Sec. 14-298. State Traffic Commission. There shall be within the Department of
Transportation a State Traffic Commission. Said Traffic Commission shall consist of
the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, said
commission shall adopt and cause to be printed for publication regulations establishing
a uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings consistent with
the provisions of this chapter for use upon the public highways. The commissioner
shall make known to the General Assembly the availability of such regulations and any
requesting member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage media of such
regulations by the commissioner. Taking into consideration the public safety and convenience with respect to the width and character of the highways and roads affected, the
density of traffic thereon and the character of such traffic, said commission shall also
adopt regulations, in cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities, governing
the use of state highways and roads on state-owned properties, and the operation of
vehicles including but not limited to motor vehicles, as defined by section 14-1, and
bicycles, as defined by section 14-286, thereon. A list of limited-access highways shall
be published with such regulations and said list shall be revised and published once
each year. The commissioner shall make known to the General Assembly the availability
of such regulations and list and any requesting member shall be sent a written copy or
electronic storage media of such regulations and list by the commissioner. A list of
limited-access highways opened to traffic by the Commissioner of Transportation in
the interim period between publications shall be maintained in the office of the State
Traffic Commission and such regulations shall apply to the use of such listed highways.
Said commission shall also make regulations, in cooperation and agreement with local
traffic authorities, respecting the use by through truck traffic of streets and highways
within the limits of, and under the jurisdiction of, any city, town or borough of this
state for the protection and safety of the public. If said commission determines that the
prohibition of through truck traffic on any street or highway is necessary because of an
immediate and imminent threat to the public health and safety and the local traffic
authority is precluded for any reason from acting on such prohibition, the commission,
if it is not otherwise precluded from so acting, may impose such prohibition. Said commission may place and maintain traffic control signals, signs, markings and other safety
devices, which it deems to be in the interests of public safety, upon such highways as
come within the jurisdiction of said commission as set forth in section 14-297. The
traffic authority of any city, town or borough may place and maintain traffic control
signals, signs, markings and other safety devices upon the highways under its jurisdiction, and all such signals, devices, signs and markings shall conform to the regulations
established by said commission in accordance with this chapter, and such traffic authority shall, with respect to traffic control signals, conform to the provisions of section
14-299.
(1949 Rev., S. 2517; 1957, P.A. 331, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 685, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 151; P.A. 77-375, S. 6; 77-614, S.
558, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 11, 136; P.A. 84-429, S. 67; P.A. 88-242, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-222, S. 6.)
History: 1967 act added provisions re regulations governing use of state highways and roads on state-owned properties
and re list of limited access highways; 1969 act replaced highway commissioner with commissioner of transportation;
P.A. 77-375 added reference to role of local traffic authorities in adoption of regulations and specifically referred to
regulations re operation of vehicles "not limited to motor vehicles" and of bicycles; P.A. 77-614 placed state traffic
commission in department of transportation and changed membership to include commissioner of public safety rather than
commissioner of motor vehicles, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 restored membership of commissioner of motor
vehicles and deleted reference to no longer existing commissioner of state police; P.A. 84-429 made technical changes for
statutory consistency; P.A. 88-242 added provisions authorizing the state traffic commission to prohibit through truck
traffic in certain cases involving an immediate and imminent threat to public health and safety; P.A. 98-222 added a
requirement that the commissioner notify the General Assembly that the regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic
control signals and the list of limited-access highways are available upon request in a written format or as electronic storage.
Court may take judicial notice of state traffic commission regulations. 133 C. 453. Cited. 134 C. 636. Cited. 181 C.
114, 121, 124. Uniform Administrative Procedure Act not applicable to regulations under statute which are not of general
applicability. Distinction between regulations within and without the purview of that act discussed. 183 C. 313, 316, 326,
328, 329. Legislature reserved to state traffic commission the ultimate authority to regulate through truck traffic. 203 C.
267, 270, 273, 276, 279.
Cited. 28 CA 283-288.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 104.
