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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1375
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 5065
Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION
Introduced by:
(TRA)
AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHWAY, PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST
SAFETY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 14-300 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 2
(a) The traffic authority may designate, by appropriate official traffic 3
control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines 4
upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, 5
in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway 6
including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity 7
of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in 8
accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic 9
Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; 10
and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, 11
particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk 12
facing vehicular traffic. 13
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals 14
bearing the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the image of a walking 15
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person symbolizing "Walk" or an upraised hand symbolizing "Don't 16
Walk" are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated 17
by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other 18
traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the 19
highway against a red or "Stop" signal and shall not cross at any place 20
not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting 21
across the highway or on any such crosswalk shall have the right-of-22
way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such 23
pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone. 24
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any 25
crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any 26
unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by 27
police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall 28
grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so 29
grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within 30
such crosswalk. For the purposes of this subsection, a pedestrian is 31
"crossing the roadway within such crosswalk" when the pedestrian (1) 32
is within any portion of the crosswalk, (2) steps to the curb at the 33
entrance to the crosswalk and indicates his or her intent to cross the 34
roadway by raising his or her hand and arm toward oncoming traffic, 35
or (3) indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by moving any 36
part of his or her body or an extension thereof, including, but not limited 37
to, a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, 38
stroller, carriage, cart or leashed or harnessed dog, into the crosswalk at 39
the entrance to the crosswalk. No operator of a vehicle approaching 40
from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which 41
has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of 42
this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross 43
the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield 44
the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such 45
sidewalk. 46
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the 47
immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection 48
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(a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, 49
or a pedestrian being guided by a service animal, shall reduce speed or 50
stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian. No 51
person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any street or 52
highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is 53
white in color or white, tipped with red. For the purposes of this 54
subsection, "service animal" has the same meaning as provided in 55
section 22-345. 56
(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after 57
October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be 58
required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control 59
signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time 60
for the safe crossing of pedestrians. 61
(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall 62
be fined not more than [five hundred] seven hundred fifty dollars. 63
(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section 64
or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per 65
se shall not apply. 66
Sec. 2. Section 14-230a of the general statutes is repealed and the 67
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 68
(a) On any divided limited access highway [which] that provides 69
more than two lanes for traffic proceeding in the same direction, no 70
operator of any motor vehicle with a commercial registration, motor 71
bus, vehicle with trailer or school bus shall drive in the extreme left lane 72
where the Office of the State Traffic Administration so designates, 73
except (1) on the direction of a police officer, or [except] (2) when access 74
to or egress from such highway is provided on the left, in which latter 75
case such operator shall drive in such left lane only for such period as is 76
reasonably necessary to enter or leave such highway safely. 77
(b) On any divided limited access highway that provides more than 78
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two lanes for traffic proceeding in the same direction, no operator of a 79
motor vehicle, other than a motor vehicle subject to the provisions of 80
subsection (a) of this section, shall drive in the extreme left lane, except 81
(1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle, (2) on the direction of 82
a police officer, (3) when access to or egress from such highway is 83
provided on the left, in which latter case such operator shall drive in 84
such left lane only for such period as is reasonably necessary to enter or 85
leave such highway safely, (4) if such motor vehicle is an emergency 86
vehicle operating pursuant to section 14-283, (5) if the operator is 87
engaged in the maintenance, repair or construction of such highway, or 88
