
commissioner may hold a public hearing prior to approving or denying 170
an application if, in the commissioner's discretion, the public interest 171
will best be served by holding such hearing. The commissioner shall 172
hold a public hearing if the commissioner receives: [(A)] (i) A written 173
request for such public hearing from the applicant, or [(B)] (ii) a petition, 174
signed by twenty-five or more persons requesting such public hearing 175
on an application, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this section. 176
Following such notice and comment period and public hearing, if 177
applicable, the commissioner may, in whole or in part, approve, modify 178
and approve or deny the application. The commissioner shall provide 179
to the applicant and the persons set forth above, by certified mail, return 180
receipt requested, or by electronic means, notice of the commissioner's 181
decision. If the commissioner requires the applicant to provide the 182
notice specified in this [subsection] subdivision, the applicant shall 183
certify to the commissioner, not later than twenty days after providing 184 Raised Bill No. 5330
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such notice, that such notice has been provided in accordance with this 185
[subsection] subdivision. Any person who is aggrieved by the 186
commissioner's final decision on such application may appeal such 187
decision to the Superior Court in accordance with section 4-183. 188
(2) No public hearing shall be required on such application upon 189
receipt of a petition, signed by at least twenty-five persons, if (A) the 190
proposed activity is a transit-oriented development project, as defined 191
in section 13b-79kk, a transportation project or any other infrastructure 192
project, but not a project located at an airport, as defined in section 15-193
34; (B) the federal government requires public participation regarding 194
such activity; (C) the person proposing to conduct or cause to be 195
conducted such activity sought public input on such activity by 196
implementing a plan approved by an agency of the federal government; 197
and (D) such person submits to the commissioner a copy of the 198
approved plan for public participation, a written summary of the 199
opportunities for public participation that were provided and a copy or 200
record of any comments received regarding such activity and how such 201
comments were responded to or addressed, unless the provisions of 202
subdivision (3) apply. 203
(3) The commissioner shall hold a hearing upon receipt of a petition, 204
signed by at least twenty-five persons, that sets forth specific facts that 205
demonstrate that the legal rights, duties or privileges of at least one 206
person who signed the petition will be, or may reasonably be expected 207
to be, affected by such activity, or that alleges that the activity involves 208
conduct which has, or which is reasonably likely to have, the effect of 209
unreasonably polluting, impairing or destroying the public trust in the 210
air, water or other natural resources of the state. Any such petition shall 211
identify the relevant statutory or regulatory provision that the 212
petitioners claim such activity does not satisfy. The commissioner shall 213
provide a copy of any such petition received to the person proposing to 214
conduct or cause to be conducted such activity, who, not more than 215
seven business days after receipt of such petition, may object to such 216
petition on the basis that the petition does not contain the specific factual 217
demonstration required by this subdivision. The commissioner shall 218 Raised Bill No. 5330
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determine whether the petition satisfies the requirements of this 219
subdivision and shall send notice of such determination, in writing, to 220
the person proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted such activity 221
and the person who submitted the petition. 222
Sec. 4. Subsection (d) of section 25-68d of the general statutes is 223
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 224
2024): 225
(d) (1) Any state agency proposing an activity or critical activity 226
within or affecting the floodplain may apply to the commissioner for 227
exemption from the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Such 228
application shall include a statement of the reasons why such agency is 229
unable to comply with said subsection and any other information the 230
commissioner deems necessary. The commissioner, at least thirty days 231
before approving, approving with conditions or denying any such 232
application, shall publish once in a newspaper having a substantial 233
circulation in the affected area notice of: [(1)] (A) The name of the 234
applicant; [(2)] (B) the location and nature of the requested exemption; 235
[(3)] (C) the tentative decision on the application; and [(4)] (D) additional 236
information the commissioner deems necessary to support the decision 237
to approve, approve with conditions or deny the application. There shall 238
be a comment period following the public notice during which period 239
interested persons and municipalities may submit written comments. 240
After the comment period, the commissioner shall make a final 241
determination to either approve the application, approve the 242
application with conditions or deny the application. 243
(2) The commissioner may hold a public hearing prior to approving, 244
approving with conditions or denying any application if in the 245
discretion of the commissioner the public interest will be best served 246
thereby, and the commissioner shall hold a public hearing upon receipt 247
of a petition signed by at least twenty-five persons, except as provided 248
in subdivision (3) of this subsection. Notice of such hearing shall be 249
published at least thirty days before the hearing in a newspaper having 250
a substantial circulation in the area affected. The commissioner may 251 Raised Bill No. 5330
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approve or approve with conditions such exemption if the 252
commissioner determines that (A) the agency has shown that the 253
activity or critical activity is in the public interest, will not injure persons 254
or damage property in the area of such activity or critical activity, 255
complies with the provisions of the National Flood Insurance Program, 256
and, in the case of a loan or grant, the recipient of the loan or grant has 257
been informed that increased flood insurance premiums may result 258
from the activity or critical activity. An activity shall be considered to be 259
in the public interest if it is a development subject to environmental 260
remediation regulations adopted pursuant to section 22a-133k and is in 261