Sec. 14-299. Traffic control signals. Right turn on red. (a) For the purpose of
standardization and uniformity, no installation of any traffic control signal light shall
be made by any town, city or borough until the same has been approved by the State
Traffic Commission. Such approval shall be based on necessity for, location of and type
of such signal light and shall be applied for on a form supplied by the State Traffic
Commission and shall be submitted to said commission by the traffic authority having
jurisdiction. Approval of any such signal light may be revoked by said commission at
any time if it deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety, and thereupon
such signal lights shall be removed by the traffic authority having jurisdiction.
(b) When traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed and to stop by
the use of signals exhibiting colored lights or lighted arrows, successively one at a time
or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special
pedestrian control signals carrying word legends, said lights shall apply to drivers of
vehicles and pedestrians and shall indicate the following:
(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular traffic facing a green signal may proceed straight
through or turn right or left unless a sign or marking at such place prohibits either such
turn or straight through movement, except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way
to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time
such signal was exhibited; pedestrians facing the green signal, except when directed by
separate pedestrian-control signals, may proceed across the highway within any marked
or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) Yellow: Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that
the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited
immediately thereafter, when vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the intersection
unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; pedestrians facing
a steady yellow signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, are
thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication
is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
(3) Red alone: Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop before
entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering
the intersection and remain standing until the next indication is shown; provided, on or
after July 1, 1979, vehicular traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest the right hand
curb or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign has been erected in the appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may cautiously enter the intersection to make
a right turn onto a two-way street or onto another one-way street on which all the traffic
is moving to such vehicle's right after such vehicle has stopped as required in this
subdivision and yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent
crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Pedestrians facing a steady
red signal alone, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, shall not
enter the roadway. The Commissioner of Transportation, in the case of state highways
and the traffic authority, as defined in section 14-297, in the case of highways maintained
by towns, cities or boroughs, shall review all traffic control signalized intersections on
highways within their respective jurisdictions to determine those intersections where
signs should be erected to prohibit right turns on a steady red signal as hereinbefore
described and cause to have erected such signs by June 30, 1979. For purposes of uniformity, each municipality shall report the results of its reviews to the State Traffic
Commission and shall not erect or cause to be erected signs prohibiting right turns on
a steady red signal until such signs have been approved by the State Traffic Commission.
(4) Green arrow: Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in
combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make
the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other
indications shown at the same time, but such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully within the
intersection.
(5) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words "Walk" or
"Don't Walk" are in place such signals shall indicate as follows: "Walk": Pedestrians
facing such signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and
shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; "Don't Walk": No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian
who has partially completed his crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk
or safety island while the "Don't Walk" signal is showing.
(c) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or
signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers
of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a
limit line when marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right
to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(2) When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of
vehicles facing such signal may proceed through the intersection or past such signal
only with caution.
(d) Lenses of the following colors only shall be used and shall be arranged vertically
in the signal face or, when necessary, horizontally, and shall conform to the following
positions: When arranged vertically, red shall be located at the top, yellow shall be
located directly below red and the remaining indications below the yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, circular green, vertical arrow, left-turn arrow and right-turn
arrow, as needed; when arranged horizontally, red shall be located at the left, yellow
shall be located directly to the right of red and the remaining indications to the right of
yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, left-turn arrow, circular green, vertical
arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed.
(e) When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a
street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green arrow
signal is shown, but shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red X signal is
shown.
(f) If a traffic control signal, approved by the State Traffic Commission, is erected
and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall
be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application.
Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where
the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any sign or marking the stop shall be made
at the signal.