(6) when traffic congestion makes driving in the extreme left lane 89
necessary. 90
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have 91
committed an infraction and shall be fined eighty-eight dollars. 92
Sec. 3. Section 14-289g of the general statutes is repealed and the 93
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 94
(a) No person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age may (1) 95
operate a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle, as defined in section 14-1, 96
or (2) be a passenger on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, unless such 97
operator or passenger is wearing protective headgear [of a type which] 98
that conforms to the minimum specifications established in 49 CFR 99
571.218, as amended from time to time. Any person who violates this 100
section shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined not less 101
than ninety dollars. 102
(b) As used in this section, the term "motorcycle" [shall] does not 103
include "autocycle". 104
Sec. 4. Section 14-296aa of the general statutes is repealed and the 105
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 106
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 107
following meanings: 108
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(1) "Mobile telephone" means a cellular, analog, wireless or digital 109
telephone capable of sending or receiving telephone communications 110
without an access line for service. 111
(2) "Using" or "use" means holding a hand-held mobile telephone to, 112
or in the immediate proximity of, the user's ear. 113
(3) "Hand-held mobile telephone" means a mobile telephone with 114
which a user engages in a call using at least one hand. 115
(4) "Hands-free accessory" means an attachment, add-on, built-in 116
feature, or addition to a mobile telephone, whether or not permanently 117
installed in a motor vehicle, that, when used, allows the vehicle operator 118
to maintain both hands on the steering wheel. 119
(5) "Hands-free mobile telephone" means a hand-held mobile 120
telephone that has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped 121
with an attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of 122
such hand-held mobile telephone, by which a user engages in a call 123
without the use of either hand, whether or not the use of either hand is 124
necessary to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 125
(6) "Engage in a call" means talking into or listening on a hand-held 126
mobile telephone, but does not include holding a hand-held mobile 127
telephone to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 128
(7) "Immediate proximity" means the distance that permits the 129
operator of a hand-held mobile telephone to hear telecommunications 130
transmitted over such hand-held mobile telephone, but does not require 131
physical contact with such operator's ear. 132
(8) "Mobile electronic device" means any hand-held or other portable 133
electronic equipment capable of providing data communication 134
between two or more persons, including a text messaging device, a 135
paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, 136
equipment that is capable of playing a video game or a digital video 137
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disk, an installed screen or other means of displaying a video that is 138
visible to the operator, or equipment on which digital photographs are 139
taken or transmitted, or any combination thereof, but does not include 140
any audio equipment or any equipment installed in a motor vehicle for 141
the purpose of providing navigation, emergency assistance to the 142
operator of such motor vehicle or video entertainment to the passengers 143
in the rear seats of such motor vehicle. 144
(9) "Operating a motor vehicle" means operating a motor vehicle on 145
any highway, [as defined in section 14-1,] including being temporarily 146
stationary due to traffic, road conditions or a traffic control sign or 147
signal, but not including being parked on the side or shoulder of any 148
highway where such vehicle is safely able to remain stationary. 149
(10) "Highway", "commercial motor vehicle" and "authorized 150
emergency vehicle" have the same meanings as provided in section 14-151
1. 152
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and 153
subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no person shall operate a motor 154
vehicle upon a highway [, as defined in section 14-1,] while using a 155
hand-held mobile telephone to engage in a call or while using a mobile 156
electronic device. An operator of a motor vehicle who types, sends or 157
reads a text message with a hand-held mobile telephone or mobile 158
electronic device while operating a motor vehicle shall be in violation of 159
this section, except that if such operator is driving a commercial motor 160
vehicle, [as defined in section 14-1,] such operator shall be charged with 161
a violation of subsection (e) of this section. 162
(2) An operator of a motor vehicle who holds a hand-held mobile 163
telephone to, or in the immediate proximity of, his or her ear while 164
operating a motor vehicle is presumed to be engaging in a call within 165
the meaning of this section. The presumption established by this 166
subdivision is rebuttable by evidence tending to show that the operator 167
was not engaged in a call. 168
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(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as 169
authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of a hand-held mobile telephone or 170
a mobile electronic device, unless otherwise provided by law. 171
(4) Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply to: (A) The use 172
of a hand-held mobile telephone for the sole purpose of communicating 173
with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: An 174
emergency response operator; a hospital, physician's office or health 175
clinic; an ambulance company; a fire department; or a police 176
department, or (B) any of the following persons while in the 177
performance of their official duties and within the scope of their 178
employment: A peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 179
53a-3, a firefighter or an operator of an ambulance or authorized 180
