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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 7204
AN ACT CONCERNING LIGHTS ON VEHICLES, PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATIONS OF CERTAIN STATUTES, STOPS AND SEARCHES, A
PHLEBOTOMY PROGRAM STUDY, INSPECTIONS OF CERTAIN
VEHICLES, TRAFFIC SAFETY CORRIDORS AND A PILOT
PROGRAM TO EQUIP POLICE VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN
DEVICES.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
SUMMARY
§ 1 — FLASHING AND STEADY LIGHTS
Allows wreckers to use steady blue lights and any combination of steady or flashing yellow and
amber lights; limits the use of these lights to times while the wrecker is stationary; allows fire
and emergency medical service personnel to use steady lights in the colors they can use under
existing law for flashing lights
§§ 2-6 — INCREASED PENALTIES
Increases the penalties for various motor vehicle-related violations, including by increasing
the maximum fine amounts, criminalizing certain violations, and requiring mandatory
minimums for others
§ 7 — CANNABIS ODOR
Allows certain circumstances (e.g., odor of cannabis) to be used to support a stop or search of
a person or motor vehicle
§ 8 — PHLEBOTOMY FEASIBILITY STUDY
Requires the DESPP and DOT commissioners to jointly conduct a feasibility study on
implementing a permanent statewide law enforcement phlebotomy program to combat impaired
driving
§ 9 — SAFETY VEHICLE INSPECTIONS
Requires the DMV to annually conduct safety inspections on vehicles used by Connecticut law
enforcement units
§ 10 — TRAFFIC SAFETY CORRIDORS
Requires the (1) DOT commissioner to establish and designate parts of a highway with high
rates of motor vehicle accidents as traffic safety corridors and (2) Superior Court to double the
base fine of certain violations
§ 11 — POLICE USE OF GPS PILOT PROGRAM 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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Requires DESPP to establish a one-year pilot program to allow three municipal police
departments to install a device on their police vehicles that allows a police officer to launch a
GPS onto another vehicle
BACKGROUND
SUMMARY
This bill makes various unrelated changes to motor vehicle-related
laws. It also requires annual inspection of certain law enforcement
vehicles and establishes a pilot program to allow police officers to
launch a global positioning system (GPS) on another vehicle.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted
§ 1 — FLASHING AND STEADY LIGHTS
Allows wreckers to use steady blue lights and any combination of steady or flashing
yellow and amber lights; limits the use of these lights to times while the wrecker is
stationary; allows fire and emergency medical service personnel to use steady lights in the
colors they can use under existing law for flashing lights
By law, registered wreckers may use steady or flashing yellow or
amber lights while operating on the road or while stationary. The bill
additionally allows them to use steady blue lights and specifies that they
may use a combination of yellow and amber lights. However, it limits
the use of all of these lights (yellow, amber, and blue) to times when the
vehicle is stationary.
It also allows fire and emergency medical service personnel who are
authorized to use flashing blue or red lights under existing law to also
use steady lights in those colors. Under current law, only police officers
and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) inspectors operating a state
or local police vehicle may use steady red, blue, or red and blue lights,
visible from the vehicle’s front; the bill eliminates this restriction.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
§§ 2-6 — INCREASED PENALTIES
Increases the penalties for various motor vehicle-related violations, including by
increasing the maximum fine amounts, criminalizing certain violations, and requiring
mandatory minimums for others
The bill increases the penalties for various motor vehicle-related 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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violations. It increases the maximum fine amounts, criminalizes certain
violations, and requires mandatory minimums for others.
Obstructed or Tinted Windows (§ 2)
The bill criminalizes the following violations by subjecting them to
the penalties for reckless driving:
1. operating a vehicle with an object obstructing the operator’s view
of the road or with a tinted windshield in violation of state law;
2. selling, offering for sale, or delivering a motor vehicle in
Connecticut with a tinted windshield or window in violation of
state law; and
3. failing to present a vehicle to DMV by July 1, 2026, to receive and
put a sticker on any aftermarket tinted window to indicate
compliance with the law.
The penalty for reckless driving is (1) a fine of between $100 and $300,
up to 30 days imprisonment, or both, for a first offense, and (2) a fine of
up to $600, up to one year imprisonment, or both, for subsequent
offenses. Under current law, these obstructed or tinted window
violations are infractions.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
Negligent Operation of a Vehicle (§ 3)
The bill increases the maximum penalty for negligently operating a
motor vehicle that causes the death of another person. It does so by
increasing the penalty from a fine of up to $3,000, up to three years
imprisonment, or both, to a class C felony, which is punishable by up to
10 years imprisonment, up to a $10,000 fine, or both.
Failure to Stop for and Evading a Police Officer (§ 4)
The bill also increases the maximum penalties for failing to stop for
or obey a police officer and attempting to evade a police officer.
It increases, from an infraction to a class A misdemeanor (punishable
by up to 364 days imprisonment, up to a $2,000 fine, or both), the penalty 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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for failing to stop a motor vehicle upon a uniformed officer’s signal or
disobeying the officer about operating the vehicle.