(1949 Rev., S. 2518; 1967, P.A. 428; P.A. 75-297; P.A. 78-309, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act restated provisions of Subsecs. (b) to (d) and added Subsecs. (e) and (f); P.A. 75-297 added provisions
in Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (b) re right turns on red; P.A. 78-309 revised and amplified Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (b) and changed
emphasis by allowing right turn on red unless sign prohibits it, whereas previously turn allowed only where sign permitted it.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Duty of operator approaching intersection where traffic light is red. 3 CS 177. That stop sign was obscured from view
by large truck not justification for failure to stop. 6 CS 264. All silent policemen or stanchions are obstructions in the
highway, but they are not nuisances. 15 CS 93. Cited. 181 C. 515, 518.
Cited. 2 CA 523, 525.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 2 CA 523, 525.
Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 333; 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 335, 452.
Subsec. (b):
The provisions of this subsection are subject to the specific exceptions created by the express provisions of section 14-283. 114 C. 406. Right-of-way and duty of driver approaching green light. 114 C. 640. When street marking and green
arrow create separate lanes; right to proceed in right-hand lane. 122 C. 520. Cited. 119 C. 267; 122 C. 518; 124 C. 688;
125 C. 38; 149 C. 61. A driver when faced with a green light at an intersection must act as a reasonably prudent person
with a knowledge that he cannot proceed in disregard of other vehicles in the intersection. 165 C. 422, 429, 433. A duty
of reasonable safety is placed on a driver who wishes to turn left. A driver facing a green light may have a higher standard
of care as he is required to yield to certain vehicles that constitute an imminent hazard. 165 C. 422, 433. Cited. 170 C. 490,
491, 493.
Sec. 14-300. Crosswalks. Pedestrian-control signals. Regulation of pedestrians and motor vehicles at crosswalks. (a) The traffic authority shall have power to
designate, by appropriate devices or markers or by lines upon the surface of the highway,
such crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute an especial danger to
pedestrians crossing the highway including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in
accordance with the regulations of the State Traffic Commission, to denote use of such
crosswalks by school children; and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals
along highways, particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk
facing vehicular traffic.
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals bearing the words
"Walk" or "Don't Walk" are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated
by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other traffic control
signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the highway against a red or
"Stop" signal and shall not cross at any place not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A
pedestrian started or starting across the highway on a "Walk" signal or on any such
crosswalk on a green or "Go" signal shall have the right of way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety
zone.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any crosswalk marked
as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk, provided such
crosswalks are not controlled by police officers or traffic control signals, each operator
of a vehicle shall grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to
so grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within such crosswalk,
provided such pedestrian steps to the curb at the entrance to a crosswalk or is within
that half of the roadway upon which such operator of a vehicle is traveling or such
pedestrian steps to the curb at the entrance to a crosswalk or is crossing the roadway
within such crosswalk from that half of the roadway upon which such operator is not
traveling. No operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass
any vehicle the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in
subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross
the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such sidewalk. A violation of this
subsection shall be an infraction.
(d) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) of this section or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per se shall not apply.
(1949 Rev., S. 2519; 1955, S. 1403d; 1967, P.A. 639; P.A. 78-309, S. 2; P.A. 94-189, S. 33, 34; P.A. 00-196, S. 13.)
History: 1967 act made special reference to specially marked crosswalks near schools in Subsec. (a); P.A. 78-309 added
Subsecs. (c) and (d); P.A. 94-189 amended Subsec. (c) by changing "yield" to "grant", making the section also applicable
to a pedestrian who "steps to the curb at the entrance to a crosswalk" and deleting the requirement that such pedestrian
should be "approaching at such a rate of speed or has approached so near to that half of the roadway upon which such
operator is traveling so as to be in reasonable danger of being struck by the vehicle of such operator", effective July 1,
1994; P.A. 00-196 made a technical change.
See Sec. 53-182 re penalties for infractions committed by pedestrians.
Subsec. (a):
What lines constitute compliance with this section. 126 C. 527.
Subsec. (b):
Rule for pedestrians crossing from one curb to the other; not applicable to one marooned in middle of street when the
light changed. 127 C. 160. Pedestrian crossing with light could not be found guilty of contributory negligence as a matter
of law. 130 C. 614. Cited. 125 C. 223; 127 C. 301; 133 C. 581; 138 C. 81. A pedestrian who has the right of way is not
justified in being oblivious to the circumstances and failing to exercise care commensurate with the situation. 142 C. 385.