emergency vehicle [, as defined in section 14-1,] or a member of the 181
armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, while 182
operating a military vehicle, or (C) the use of a hand-held radio by a 183
person with an amateur radio station license issued by the Federal 184
Communications Commission in emergency situations for emergency 185
purposes only, or (D) the use of a hands-free mobile telephone. 186
(c) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other 187
electronic device, including those with hands-free accessories, or a 188
mobile electronic device, while operating a school bus that is carrying 189
passengers, except that this subsection shall not apply when such 190
person: (1) Places an emergency call to school officials; (2) uses a hand-191
held mobile telephone as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision 192
(4) of subsection (b) of this section; (3) uses a hand-held mobile 193
telephone or mobile electronic device in a manner similar to a two-way 194
radio to allow real-time communication with a school official, an 195
emergency response operator, a hospital, physician's office or health 196
clinic, an ambulance company, a fire department or a police department; 197
or (4) uses a mobile electronic device with a video display, provided 198
such device (A) is used as a global positioning system or to provide 199
navigation, (B) is securely attached inside the school bus near such 200
person, and (C) has been approved for such use by the Department of 201
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Motor Vehicles. 202
(d) No person under eighteen years of age shall use any hand-held 203
mobile telephone, including one with a hands-free accessory, or a 204
mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a public 205
highway, except as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of 206
subsection (b) of this section. 207
(e) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other 208
electronic device or type, read or send text or a text message with or 209
from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a 210
commercial motor vehicle, [as defined in section 14-1,] except for the 211
purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an 212
emergency situation: An emergency response operator; a hospital; 213
physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire 214
department or a police department. 215
(f) Except as provided in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this 216
section, no person shall engage in any activity not related to the actual 217
operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe 218
operation of such vehicle on any highway. [, as defined in section 14-1.] 219
(g) Any law enforcement officer who issues a summons for a 220
violation of this section shall record on such summons the specific 221
nature of any distracted driving behavior observed by such officer. 222
(h) Any person who violates this section shall be fined two hundred 223
dollars for a first violation, three hundred seventy-five dollars for a 224
second violation and six hundred twenty-five dollars for a third or 225
subsequent violation. 226
(i) An operator of a motor vehicle who commits a moving violation, 227
as defined in subsection (a) of section 14-111g, as amended by this act, 228
while engaged in any activity prohibited by this section shall be fined in 229
accordance with subsection (h) of this section, in addition to any penalty 230
or fine imposed for the moving violation. 231
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(j) The state shall remit to a municipality twenty-five per cent of the 232
fine amount received for a violation of this section with respect to each 233
summons issued by such municipality. Each clerk of the Superior Court 234
or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other official of the Superior 235
Court designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall, on or before 236
the thirtieth day of January, April, July and October in each year, certify 237
to the Comptroller the amount due for the previous quarter under this 238
subsection to each municipality served by the office of the clerk or 239
official. 240
(k) A record of any violation of this section shall appear on the 241
driving history record or motor vehicle record, as defined in section 14-242
10, of any person who commits such violation, and the record of such 243
violation shall be available to any motor vehicle insurer in accordance 244
with the provisions of section 14-10. 245
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) For the purposes of this 246
section: 247
(1) "Alcoholic beverage" has the same meaning as provided in section 248
30-1 of the general statutes; 249
(2) "Highway", "motor bus" and "recreational vehicle" have the same 250
meanings as provided in section 14-1 of the general statutes; 251
(3) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as provided in section 14-252
212 of the general statutes; 253
(4) "Motor vehicle in livery service" has the same meaning as 254
provided in section 13b-101 of the general statutes; 255
(5) "Open alcoholic beverage container" means a bottle, a can or other 256
receptacle (A) that contains any amount of an alcoholic beverage, and 257
(B) (i) that is open or has a broken seal, or (ii) the contents of which are 258
partially removed; 259
(6) "Passenger" means any occupant of a motor vehicle other than the 260
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operator; 261
(7) "Passenger area" means (A) the area designed to seat the operator 262
of, and any passenger in, a motor vehicle while such vehicle is being 263
operated on a highway, or (B) any area that is readily accessible to such 264
operator or passenger while such person is in such person's seated 265
position. "Passenger area" does not include (i) a locked container, such 266
as a locked glove compartment or console, (ii) the trunk, or (iii) in a 267
motor vehicle that is not equipped with a trunk, the area behind the last 268
upright seat or any area not normally occupied by the operator or a 269
passenger; and 270
(8) "Taxicab" has the same meaning as provided in section 13b-95 of 271
the general statutes. 272