It also increases, from a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony
(punishable by up to five years imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, or
both), the penalty for increasing a vehicle’s speed in an attempt to
escape or elude a police officer after being signaled to stop.
Evasion of Responsibility in Operating Motor Vehicle (§ 5)
Under existing law, a driver knowingly involved in an accident that
causes serious physical injury to or the death of another person must
immediately stop; render necessary aid; and give his or her name,
address, and driver’s license and registration information to the injured
person, a police officer, or a person who witnessed the death or serious
injury. If unable to do so for any reason, the driver must immediately
report the death or serious injury and provide the required information
to law enforcement along with the location and circumstances of the
accident.
Under current law, anyone who violates these requirements is guilty
of a class B felony, which is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment,
up to a $15,000 fine, or both. The bill imposes a mandatory minimum
sentence of five years for violations.
Existing law imposes substantially similar requirements for
operators who cause any physical injury, whether or not it is serious.
Currently violations of these requirements are a class D felony. The bill
imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for these
violations.
Misconduct with a Motor Vehicle (§6)
The bill increases the penalty for misconduct with a motor vehicle
from a class D felony to a class C felony, with a (1) five-year mandatory
minimum sentence or (2) 10-year mandatory minimum sentence if the
person causes the death of a police officer.
By law and for this provision, “police officers” are sworn members of
an organized local police department or the State Police; appointed 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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constables who perform criminal law enforcement duties; special police
officers appointed under law (e.g., public assistance fraud
investigators); or any members of a law enforcement unit who perform
police duties (CGS § 7-294a(9)).
§ 7 — CANNABIS ODOR
Allows certain circumstances (e.g., odor of cannabis) to be used to support a stop or search
of a person or motor vehicle
The bill eliminates the provision in current law prohibiting the
following circumstances from constituting probable cause or reasonable
suspicion or being used as the basis to support any stop or search of a
person or motor vehicle:
1. the possession or suspected possession of up to five ounces of
cannabis plant material (or an equivalent amount of cannabis
products or combination of cannabis and cannabis products);
2. the presence of cash or currency near the cannabis, unless there
is evidence that the cash or currency exceeds $500; or
3. the odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis.
The bill retains a provision in existing law explicitly allowing law
enforcement officers to conduct a test for impairment based on cannabis
odor if the officer reasonably suspects that a motor vehicle’s operator or
passenger is violating the impaired driving laws. The bill also makes a
conforming change.
§ 8 — PHLEBOTOMY FEA SIBILITY STUDY
Requires the DESPP and DOT commissioners to jointly conduct a feasibility study on
implementing a permanent statewide law enforcement phlebotomy program to combat
impaired driving
The bill requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public
Protection (DESPP) and Department of Transportation (DOT)
commissioners to jointly study the feasibility of implementing a
permanent statewide law enforcement phlebotomy program to combat
impaired driving.
The study must include an examination of: 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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1. best practices for (a) making phlebotomy training available to police
officers and (b) providing educational materials to and answering
questions from police officers on the training and police liability;
and
2. phlebotomy programs and procedures law enforcement units use in
other states.
Under the bill, DESPP and DOT must report the study’s findings and
any legislative recommendations to the Public Safety and
Transportation committees by January 1, 2026.
§ 9 — SAFETY VEHICLE INSPECTIONS
Requires the DMV to annually conduct safety inspections on vehicles used by
Connecticut law enforcement units
The bill requires the DMV, annually by July 1, 2026, and in
consultation with DESPP, to conduct safety inspections on vehicles used
by Connecticut law enforcement units to ensure each vehicle’s safety
and functionality. DMV must randomly select law enforcement units for
the inspections. When the inspection is complete, DMV must report the
inspection results to the law enforcement units whose vehicles were
inspected.
By law and for this provision, a “law enforcement unit” is any state
or municipal agency or department (or tribal agency or department
created and governed under a memorandum of agreement) whose
primary functions include enforcing criminal or traffic laws; preserving
public order; protecting life and property; or preventing, detecting, or
investigating crime (CGS § 7-294a(8)).
§ 10 — TRAFFIC SAFETY CORRIDORS
Requires the (1) DOT commissioner to establish and designate parts of a highway with
high rates of motor vehicle accidents as traffic safety corridors and (2) Superior Court to
double the base fine of certain violations
The bill requires the DOT commissioner, in consultation with the
DESPP commissioner, to establish a traffic safety corridor program to
(1) designate parts of a highway (i.e. public road) with high rates of
motor vehicle accidents as traffic safety corridors, and (2) coordinate 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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motor vehicle enforcement in these corridors.
Under the bill, the Superior Court must double the base fine
established or imposed for the violations listed in the table below. Most
of the violations are infractions, which carry a base fine of between $50
and $90. Several of them have base fines greater than $1,000. The highest
fine is $10,000 (for operating a school bus while impaired, or for
negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, as amended by the bill).