Cited. 146 C. 210. Violation constitutes negligence per se. 147 C. 644. Cited. 149 C. 61. Statute not applicable where
evidence did not show that decedent was on or near crosswalk until bus had nearly completed its turn. 151 C. 14. Statutory
right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks limited to crosswalks on public highways. 163 C. 365.
Legislature intended to make it possible for the pedestrian to cross and to be protected while crossing. 5 CS 133. A
pedestrian desiring to cross a street upon a crosswalk at a street intersection where traffic is controlled by traffic light may
rely solely upon the assumption that other traffic will obey such lights. 10 CS 413.
Stoplights and flashers on school bus not the type of signals specified in subsection (b). 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 214.
Sec. 14-300a. Pedestrian street markings near housing projects for elderly
persons. The State Traffic Commission and each municipal traffic authority shall, on
highways under their respective jurisdictions and subject to the provisions of section 14-298, provide special pedestrian street or sidewalk markings at intersections and streets in
proximity to projects designated for or containing a high proportion of elderly persons.
(1967, P.A. 358.)
Sec. 14-300b. Pedestrian use of crosswalks and roadways. (a) Each pedestrian
crossing a roadway at any point other than within a crosswalk marked as provided in
subsection (a) of section 14-300 or any unmarked crosswalk or at a location controlled
by police officers shall yield the right of way to each vehicle upon such roadway. Each
pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian
crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to each vehicle upon such
roadway.
(b) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized
by a pedestrian-control signal or police officer. When authorized by a pedestrian-control
signal or police officer to cross an intersection diagonally each pedestrian shall cross
only in accordance with such signals or as directed by such police officer. No pedestrian
shall cross a roadway between adjacent intersections at which traffic or pedestrian-control signals are in operation except within a marked crosswalk.
(c) Each pedestrian crossing a roadway within a crosswalk shall travel whenever
practicable upon the right half of such crosswalk.
(d) A violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(P.A. 78-309, S. 3.)
Cited. 27 CA 513, 517.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 27 CA 513, 519.
Sec. 14-300c. Pedestrian use of roads and sidewalks. Required to yield to emergency vehicle. (a) No pedestrian shall walk along and upon a roadway where a sidewalk
adjacent to such roadway is provided and the use thereof is practicable. Where a sidewalk
is not provided adjacent to a roadway each pedestrian walking along and upon such
roadway shall walk only on the shoulder thereof and as far as practicable from the edge
of such roadway. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder adjacent to a roadway is
provided each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk as near as
practicable to an outside edge of such roadway and if such roadway carries motor vehicle
traffic traveling in opposite directions each pedestrian walking along and upon such
roadway shall walk only upon the left side of such roadway.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb, sidewalk, crosswalk or any other
place of safety adjacent to or upon a roadway and walk or run into the path of a vehicle
which is so close to such pedestrian as to constitute an immediate hazard to such pedestrian. No pedestrian who is under the influence of alcohol or any drug to a degree which
renders himself a hazard shall walk or stand upon any part of a roadway.
(c) Each pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to any authorized emergency vehicle, as defined by section 14-1, approaching such pedestrian and emitting any audible
signal or displaying or making any visual signal reasonably indicating that such vehicle
is being operated in an emergency situation. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed
to relieve the driver of such an authorized emergency vehicle from any duty to drive
with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway or from the duty to
exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.
(d) Except as provided by sections 14-299, 14-300, and 14-300b to 14-300e, inclusive, each pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to each vehicle upon
such roadway.
(e) A violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(P.A. 78-309, S. 4; P.A. 84-429, S. 68.)
History: P.A. 84-429 substituted reference to Sec. 14-1 for reference to Sec. 14-1a, repealed in the same act.