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person shall 273
consume or possess an open alcoholic beverage container within the 274
passenger area of a motor vehicle while such motor vehicle is on any 275
highway in this state. 276
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to: 277
(1) A passenger in a motor vehicle designed, maintained and primarily 278
used for the transportation of passengers for hire, including, but not 279
limited to, a taxicab, motor bus or motor vehicle in livery service, or (2) 280
a passenger in the living quarters of a recreational vehicle. 281
(d) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b) of this 282
section shall have committed an infraction. 283
Sec. 6. Section 14-286d of the general statutes is repealed and the 284
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 285
(a) For the purposes of this section and section 14-286e, "bicycle" 286
means any vehicle propelled by the person riding the same by foot or 287
hand power. 288
(b) No child [fifteen] seventeen years of age or under shall operate a 289
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bicycle, electric bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard or electric 290
foot scooter or wear roller skates or in-line skates on the traveled portion 291
of any highway, at a skateboarding park or any park unless such child 292
is wearing properly fitted and fastened protective headgear which 293
conforms to the minimum specifications established by the American 294
National Standards Institute, the United States Consumer Product 295
Safety Commission, the American Society for Testing and Materials or 296
the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard for Protective Headgear for 297
Use in Bicycling, as amended from time to time. Failure to comply with 298
this section shall not be a violation or an offense. Failure to wear 299
protective headgear as required by this subsection shall not be 300
considered to be contributory negligence on the part of the parent or the 301
child nor shall such failure be admissible in any civil action. 302
(c) A law enforcement officer may issue a verbal warning to the 303
parent or guardian of a child that such child has failed to comply with 304
the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. 305
(d) A person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of renting 306
bicycles, electric bicycles or electric foot scooters shall provide 307
protective headgear conforming to the minimum specifications 308
established by the American National Standards Institute, the United 309
States Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Society for 310
Testing and Materials or the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard for 311
Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling, as amended from time to time, 312
to any person [under sixteen] seventeen years of age or under who will 313
operate the bicycle, electric bicycle or electric foot scooter if such person 314
does not have protective headgear in his or her possession. A fee may 315
be charged for the protective headgear rental. Violation of any of the 316
provisions of this subsection shall be an infraction. 317
(e) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall post on the 318
Department of Consumer Protection's Internet web site information 319
concerning the dangers of riding bicycles, electric bicycles or electric 320
foot scooters, skateboarding, roller skating and in-line skating without 321
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protective headgear and promoting the use of protective headgear while 322
riding bicycles, electric bicycles or electric foot scooters, skateboarding, 323
roller skating and in-line skating. 324
Sec. 7. Section 14-298 of the general statutes is repealed and the 325
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 326
(a) There shall be within the Department of Transportation the Office 327
of the State Traffic Administration, which shall constitute a successor to 328
the State Traffic Commission, in accordance with the provisions of 329
sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. 330
(b) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, said office 331
shall adopt [and cause to be printed for publication] regulations in 332
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing a uniform 333
system of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings consistent 334
with the provisions of this chapter for use upon the public highways. 335
The Commissioner of Transportation shall make known to the General 336
Assembly the availability of such regulations and any requesting 337
member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage media of such 338
regulations by said commissioner. Taking into consideration the public 339
safety and convenience with respect to the width and character of the 340
highways and roads affected, the density of traffic thereon and the 341
character of such traffic, said office shall also adopt regulations, in 342
cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities and in 343
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, governing the use of state 344
highways and roads on state-owned properties, and the operation of 345
vehicles, including, but not limited to, motor vehicles, bicycles, as 346
defined in section 14-286, electric bicycles and electric foot scooters 347
thereon. A list of limited-access highways shall be published with such 348
regulations and said list shall be revised and published once each year. 349
The Commissioner of Transportation shall make known to the General 350
Assembly the availability of such regulations and list and any 351
requesting member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage 352
media of such regulations and list by the commissioner. A list of limited-353
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access highways opened to traffic by the Commissioner of 354
Transportation in the interim period between publications shall be 355
maintained in the Office of the State Traffic Administration and such 356
regulations shall apply to the use of such listed highways. 357
(c) Said office shall also [make] adopt regulations, in cooperation and 358