Table: Motor Vehicle Violations with Additional Fines
Statute Brief Description
14-213 Failure to carry a driver’s license
14-213b
Operation of a motor vehicle without the statutorily
required car insurance
14-214
Improper instruction of an unlicensed person in motor
vehicle operation
14-215
Operation of a motor vehicle while registration or
license is suspended
14-216
Operation of a motor vehicle by a person under age 18
without insurance
14-218a Operation at unreasonable rate of speed
14-219 Speeding
14-220
Slow speed, impeding traffic; failure to use flashing
lights
14-221
Operation of a low-speed vehicle carrying passengers
for hire without a permit
14-222 Reckless driving
14-222a Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle
14-223 Failure to obey signal of officer
14-224
Evading responsibility after a motor vehicle accident;
operating a motor vehicle for racing contests,
demonstrations of speed or skill, or street takeovers;
not moving a vehicle after an accident
14-225
Evading responsibility for injury or damage when
operating other vehicles
14-227a Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs
14-227m DUI with a child passenger
14-227n DUI in a school bus
14-230 Failure to drive on the right
14-230a
Improper usage of left lane by commercial motor
vehicles, school buses, buses, or vehicles with trailers
14-231 Failure to keep to right when meeting opposing traffic 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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Statute Brief Description
14-232 Improper passing or failure to yield to passing vehicle
14-233 Passing on right
14-235
Failure to keep to right on curve or grade, or when
approaching intersection
14-236 Failure to drive in proper lane on multiple-lane highway
14-237 Driving the wrong way on divided highway
14-238
Improper entry to or exit from controlled access
highway
14-238a Improper entry to limited access highway
14-239
Driving the wrong way on one-way highway or rotaries;
failure to grant right of way to vehicle in rotary
14-240 Failure to drive a reasonable distance apart
14-240a
Failure to drive a reasonable distance apart with intent
to harass or intimidate
14-241 Improper turn
14-242
Failure to give proper signal for a turn; failure to grant
rights of way
14-243 Unsafe starting or backing of vehicle
14-244 Improper signaling for turns or stopping
14-245 Failure to grant right of way at an intersection
14-246a Failure to grant right of way at a highway junction
14-247
Failure to yield when emerging from driveway or
private road
14-247a
Failure to grant right of way when emerging from alley,
driveway, or building
14-248a Failure to reduce speed or stop at cattle crossing
14-249 Failure to obey signal at railroad crossing
14-250
Failure of commercial or public service motor vehicle
to stop at railroad crossing
14-250a Improper operation of motor vehicle on sidewalk
14-257 Improper seating of passengers
14-261
Improper distance between wrecker and towed
vehicle; improper pushing of a vehicle
14-266
Operation of a vehicle of over four tons’ capacity on
restricted highway
14-271
Operation of a vehicle improperly loaded or
constructed to carry load
14-273
Improper seating of passengers on a vehicle for which
a passenger endorsement or passenger and school
endorsement is required; exceeding capacity of said
vehicle
14-279 Improper passing of a standing school bus 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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Statute Brief Description
14-281a
Operation of school bus at excessive speed; failure to
display lighted headlamps while transporting school
children
14-283(e) Failure to stop on right side of road
14-283(h) Obstruction of an emergency vehicle
14-289a Improper seating of self or passengers on motorcycle
14-289b Improper operation of a motorcycle or autocycle
14-296aa Distracted driving
Under the bill, DOT must post a sign at the beginning of each traffic
safety corridor stating the fines are doubled and at the end stating the
corridor has ended.
The bill also requires the State Police to enhance its enforcement
efforts in each corridor.
§ 11 — POLICE USE OF GPS PILOT PROGRAM
Requires DESPP to establish a one-year pilot program to allow three municipal police
departments to install a device on their police vehicles that allows a police officer to launch
a GPS onto another vehicle
By October 1, 2025, the bill requires DESPP to establish a one-year
pilot program to allow three municipal police departments to install a
device on their police vehicles that allows a police officer to launch a
GPS (presumably, a GPS tracking device) onto another vehicle (see
BACKGROUND) . DESPP may provide grants-in-aid to implement the
program.
Each participating police department must submit a report on the
utilization of the devices to DESPP. By January 1, 2027, DESPP must
submit a report to the Public Safety and Security and Judiciary
committees. The report must include a summary of the pilot program
results and any recommendations for future utilization of the device.
BACKGROUND
Related Court Cases
In U.S. v. Jones, the U.S. Supreme Court held that placing a GPS
tracking device on someone’s vehicle constitutes a “search” within the 2025HB-07204-R000476-BA.DOCX
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meaning of the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable
searches (565 U.S. 400 (2012)). Although the Court in that case did not
rule on whether a warrant is required for police to place a GPS on a
person, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently held that law
enforcement agents must have a warrant based on probable cause to
attach a GPS to a car to track its movements (U.S. v. Katzin, 769 F.3d 163
(3d Cir. 2014)).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 29 Nay 0 (03/18/2025)