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OLR Bill Analysis
SB 1284
AN ACT CONCERNING THE ILLEGAL USE OF CERTAIN VEHICLES
AND STREET TAKEOVERS.
SUMMARY
This bill makes several changes in laws related to street takeovers and
the illegal use of motor vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Principally, it:
1. changes the license penalties for violating a state law against
illegal street racing and street takeovers, including permanently
revoking someone’s license for a third violation (§ 4);
2. authorizes municipalities to adopt ordinances that penalize street
takeovers (§ 3);
3. allows municipalities to destroy ATVs, dirt bikes, and mini-
motorcycles that are seized and forfeited for violating a
municipal ordinance (§§ 1 & 2);
4. limits to 30 days, current protections from forfeiture for ATVs,
dirt bikes, and mini-motorcycles by requiring their owner or
lienholder to pick them up within that timeframe (§§ 1 & 2); and
5. requires violations of municipal ordinances regulating ATVs,
snowmobiles, dirt bikes, mini-motorcycles, and street takeovers
to be processed through the Centralized Infractions Bureau (see
BACKGROUND), unless the municipality has established by
ordinance a payment and hearing procedure for the violation
that complies with state law (§ 5).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025 2025SB-01284-R000732-BA.DOCX
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§§ 1 & 2 — FORFEITURE OF ATVS, DIRT BIKE S, AND MINI-
MOTORCYCLES FOR MUNI CIPAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS
By law, municipalities may adopt ordinances on the operation and
use of (1) ATVs, including hours and zones of use, and (2) dirt bikes and
mini-motorcycles on public property, including hours of use. Subject to
any bona fide lien, lease, or security interest in a vehicle, a municipal
ordinance may allow the seizure and forfeiture of an ATV for a
violation, and municipalities with a population of at least 20,000 may do
the same for dirt bikes or mini-motorcycles.
Current law protects an owner or lienholder’s interest when
forfeiture is due to someone else’s act or omission if the owner or
lienholder did not know, and could not have reasonably known, that
the ATV, dirt bike, or mini-motorcycle was used or intended to be used
in violation of a municipal ordinance. The bill creates an exception by
allowing the vehicle’s forfeiture if a municipality mails written notice to
the owner or lienholder that this will occur if the vehicle is not collected
within 30 days and the person fails to do so by 30 days after the notice
is mailed.
Current law also requires any ATV, dirt bike, or mini-motorcycle that
is ordered to be forfeited under an ordinance to be sold at public auction.
The bill adds an alternative to this, allowing the municipality to instead
destroy the vehicle.
By law, an “all-terrain vehicle” is a self-propelled vehicle designed to
travel over unimproved terrain that (1) has been determined by the
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) commissioner to be unsuitable
for operation on public roads and (2) is ineligible for registration (CGS
§ 14-379).
A “dirt bike” is a two-wheeled motorized recreational vehicle
(excluding ATVs and motor-driven cycles) designed to travel over
unimproved terrain but not public highways (including public streets
and roads).
A “mini-motorcycle” is a vehicle that (1) has no more than three
wheels in contact with the ground; (2) has a manufactured seat height 2025SB-01284-R000732-BA.DOCX
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of less than 26 inches, measured at the lowest point on top of the seat
cushion without the rider; and (3) is propelled by an engine having a
piston displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters (CGS § 14-289j).
§ 3 — MUNICIPAL ORDINA NCES PROHIBITING STR EET
TAKEOVERS
The bill allows any municipality to adopt an ordinance prohibiting
anyone from organizing, participating in, or gathering with intent to
observe and actually observing a “street takeover” (that is, taking over
part of a public road or off-street parking lot open to the public by
blocking or impeding regular traffic flow to cause disorder or create a
nuisance to other road or lot users).
The ordinance may set fines for violating it at no more than:
1. $1,000 for the first violation;
2. $1,500 for the second violation; and
3. $2,000 for subsequent violations.
Additionally, the ordinance may allow the impounding of any
vehicle used for violating it until any of the following are paid: (1) a fine
imposed under it; (2) related charges (e.g., towing fees); and (3) overdue
property taxes on the vehicle.
Lastly, the bill requires any ordinance adopted to be consistent with
certain state motor vehicle statutes (those on ATVs, dirt bikes, mini-
motorcycles, and snowmobiles) or related regulations.
§ 4 — LICENSE PENALTIES FO R ILLEGAL STREET RAC ING AND
STREET TAKEOVERS
The bill changes the license penalties for violating a state law that
prohibits driving a motor vehicle on a public road or off-street parking
lot open to the public for any race, contest, or demonstration of speed or
skill or street takeover (see above). This law also prohibits certain related
conduct, specifically: (1) possessing a motor vehicle under
circumstances showing an intent to use it for an illegal race, contest, or
demonstration or street takeover; (2) acting as a starter, timekeeper, or 2025SB-01284-R000732-BA.DOCX
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judge at one; (3) betting on the outcome; or (4) knowingly inciting or
recruiting anyone to participate in one beforehand in any way,
including through electronic or social media.
Under current law, whenever someone is convicted or forfeits a bond
taken, or receives a suspended judgment or sentence, for violating the
above law, the DMV commissioner must, without a hearing, suspend
the person’s driver’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in
Connecticut for 30 to 90 days and, for a subsequent violation, for at least
90 days. The bill instead requires a 45-day suspension for a first and
second violation, and then permanent revocation of the person’s license
or privilege to drive for a third violation.
BACKGROUND
Centralized Infractions Bureau
The Superior Court’s Centralized Infractions Bureau processes
payments or not guilty pleas for committing infractions or certain
violations. Generally, anyone who is alleged to have committed an
infraction or certain violations may either plead not guilty or pay by
mail the set fine and any other fee or cost the law prescribes.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 40 Nay 1 (04/08/2025)