agreement with local traffic authorities, respecting the use by through 359
truck traffic of streets and highways within the limits of, and under the 360
jurisdiction of, any city, town or borough of this state for the protection 361
and safety of the public. If said office determines that the prohibition of 362
through truck traffic on any street or highway is necessary because of 363
an immediate and imminent threat to the public health and safety and 364
the local traffic authority is precluded for any reason from acting on 365
such prohibition, the office, if it is not otherwise precluded from so 366
acting, may impose such prohibition. 367
(d) (1) Said office may place and maintain traffic control signals, 368
signs, markings and other safety devices, which it deems to be in the 369
interests of public safety, upon such highways as come within the 370
jurisdiction of said office as set forth in section 14-297. 371
(2) On and after October 1, 2025, said office shall require each 372
installation and reinstallation of white and yellow longitudinal 373
pavement markings on a highway to be with paint containing retro-374
reflective glass beads and in accordance with the Federal Highway 375
Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets 376
and Highways, as amended from time to time. 377
(e) The traffic authority of any city, town or borough may place and 378
maintain traffic control signals, signs, markings and other safety devices 379
upon the highways under its jurisdiction, and all such signals, devices, 380
signs and markings shall conform to the regulations established by said 381
office in accordance with this chapter, and such traffic authority shall, 382
with respect to traffic control signals, conform to the provisions of 383
section 14-299. 384
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Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) For the purposes of this 385
section, (1) "unsafe driving instance" means an occurrence of unsafe 386
driving that can be reported by a pedestrian with some or all of the 387
following information: (A) The date and time of the occurrence, (B) the 388
location of the occurrence, (C) a description of the vehicle or vehicles 389
involved in the occurrence, (D) a description of the unsafe behavior or 390
driving, (E) the name of the pedestrian, and (F) a photograph, video or 391
output from a mobile application detailing the occurrence; and (2) "law 392
enforcement unit" and "police officer" have the same meanings as 393
provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 394
(b) Upon the receipt of a pedestrian report of an unsafe driving 395
instance to a law enforcement unit, the law enforcement unit may: (1) 396
Establish a separate process to collect reports of unsafe driving 397
instances, (2) establish a process to aggregate such reports, (3) respond 398
to such reports regardless of whether the reporting pedestrian reported 399
such pedestrian's name or chose to remain anonymous, and (4) use the 400
reports of aggregated unsafe driving instances to inform decision-401
making, assist with the selection of roads for general traffic enforcement 402
and assign police officers to reported areas to identify and issue citations 403
for motor vehicle violations. 404
Sec. 9. Section 13b-10 of the general statutes is repealed and the 405
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 406
(a) The commissioner may, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, 407
employ such agents, assistants and employees as [he] the commissioner 408
deems necessary to carry out [his] the commissioner's duties and 409
responsibilities. [He] The commissioner may retain and employ other 410
consultants and assistants on a contract or other basis for rendering 411
legal, financial, technical or other assistance and advice. 412
(b) The commissioner shall assign employees to support the adoption 413
and implementation of Complete Streets standards or policies, as 414
described in section 11206 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 415
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P. L. 117-58, as amended from time to time, throughout the state. Such 416
support shall include administering grants and providing incentives to 417
municipalities in order to finalize a project or prioritization plan that 418
incorporates Complete Streets standards or policies. 419
Sec. 10. (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section, 420
"intelligent speed assistance device" means a device designed to be 421
installed within a motor vehicle to actively monitor and limit the speed 422
at which a motor vehicle is capable of traveling based on the applicable 423
speed limit where such motor vehicle is being operated. 424
(b) The Vision Zero Council, established pursuant to section 13b-23b 425
of the general statutes, in consultation with the Judicial Branch, shall 426
study and make recommendations concerning the feasibility of 427
leveraging intelligent speed assistance devices to address speeding and 428
reckless driving in the state. Such study shall, at a minimum, (1) examine 429
whether sufficient evidence exists to show that the use of intelligent 430
speed assistance devices changes driving behavior and improves road 431
safety, (2) consider the different types and availability of such devices, 432
(3) estimate the costs to the motor vehicle operator associated with the 433
installation and maintenance of such devices, (4) examine whether such 434
devices work accurately and reliably in unsupervised environments and 435
whether such devices are capable of producing evidence showing such 436
device has not been bypassed, circumvented or tampered with, and (5) 437
if recommending the use of such devices in the state, (A) identify if the 438
installation of such device would be in lieu of, or in addition to, a 439
prescribed penalty or suspension of a motor vehicle operator's license 440
and if such installation would be mandatory or discretionary, (B) 441
identify the types and number of traffic violations that would require or 442
permit the installation of such devices, (C) discuss if any such 443
requirement to install an intelligent speed assistance device should 444
apply differently to motor vehicle operators based upon the age or 445