or adjacent to an area identified as a regional center, neighborhood 262
conservation area, growth area or rural community center in the state 263
plan of conservation and development pursuant to chapter 297, or (B) in 264
the case of a flood control project, such project meets the criteria of 265
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and is more cost-effective to the 266
state and municipalities than a project constructed to or above the base 267
flood or base flood for a critical activity. Following approval for 268
exemption for a flood control project, the commissioner shall provide 269
notice of the hazards of a flood greater than the capacity of the project 270
design to each member of the legislature whose district will be affected 271
by the project and to the following agencies and officials in the area to 272
be protected by the project: The planning and zoning commission, the 273
inland wetlands agency, the director of civil defense, the conservation 274
commission, the fire department, the police department, the chief 275
elected official and each member of the legislative body, and the 276
regional council of governments. Notice shall be given to the general 277
public by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in each 278
municipality in the area in which the project is to be located. 279
(3) No public hearing shall be required on such application upon 280
receipt of a petition, signed by at least twenty-five persons, if (A) the 281
activity or critical activity is a transit-oriented development project, as 282
defined in section 13b-79kk, a transportation project or any other 283
infrastructure project, but not a project located at an airport, as defined 284
in section 15-34; (B) the federal government requires public participation 285 Raised Bill No. 5330
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regarding such activity or critical activity; (C) the state agency 286
proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted such activity or critical 287
activity sought public input on such activity or critical activity by 288
implementing a plan approved by an agency of the federal government; 289
and (D) such state agency submits to the commissioner a copy of the 290
approved plan for public participation, a written summary of the 291
opportunities for public participation that were provided and a copy or 292
record of any comments received regarding such activity or critical 293
activity and how such comments were responded to or addressed, 294
unless the provisions of subdivision (4) apply. 295
(4) The commissioner shall hold a hearing upon receipt of a petition, 296
signed by at least twenty-five persons, that sets forth specific facts that 297
demonstrate that the legal rights, duties or privileges of at least one 298
person who signed the petition will be, or may reasonably be expected 299
to be, affected by such activity or critical activity, or that alleges that the 300
activity or critical activity involves conduct which has, or which is 301
reasonably likely to have, the effect of unreasonably polluting, 302
impairing or destroying the public trust in the air, water or other natural 303
resources of the state. Any such petition shall identify the relevant 304
statutory or regulatory provision with which petitioners claim such 305
activity or critical activity does not satisfy. The commissioner shall 306
provide a copy of any such petition received to the state agency. Not 307
more than seven business days after receipt of such petition, the state 308
agency may object to such petition on the basis that the petition does not 309
contain the specific factual demonstration required by this subdivision. 310
The commissioner shall determine whether the petition satisfies the 311
requirements of this subdivision and shall send notice of such 312
determination, in writing, to the state agency and the person who 313
submitted the petition. 314
Sec. 5. Section 14-314 of the general statutes is repealed and the 315
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 316
Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any order 317
made pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more 318 Raised Bill No. 5330
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than [five] ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days 319
or both, and shall be subject to the provisions of section 14-111. Any 320
person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any traffic control 321
signal, sign, marking or other device placed and maintained upon the 322
highway, or with any regulation adopted pursuant to any provision of 323
this chapter, by the Office of the State Traffic Administration or the 324
traffic authority of any city, town or borough shall be deemed to have 325
committed an infraction, if no other penalty is provided by law. 326
Traveling at a greater rate of speed than is reasonable as provided in 327
section 14-218a, as amended by this act, shall not be deemed to be a 328
failure to comply with the provisions of this section but shall be deemed 329
to be the commission of an infraction within the provisions of said 330
section 14-218a. 331
Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 14-311 of the 2024 supplement to the 332
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 333
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 334
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or permitted by 335
the Office of the State Traffic Administration, no local building official 336
shall issue a building or foundation permit to any person, firm, 337
corporation, state agency or municipal agency to build, expand, 338
establish or operate such a development until the person, firm, 339
corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate 340
issued under this section by the office. No local building official shall 341
issue a certificate of occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or 342
agency for such development until the conditions of the certificate 343
issued by the office under this section have been satisfied. If the office 344
determines that a local building official issued a building or foundation 345
permit to any such person, firm, corporation or agency without such 346
person, firm, corporation or agency having a certificate from the office, 347
the office shall order the building official to revoke such building or 348
foundation permit. If the office determines that any person, firm, 349
corporation or agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing 350
or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate 351
from said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such 352 Raised Bill No. 5330
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a certificate, [it] the office shall order the person, firm, corporation or 353
agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating 354
the development, or (B) comply with the conditions of the certificate 355
within a reasonable period of time. If such person, firm, corporation or 356
agency fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with an order of the 357
office within such time as specified by the office, the office may apply to 358
the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial 359
district where the development is located enjoining the construction, 360
expansion, establishment or operation of such development. 361
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for single family 362
home building lots within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate 363
is required and which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly 364
abut or adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a 365
certificate of occupancy to any person, firm, corporation, state agency or 366
municipal agency to occupy homes on such lots until the person, firm, 367
corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate 368
issued under this section by the office and such official confirms that the 369
certificate conditions have been satisfied. 370
Sec. 7. Subsection (f) of section 14-311 of the 2024 supplement to the 371
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 372
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 373
(f) Before submitting an application for a certificate for any 374
development generating large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection 375
(a) of this section to the Office of the State Traffic Administration, the 376
person, firm, corporation or agency submitting such application shall 377
attend a mandatory meeting with the Office of the State Traffic 378
Administration and other staff from the Department of Transportation. 379
At such meeting, such person, firm, corporation or agency shall present 380
the applicant's proposed development and receive feedback, including, 381
but not limited to, information as to what materials need to be submitted 382
for an application to be considered complete. 383
Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 14-311c of the 2024 supplement to the 384
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 385 Raised Bill No. 5330
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thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 386
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or permitted by 387
the Office of the State Traffic Administration, no local building official 388
shall issue a building or foundation permit to any such person, firm, 389
corporation or agency to build, expand, establish or operate such a 390
development until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to 391
such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the 392
Office of the State Traffic Administration. No local building official shall 393
issue a certificate of occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or 394
agency for such development until the conditions of the certificate 395
issued by the office under this section have been satisfied. If the office 396
determines that a local building official issued a building or foundation 397
permit to any such person, firm, corporation or agency without such 398
person, firm, corporation or agency having a certificate from the office, 399
the office shall order the building official to revoke such building or 400
foundation permit. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration 401
determines that any person, firm, corporation or agency has (1) started 402
building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development 403
without first obtaining a certificate from said office, or (2) has failed to 404
comply with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the person, 405
firm, corporation or agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, 406
establishing or operating the development, or (B) to comply with the 407
conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such 408
person, firm, corporation or agency fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) 409
comply with such order within such time as specified by the Office of 410
the State Traffic Administration, said office or the traffic authority of the 411
municipality wherein the development is located may apply to the 412
superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district 413
where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, 414
establishment or the operation of such development. Notwithstanding 415
the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots 416
within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and 417
which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin 418
any state highway, no local building official shall issue a certificate of 419 Raised Bill No. 5330
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occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or agency to occupy 420
homes on such lots until such person, firm, corporation or agency 421
provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this 422
section by said office and such official confirms that the certificate 423
conditions have been satisfied. 424
Sec. 9. Subsection (f) of section 14-311c of the 2024 supplement to the 425
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 426
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 427
(f) Before submitting an application for a certificate for any 428
development generating large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection 429
(a) of this section to the Office of the State Traffic Administration, the 430
person, firm, corporation or agency submitting such application shall 431
attend a mandatory meeting with the Office of the State Traffic 432
Administration and other staff from the Department of Transportation. 433
At such meeting, such person, firm, corporation or agency shall present 434
the applicant's proposed development and receive feedback, including, 435
but not limited to, information as to what materials need to be submitted 436
for an application to be considered complete. 437
Sec. 10. Subsections (b) and (c) of section 14-299 of the 2024 438
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 439
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 440
(b) When traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed 441
and to stop by the use of signals exhibiting colored lights or lighted 442
arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors 443
green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian-444
control signals carrying word legends or symbols. Such lights or arrows 445