driving history of the operator, and (D) discuss necessary components 446
of a regulatory framework that would be necessary to ensure the proper 447
and accurate use of such devices. 448
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(c) Not later than January 15, 2026, the council shall submit its 449
findings and any recommendations, including any proposed legislation, 450
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 451
cognizance of matters relating to transportation, in accordance with the 452
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 453
Sec. 11. Section 14-111g of the general statutes is repealed and the 454
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 455
(a) (1) For the purposes of this [subsection] section, "moving 456
violation" means any violation of subsection (c) of section 14-36 or 457
section 14-36g, 14-212d, 14-218a, 14-219, 14-222, 14-223, 14-230 to 14-249, 458
inclusive, 14-279, 14-283, 14-289b, 14-296aa, as amended by this act, 14-459
299, 14-300, as amended by this act, 14-301, 14-302 or 14-303, and 460
"suspension violation" means a violation of section 14-222a, 14-224, 14-461
227a, 14-227m or 14-227n, or section 53a-56b, 53a-57 or 53a-60d. 462
[The] (2) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, the 463
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may require any motor vehicle 464
operator who is twenty-four years of age or less, who has been convicted 465
of a moving violation or a suspension violation, or both, committed on 466
two or more occasions to attend a motor vehicle operator's retraining 467
program. 468
[The] (3) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, the 469
commissioner may require any motor vehicle operator over twenty-four 470
years of age, who has been convicted of a moving violation or a 471
suspension violation or a combination of said violations, committed on 472
three or more occasions to attend a motor vehicle operator's retraining 473
program. 474
(4) The commissioner shall require (A) any motor vehicle operator 475
convicted of traveling more than seventy-five miles per hour, (B) any 476
person operating a commercial motor vehicle convicted of traveling 477
more than sixty-five miles per hour in a highway work zone, as defined 478
in section 14-212d, [or] and (C) any [person] motor vehicle operator 479
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convicted of a violation of section 14-222 or subdivision (1) of subsection 480
(c) of section 14-224, to attend a motor vehicle operator's retraining 481
program. 482
(5) The commissioner shall notify such operator, in writing, of such 483
requirement. A fee of not more than eighty-five dollars shall be charged 484
for the retraining program. The commissioner, after notice and 485
opportunity for hearing, may suspend the motor vehicle operator's 486
license of any such operator who fails to attend or successfully complete 487
the program until the operator successfully completes the program. The 488
hearing shall be limited to any claim of impossibility of the operator to 489
attend the retraining program, or to a determination of mistake or 490
misidentification. 491
(b) (1) The retraining program shall be taught by a designee of the 492
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by an instructor approved by the 493
commissioner and shall [(1)] (A) review principles of motor vehicle 494
operation, [(2)] (B) develop alternative attitudes for those attitudes 495
contributing to aggressive driving behavior, and [(3)] (C) emphasize the 496
need to practice safe driving behavior. 497
(2) The retraining program shall be offered by the Department of 498
Motor Vehicles or by any other organization certified by the 499
commissioner to conduct such program in person in a congregate 500
setting, through distance learning or through a combination of both in-501
person and distance learning, provided such distance learning has 502
interactive components such as mandatory interactions, participation or 503
testing. Any drivers' school, as defined in section 14-68, that meets the 504
licensure requirements of part IV of this chapter shall be eligible to seek 505
certification to offer the motor vehicle operator's retraining program. 506
The commissioner shall determine the number of program providers 507
necessary to serve the needs of the public. 508
(3) Each organization or drivers' school seeking certification or 509
recertification to conduct such retraining program shall submit an 510
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application to the department in such form as the commissioner shall 511
require and an application fee of three hundred fifty dollars. Each such 512
applicant shall: 513
(A) Be registered to do business in this state and continuously 514
maintain good standing with the office of the Secretary of the State; 515
(B) [file] File and continuously maintain a surety bond in the amount 516
of fifty thousand dollars. Such bond shall be conditioned upon 517
compliance with the provisions of any state or federal law or regulation 518
concerning the conduct of an operator retraining program and provided 519
as indemnity for any loss or expense sustained by either the state or any 520
person by reason of any acts or omissions of the program provider. Such 521
bond shall be executed in the name of the State of Connecticut for the 522
benefit of any aggrieved party, but the penalty of the bond shall not be 523
invoked except upon order of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles after 524
a hearing held before the commissioner in accordance with the 525
provisions of chapter 54; 526
(C) [have] Have a permanent place of business in this state where all 527
operator retraining program records shall be maintained and accessible 528
to the commissioner during normal business hours; 529
(D) [submit] Submit for approval by the commissioner a detailed 530
curriculum and lesson plan, including any changes to such curriculum 531
and lesson plan, which shall be used in each operator retraining class; 532
and 533
(E) [electronically] Electronically transmit information concerning 534
enrollment and class completion to the commissioner at such times and 535
in such form as the commissioner shall prescribe. 536
(4) Prior to the certification of an applicant, the commissioner shall 537
investigate the applicant's character, driving history and criminal 538
history. If the applicant is a business entity, such investigation shall 539
include the principals and officers of such entity. The applicant shall 540
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submit to the commissioner any information pertaining to current or 541
past criminal or civil actions. The certification of a program provider by 542
the commissioner shall not be transferable and shall be valid for a two-543
year period. Recertification of a provider shall be at the discretion of the 544
commissioner and in such form and manner determined by the 545
commissioner. 546
(c) Any person who is required to attend an operator retraining 547
program shall have such requirement and the completion date of such 548
requirement posted on such person's driving history record maintained 549
by the commissioner. The date of class completion shall remain on such 550
person's driving history record until such person has attained thirty-six 551
consecutive months without any additional moving violations or 552
suspension violations specified in subsection (a) of this section being 553
posted to such person's driving history record. Until the completion of 554
such thirty-six consecutive months, the Commissioner of Motor 555
Vehicles shall suspend such person's operator's license or operating 556
privilege for: (1) Thirty days upon a first conviction for any specified 557
moving violation or suspension violation; (2) sixty days upon a second 558
conviction of any specified moving violation or suspension violation; 559
and (3) ninety days for a third or subsequent conviction of a specified 560
moving violation or suspension violation. 561
(d) The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with 562
chapter 54 to implement the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this 563
section. 564
Sec. 12. Subsection (e) of section 22a-202 of the general statutes is 565
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 566
2025): 567
(e) (1) As a part of the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric 568
Automobile Purchase Rebate program, the Commissioner of Energy 569
and Environmental Protection shall also establish and administer a 570
program to provide rebates or vouchers to residents of the state who 571
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purchase an electric bicycle. The commissioner, in consultation with the 572
advisory board, shall establish and revise, as necessary, maximum 573
income eligibility for such rebates or vouchers. Any such rebate or 574
voucher amount shall be in an amount not less than five hundred 575
dollars. The rebate or voucher program shall be designed to maximize 576
the air quality benefits associated with the deployment of electric 577
bicycles and prioritize providing vouchers to (A) residents of 578
environmental justice communities, (B) residents having household 579
incomes at or below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, 580
[and] (C) residents who participate in state and federal assistance 581
programs, including, but not limited to, the state-administered federal 582
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state-administered federal 583
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [,] or a federal Head 584
Start program, [established pursuant to section 10-16] or who receive 585
assistance provided by Operation Fuel, Incorporated, and (D) residents 586
with physical disabilities. 587
(2) On and after July 1, 2022, and until June 30, 2027, inclusive, an 588
electric bicycle that is eligible for a rebate or voucher under the program 589
shall have a base manufacturer's suggested retail price of not more than 590
three thousand dollars. The provisions of this subdivision shall not 591
apply to an adaptive electric bicycle or electric personal assistance 592
mobility device, as defined in section 14-289h, prescribed by a health 593
care provider. 594
Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) Upon receipt of an application 595
concerning the construction of any development that would impact 596
traffic at the intersection of Connecticut Route 71 and Connecticut Route 597
9 in the city of New Britain, the Department of Transportation and the 598
Office of State Traffic Administration shall not issue a state highway 599
right-of-way encroachment permit or certificate of operation pursuant 600
to section 14-311 of the general statutes for such development until (1) a 601
traffic study is performed by such department or office, and (2) the 602
results of such traffic study are submitted to the joint standing 603
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 604
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relating to transportation. 605
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 14-300
Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 14-230a
Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 14-289g
Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 14-296aa
Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 14-286d
Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 14-298
Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 13b-10
Sec. 10 from passage New section
Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 14-111g
Sec. 12 July 1, 2025 22a-202(e)
Sec. 13 from passage New section
Statement of Purpose:
To increase penalties for unsafe driving, restrict driving in the extreme
left lane, require helmets for certain operators of motorcycles and
bicycles, redefine "mobile electronic device", prohibit open alcoholic
beverage containers in motor vehicles, require reflective paint on
highways, permit the reporting of instances of unsafe driving, support
Complete Streets projects and prioritization plans, study the use of
intelligent speed assistance devices, require an operator to complete the
operator's retraining program after the first conviction of reckless
driving, revise the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile
Purchase Rebate program and restrict the issuance of certain right-of-
way encroachment permits and certificates of operation.
[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.]