shall apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians and shall indicate the 446
following: 447
(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular or bicycle traffic facing a green 448
signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or 449
marking at such place prohibits either such turn or straight through 450
movement, except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to 451 Raised Bill No. 5330
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pedestrians and vehicles within a crosswalk or the intersection at the 452
time such signal was exhibited; pedestrians facing the green signal, 453
except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, may 454
proceed across the highway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. 455
(2) Yellow: Vehicular or bicycle traffic facing a steady yellow signal 456
is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated 457
or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter, when 458
vehicular or bicycle traffic shall stop before entering the intersection 459
unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; 460
pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, except when directed by 461
separate pedestrian-control signals, are thereby advised that there is 462
insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown 463
and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway. 464
(3) Red alone: Vehicular or bicycle traffic facing a steady red signal 465
alone shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the 466
intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and remain 467
standing until the next indication is shown; provided [, on or after July 468
1, 1979,] vehicular or bicycle traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest 469
the right hand curb or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign 470
approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration has been 471
erected in the appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may 472
cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn onto a two-way 473
street or onto another one-way street on which all the traffic is moving 474
to such vehicle's or bicycle's right after such vehicle or bicycle has 475
stopped as required in this subdivision and yielded the right-of-way to 476
pedestrians within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully 477
using the intersection. Pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone, 478
except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, shall not 479
enter the roadway. 480
(4) Green arrow: Vehicular or bicycle traffic facing a green arrow 481
signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may 482
cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated 483
by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other 484 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 16 of 29
indications shown at the same time, but such vehicular or bicycle traffic 485
shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a crosswalk and to 486
other traffic lawfully within the intersection. 487
(5) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words 488
"Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the image of a walking person symbolizing 489
"Walk" or an upraised hand symbolizing "Don't Walk" are in place, such 490
signals shall indicate as follows: "Walk" or walking person symbol: 491
Pedestrians facing such signals may proceed across the roadway in the 492
direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers 493
of all vehicles; "Don't Walk" or upraised hand symbol: No pedestrian 494
shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any 495
pedestrian who has partially completed crossing on the walk signal 496
shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the flashing "Don't 497
Walk" or flashing upraised hand symbol signal is showing. 498
(c) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a 499
traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular or bicycle 500
traffic as follows: 501
(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent 502
flashes, [drivers of vehicles] vehicular or bicycle traffic shall stop before 503
entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line when 504
marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right 505
to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at 506
a stop sign. 507
(2) When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, 508
[drivers of vehicles] vehicular or bicycle traffic facing such signal may 509
proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution. 510
Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) Notwithstanding the provisions 511
of any municipal charter, special act or home rule ordinance, any 512
municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, establish a traffic 513
authority and appoint one or more persons as members to serve on such 514
traffic authority. The qualifications, terms of office and compensation, if 515
any, of any such members shall be prescribed by such legislative body. 516 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 17 of 29
A traffic authority established pursuant to this section shall replace any 517
existing traffic authority in such municipality and have the same powers 518
and duties as a traffic authority described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), 519
inclusive, of subdivision (7) of section 14-297 of the general statutes, as 520
amended by this act. 521
Sec. 12. Subdivision (7) of section 14-297 of the general statutes is 522
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 523
1, 2024): 524
(7) "Traffic authority" means (A) the board of police commissioners 525
of any city, town or borough, [or] (B) the city or town manager, [the] 526
chief of police, [the] superintendent of police or any legally elected or 527
appointed official or board [, or any official] having similar powers and 528
duties [,] of any city, town or borough that has no board of police 529
commissioners but has a regularly appointed police force, [or] (C) the 530
board of selectmen of any town in which there is no city or borough with 531
a regularly appointed police force, or (D) a traffic authority established 532
pursuant to section 11 of this act, except that, with respect to state 533
highways and bridges, "traffic authority" means the Office of the State 534
Traffic Administration, provided nothing contained in this section shall 535
be construed to limit or detract from the jurisdiction or authority of the 536
Office of the State Traffic Administration to adopt regulations 537
establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs 538
and markings as provided in section 14-298, and the requirement that 539
no installation of any traffic control signal light shall be made by any 540
city, town or borough until the installation has been approved by the 541
Office of the State Traffic Administration as provided in section 14-299, 542
as amended by this act; 543
Sec. 13. Subsection (b) of section 14-218a of the 2024 supplement to 544
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 545
thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 546
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 547
Office of the State Traffic Administration shall establish a speed limit 548 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 18 of 29
not to exceed sixty-five miles per hour on each multiple lane, limited 549
access highway. The office shall establish speed limits that are suitable 550
for each such highway, taking into consideration relevant factors 551
including design, population of area and traffic flow. 552
(2) The Commissioner of Transportation may establish [the speed 553
limit on limited access highways during a weather event or an 554
emergency, provided the commissioner erects electronic signs 555
indicating such speed limit] a variable speed limit to allow for the 556
temporary lowering of a posted speed limit on a limited access highway 557
to address traffic congestion, road construction or any other condition 558
that affects the safe and orderly movement of traffic on such limited 559
access highway. Any such variable speed limit (A) shall be based on an 560
engineering investigation; (B) may be effective for all, or a designated 561
portion, of such highway; (C) shall not be less than ten miles per hour 562
below the posted speed limit on such highway, or portion thereof; and 563
(D) shall be effective when the variable speed limit is posted and when 564
a sign notifying motorists of the change in the posted speed limit is 565
erected not less than five hundred feet, but not more than one thousand 566
feet, before the point at which the variable speed limit begins. The 567
commissioner shall use stationary or portable changeable message signs 568
to provide notice of a variable speed limit. 569
Sec. 14. Subsection (e) of section 13a-123 of the general statutes is 570
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 571
2024): 572
(e) The following types of signs, displays and devices may, with the 573
approval of and subject to regulations adopted by the commissioner, be 574
permitted within the six-hundred-sixty-foot area of interstate, primary 575
and other limited access state highways, except as prohibited by state 576
statute, local ordinance or zoning regulation: (1) Directional and other 577
official signs or notices, which signs and notices shall include, but not 578
be limited to, signs and notices pertaining to natural wonders and scenic 579
and historical attractions which are required or authorized by law; (2) 580
signs, displays and devices advertising the sale or lease of the property 581 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 19 of 29
upon which they are located; (3) signs, displays and devices advertising 582
activities conducted on the property on which they are located; (4) signs, 583
displays or advertising devices which are in place for sixty days or less; 584
and (5) advertising signs, displays or devices (A) located or erected on 585
real property or abutting real property within areas owned, leased or 586
managed by a public authority for the purpose of (i) railway or rail 587
infrastructure facilities, including, but not limited to, associated 588
structures located within areas zoned solely or predominantly for the 589
development of a railway or rail infrastructure facilities, (ii) bus rapid 590
transit corridors, including, but not limited to, the Hartford-New Britain 591
busway project authorized in section 13b-15a, and any shelter, structure 592
or other facility associated with the operation of such bus rapid transit 593
corridor, (iii) airport development zones designated in section 32-75d, 594
[or] (iv) bus facilities, or (v) any other similar transit or freight purpose, 595
or (B) upon or within buildings, structures or other venues in the 596
custody or control of the state and designed, operated or intended to be 597
operated for the purpose of presenting athletic, artistic, musical or other 598
entertainment events. Subject to regulations adopted by the 599
commissioner and except as prohibited by state statute, local ordinance 600
or zoning regulation, signs, displays and devices may be erected and 601
maintained within six hundred sixty feet of primary and other limited 602
access state highways in areas which are zoned for industrial or 603
commercial use under authority of law or located in unzoned 604
commercial or industrial areas which areas shall be determined from 605
actual land uses and defined by regulations of the commissioner. The 606
regulations of the commissioner in regard to size, spacing and lighting 607
shall apply to any segments of the interstate system which traverse 608
commercial or industrial zones wherein the use of real property adjacent 609
to the interstate system is subject to municipal regulation or control, or 610
which traverse other areas where the land use, as of September 21, 1959, 611
was clearly established under state law as industrial or commercial. 612
Sec. 15. Subsection (b) of section 13b-38ff of the 2024 supplement to 613
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 614
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 615 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 20 of 29
(b) [On and after July 1, 2024, each] Each new bus stop or shelter 616
constructed by the Department of Transportation or a transit district on 617
and after July 1, 2024, shall (1) be in accordance with the plan developed 618
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (2) comply with physical 619
accessibility guidelines, as applicable, under the federal Americans with 620
Disabilities Act, 42 USC 12101, et seq., as amended from time to time. 621
Sec. 16. Subdivision (10) of section 13b-2 of the general statutes is 622
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 623
2024): 624
(10) ["Fare inspector"] "Fare inspection duties" means the duties of an 625
employee of (A) the department designated by the commissioner, or (B) 626
a third-party contractor employed by the department, [whose duties are 627
to inspect] which include, but are not limited to, the inspection of tickets, 628
passes or other documentation required to show compliance by the 629
passenger with the fare payment requirements of state-owned or 630
controlled bus public transportation service when the fare payment is 631
off board or a combination of off board and on board such bus. 632
Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 13b-34 of the general statutes is 633
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 634
2024): 635
(a) The commissioner [shall have power] may, in order to aid or 636
promote the operation, whether temporary or permanent, of any 637
transportation service operating to, from or in the state, to contract in 638
the name of the state with any person, including, but not limited to, any 639
common carrier, any transit district formed under chapter 103a or any 640
special act, or any political subdivision or entity, or with the United 641
States or any other state, or any agency, instrumentality, subdivision, 642
department or officer thereof, for purposes of initiating, continuing, 643
developing, providing or improving any such transportation service. 644
Such contracts may include provision for arbitration of disputed issues. 645
The commissioner, in order to aid or promote the operation of any 646
transportation service operating outside the state, may contract in the 647 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 21 of 29
name of the state with any person, including, but not limited to, any 648
common carrier, or with the United States or any other state, or any 649
agency, instrumentality, subdivision, department or officer thereof, for 650
purposes of providing any transportation service in the event such 651
assistance is required in the case of an emergency or a special event. The 652
state, acting by and through the commissioner, may, by itself or in 653
concert with others, provide all or a portion of any such service, share 654
in the costs of or provide funds for such service, or furnish equipment 655
or facilities for use in such service upon such terms and conditions as 656
the commissioner may deem necessary or advisable, and any such 657
contracts may include, without limitation thereto, arrangements under 658
which the state shall so provide service, share costs, provide funds or 659
furnish equipment or facilities. To these ends, the commissioner may in 660
the name of the state acquire or obtain the use of facilities and 661
equipment employed in providing any such service by gift, purchase, 662
lease or other arrangements and may own and operate any such 663
facilities and equipment and establish, charge and collect such fares and 664
other charges or arrange for such collection for the use or services 665
thereof as [he] the commissioner may deem necessary, convenient or 666
desirable. The commissioner, or any [fare inspector] employee of the 667
department or of a third-party contractor with fare inspection duties, as 668
defined in section 13b-2, as amended by this act, shall have the authority 669
to issue citations for any violation of section 13b-38i. The commissioner 670
may also acquire title in fee simple to, or any lesser estate, interest or 671
right in, any rights-of-way, properties or facilities, including properties 672
used on or before October 1, 1969, for rail or other forms of 673
transportation services. The commissioner may hold such properties for 674
future use by the state and may enter into agreements for interim use of 675
such properties for other purposes. Any person contracting with the 676
state pursuant to this section for the provision of any transportation 677
service shall not be considered an arm or agent of the state. Any 678
damages caused by the operation of such transportation service by such 679
person may be recovered in a civil action brought against such person 680
in the superior court and such person may not assert the defense of 681
sovereign immunity in such action. 682 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 22 of 29
Sec. 18. Subsection (j) of section 13b-34 of the general statutes is 683
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 684
2024): 685
(j) If the commissioner deems it to be in the best interest of the state, 686
the commissioner may indemnify and hold harmless the Metro-North 687
Commuter Railroad Company in its capacity as the state's contracted 688
maintainer of the M-8 rail car fleet for claims brought by the National 689
Railroad Passenger Corporation or other third parties against the Metro-690
North Commuter Railroad Company relative to the operation of M-8 691
rail cars on National Railroad Passenger Corporation property, 692
provided such indemnification does not relieve the Metro-North 693
Commuter Railroad Company from liability for its wilful or negligent 694
acts or omissions. 695
Sec. 19. Section 14-289g of the general statutes is repealed and the 696
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 697
(a) No person under eighteen years of age may (1) operate a 698
motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle, as defined in section 14-1, or (2) be 699
a passenger on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, unless such operator 700
or passenger is wearing protective headgear [of a type which] that 701
conforms to the minimum specifications established in 49 CFR 571.218, 702
as amended from time to time. 703
(b) No person issued a motorcycle endorsement for a period of three 704
years after the date of issuance shall operate a motorcycle or a motor-705
driven cycle, unless such person and any passenger on such motorcycle 706
or motor-driven cycle is wearing protective headgear described in 707
subsection (a) of this section. 708
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have 709
committed an infraction and shall be fined not less than ninety dollars. 710
[(b)] (d) As used in this section, the term "motorcycle" [shall] does not 711
include "autocycle". 712 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 23 of 29
Sec. 20. Subsection (b) of section 14-40a of the general statutes is 713
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 714
2024): 715
(b) A person who is sixteen years of age or older and who has not had 716
such a license suspended or revoked may apply to the commissioner for 717
a motorcycle instruction permit. The commissioner may issue a 718
motorcycle instruction permit, containing such limitation as said 719
commissioner deems advisable, to an applicant after the applicant has 720
passed all parts of the examination, other than the driving skills test, for 721
a motor vehicle operator's license with a motorcycle endorsement as 722
required by subsection (c) of this section. The motorcycle instruction 723
permit shall entitle the applicant, while said applicant is in immediate 724
possession of said permit, to drive a motorcycle on the public highways, 725
other than multiple lane limited access highways, for a period of sixty 726
days. A motorcycle instruction permit may be renewed, or a new permit 727
issued, for an additional period of sixty days. Each applicant issued a 728
motorcycle instruction permit shall, while operating a motorcycle, wear 729
protective headgear [of a type which] that conforms to the minimum 730
specifications established [by regulations adopted under subsection (b) 731
of section 14-289g] in 49 CFR 571.218, as amended from time to time. 732
Sec. 21. Section 14-222 of the general statutes is repealed and the 733
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 734
(a) (1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public 735
highway of the state, or any road of any specially chartered municipal 736
association or of any district organized under the provisions of chapter 737
105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads 738
and sidewalks, or in any parking area for ten cars or more or upon any 739
private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance 740
with the provisions of section 14-218a, as amended by this act, or section 741
14-307a or upon any school property recklessly, having regard to the 742
width, traffic and use of such highway, road, school property or parking 743
area, the intersection of streets and the weather conditions. (2) The 744
operation of a motor vehicle upon any such highway, road or parking 745 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 24 of 29
area for ten cars or more at such a rate of speed as to endanger the life 746
of any person other than the operator of such motor vehicle, or the 747
operation, downgrade, upon any highway, of any motor vehicle with a 748
commercial registration with the clutch or gears disengaged, or the 749
operation knowingly of a motor vehicle with defective mechanism, shall 750
constitute a violation of the provisions of this section. (3) The operation 751
of a motor vehicle upon any such highway, road or parking area for ten 752
cars or more at a rate of speed greater than eighty-five miles per hour 753
shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section. (4) The 754
operation of a motor vehicle upon a limited access highway while 755
engaged in any activity prohibited by section 14-296aa, as amended by 756
this act, shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section. 757
(b) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be 758
fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred 759
dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or be both fined and 760
imprisoned for the first offense and for each subsequent offense shall be 761
fined not more than six hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than 762
one year or be both fined and imprisoned. 763
Sec. 22. Section 14-296aa of the 2024 supplement to the general 764
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 765
(Effective October 1, 2024): 766
(1) "Mobile telephone" means a cellular, analog, wireless or digital 767
telephone capable of sending or receiving telephone communications 768
without an access line for service. 769
(2) "Using" or "use" means holding a hand-held mobile telephone to, 770
or in the immediate proximity of, the user's ear. 771
(3) "Hand-held mobile telephone" means a mobile telephone with 772
which a user engages in a call using at least one hand. 773
(4) "Hands-free accessory" means an attachment, add-on, built-in 774
feature, or addition to a mobile telephone, whether or not permanently 775
installed in a motor vehicle, that, when used, allows the vehicle operator 776 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 25 of 29
to maintain both hands on the steering wheel. 777
(5) "Hands-free mobile telephone" means a hand-held mobile 778
telephone that has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped 779
with an attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of 780
such hand-held mobile telephone, by which a user engages in a call 781
without the use of either hand, whether or not the use of either hand is 782
necessary to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 783
(6) "Engage in a call" means talking into or listening on a hand-held 784
mobile telephone, but does not include holding a hand-held mobile 785
telephone to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 786
(7) "Immediate proximity" means the distance that permits the 787
operator of a hand-held mobile telephone to hear telecommunications 788
transmitted over such hand-held mobile telephone, but does not require 789
physical contact with such operator's ear. 790
(8) "Mobile electronic device" means any hand-held or other portable 791
electronic equipment capable of providing data communication 792
between two or more persons, including a text messaging device, a 793
paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, 794
equipment that is capable of playing a video game or a digital video 795
disk, or equipment on which digital photographs are taken or 796
transmitted, or any combination thereof, but does not include any audio 797
equipment or any equipment installed in a motor vehicle for the 798
purpose of providing navigation, emergency assistance to the operator 799
of such motor vehicle or video entertainment to the passengers in the 800
rear seats of such motor vehicle. 801
(9) "Operating a motor vehicle" means operating a motor vehicle on 802
any highway, as defined in section 14-1, including being temporarily 803
stationary due to traffic, road conditions or a traffic control sign or 804
signal, but not including being parked on the side or shoulder of any 805
highway where such vehicle is safely able to remain stationary. 806
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and 807 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 26 of 29
subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no person shall operate a motor 808
vehicle upon a highway, as defined in section 14-1, while using a hand-809
held mobile telephone to engage in a call or while using a mobile 810
electronic device. An operator of a motor vehicle who types, sends or 811
reads a text message with a hand-held mobile telephone or mobile 812
electronic device while operating a motor vehicle shall be in violation of 813
this section, except that if such operator is driving a commercial motor 814
vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, such operator shall be charged with 815
a violation of subsection (e) of this section. 816
(2) An operator of a motor vehicle who holds a hand-held mobile 817
telephone to, or in the immediate proximity of, his or her ear while 818
operating a motor vehicle is presumed to be engaging in a call within 819
the meaning of this section. The presumption established by this 820
subdivision is rebuttable by evidence tending to show that the operator 821
was not engaged in a call. 822
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as 823
authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of a hand-held mobile telephone or 824
a mobile electronic device, unless otherwise provided by law. 825
(4) Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply to: (A) The use 826
of a hand-held mobile telephone for the sole purpose of communicating 827
with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: An 828
emergency response operator; a hospital, physician's office or health 829
clinic; an ambulance company; a fire department; or a police 830
department, or (B) any of the following persons while in the 831
performance of their official duties and within the scope of their 832
employment: A peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 833
53a-3, a firefighter or an operator of an ambulance or authorized 834
emergency vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or a member of the armed 835
forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, while operating 836
a military vehicle, or (C) the use of a hand-held radio by a person with 837
an amateur radio station license issued by the Federal Communications 838
Commission in emergency situations for emergency purposes only, or 839
(D) the use of a hands-free mobile telephone. 840 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 27 of 29
(c) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other 841
electronic device, including those with hands-free accessories, or a 842
mobile electronic device, while operating a school bus that is carrying 843
passengers, except that this subsection shall not apply when such 844
person: (1) Places an emergency call to school officials; (2) uses a hand-845
held mobile telephone as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision 846
(4) of subsection (b) of this section; (3) uses a hand-held mobile 847
telephone or mobile electronic device in a manner similar to a two-way 848
radio to allow real-time communication with a school official, an 849
emergency response operator, a hospital, physician's office or health 850
clinic, an ambulance company, a fire department or a police department; 851
or (4) uses a mobile electronic device with a video display, provided 852
such device (A) is used as a global positioning system or to provide 853
navigation, (B) is securely attached inside the school bus near such 854
person, and (C) has been approved for such use by the Department of 855
Motor Vehicles. 856
(d) No person under eighteen years of age shall use any hand-held 857
mobile telephone, including one with a hands-free accessory, or a 858
mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a public 859
highway, except as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of 860
subsection (b) of this section. 861
(e) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other 862
electronic device or type, read or send text or a text message with or 863
from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a 864
commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, except for the 865
purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an 866
emergency situation: An emergency response operator; a hospital; 867
physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire 868
department or a police department. 869
(f) Except as provided in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this 870
section, no person shall engage in any activity not related to the actual 871
operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe 872
operation of such vehicle on any highway, as defined in section 14-1. 873 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 28 of 29
(g) Any law enforcement officer who issues a summons for a 874
violation of this section shall record on such summons the specific 875
nature of any distracted driving behavior observed by such officer. 876
(h) Any person who violates this section shall be fined two hundred 877
dollars for a first violation, three hundred seventy-five dollars for a 878
second violation and six hundred twenty-five dollars for a third or 879
subsequent violation. 880
(i) An operator of a motor vehicle who commits a moving violation, 881
as defined in subsection (a) of section 14-111g, while engaged in any 882
activity prohibited by this section shall be fined in accordance with 883
subsection (h) of this section, in addition to any penalty or fine imposed 884
for the moving violation. 885
(j) The state shall remit to a municipality twenty-five per cent of the 886
fine amount received for a violation of this section with respect to each 887
summons issued by such municipality. Each clerk of the Superior Court 888
or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other official of the Superior 889
Court designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall, on or before 890
the thirtieth day of January, April, July and October in each year, certify 891
to the Comptroller the amount due for the previous quarter under this 892
subsection to each municipality served by the office of the clerk or 893
official. 894
(k) A record of any violation of this section shall appear on the 895
driving history record or motor vehicle record, as defined in section 14-896
10, of any person who commits such violation, and the record of such 897
violation shall be available to any motor vehicle insurer in accordance 898
with the provisions of section 14-10. 899
(l) No person shall be subject to prosecution for a violation of the 900
provisions of this section and subsection (a) of section 14-222, as 901
amended by this act, because of the same offense. 902 Raised Bill No. 5330
LCO No. 2217 29 of 29
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2024 22a-32
Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 22a-39(k)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 22a-361(b)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 25-68d(d)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2024 14-314
Sec. 6 July 1, 2024 14-311(b)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2024 14-311(f)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2024 14-311c(b)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 14-311c(f)
Sec. 10 October 1, 2024 14-299(b) and (c)
Sec. 11 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 12 October 1, 2024 14-297(7)
Sec. 13 October 1, 2024 14-218a(b)
Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 13a-123(e)
Sec. 15 July 1, 2024 13b-38ff(b)
Sec. 16 July 1, 2024 13b-2(10)
Sec. 17 July 1, 2024 13b-34(a)
Sec. 18 July 1, 2024 13b-34(j)
Sec. 19 July 1, 2024 14-289g
Sec. 20 July 1, 2024 14-40a(b)
Sec. 21 October 1, 2024 14-222
Sec. 22 October 1, 2024 14-296aa
Statement of Purpose:
To implement the recommendations of the Department of
Transportation concerning certain environmental hearings, the Office of
the State Traffic Administration, bicycle traffic, traffic authorities,
variable speed limits, public transportation, motorcycle helmets and
reckless driving.
[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.]