Cited. 27 CA 513, 517.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 27 CA 513, 519.
Sec. 14-300d. Operator of a vehicle required to exercise due care to avoid pedestrian. Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes or any regulations
issued thereunder, sections 14-299, 14-300, 14-300b to 14-300e, inclusive, or any local
ordinance to the contrary, each operator of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid
colliding with any pedestrian or person propelling a human powered vehicle and shall
give a reasonable warning by sounding a horn or other lawful noise emitting device to
avoid a collision. A violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(P.A. 78-309, S. 5.)
Sec. 14-300e. Application of pedestrian rights to solicitation of rides in a motor
vehicle and walking on limited access highways. Nothing contained in sections 14-299, 14-300 or 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, shall be construed to limit the provisions
of section 53-181 or to permit any pedestrian to walk upon or along any highway where
pedestrians are prohibited by any provision of the general statutes or any regulations
issued thereunder.
(P.A. 78-309, S. 6.)
Sec. 14-300f. Vehicles to stop for school crossing guard. Penalties. (a) The operator of any motor vehicle shall immediately bring his vehicle to a stop not less than ten
feet from a location having a school crossing guard on any highway or private road
when such school crossing guard specifically directs him to do so. Any motor vehicle
so stopped for a school crossing guard shall not proceed until there is specific direction
from the school crossing guard.
(b) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be
fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for the first
offense and, for each subsequent offense, not less than five hundred dollars nor more
than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both.
(P.A. 96-167, S. 1.)
Sec. 14-301. Through ways. Stop signs. (a) The State Traffic Commission may
designate any state highway or part thereof or any bridge upon any such highway as a
through way, and may, after notice, revoke any such designation. The traffic authority
of any town, city or borough may designate any highway or part thereof under the control
of such town, city or borough as a through way, and may, after notice, revoke any such
designation.
(b) No designation of a through way shall become effective as to regulation of traffic
at any intersection thereon until said commission or such other traffic authority has
caused signs to be erected at such intersections. Each such sign shall bear the word
"stop", which shall be self-illuminated at night or so placed as to be illuminated by street
lights or by headlights of approaching motor vehicles, and each such sign shall be located
as near as practicable to the traveled portion of the highway at the entrance to which
the stop is to be made, or at the nearest line of the crosswalk thereat, and shall be clearly
visible for a distance of one hundred feet along the street intersecting the through way.
(c) The driver of a vehicle shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at such clearly
marked stop line or lines as may be established by the traffic authority having jurisdiction
or, in the absence of such line or lines, shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at the
entrance to a through highway and shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles not so obliged
to stop which are within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute an
immediate hazard.
(d) Nothing herein contained shall prevent said commission or such traffic authority
from erecting such stop signs on all corners of any intersection within its jurisdiction,
and thereafter the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, relating to the stopping
of motor vehicles and the right-of-way within such intersection, shall apply to the operation of motor vehicles on each of the intersecting streets.
(e) The driver of a vehicle shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at a railroad crossing
erected and maintained on the highway by requirement of the Commissioner of Transportation or the State Traffic Commission.
(1949 Rev., S. 2520; 1949, S. 1405d; 1955, S. 1404d; 1959, P.A. 163; 1963, P.A. 29; 1971, P.A. 144; P.A. 75-486, S.
44, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136.)
History: 1959 act amended Subsec. (c) by adding requirement of stopping at stop lines; 1963 act added Subsec. (e);
1971 act deleted clause in Subsec. (c) allowing drivers having once yielded right-of-way to proceed and requiring others
approaching to yield to them; P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority in
Subsec. (e); P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced public utilities control authority with commissioner of transportation,
effective January 1, 1979.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Subsec. (e):
See Sec. 14-249 re stopping at grade crossings.
Purpose of former statute accomplished by a stop at a "stop" sign. 116 C. 599; 117 C. 551. Stopping at "stop" sign not
sufficient, as sign may be considerable distance from traveled portion of "through street". Where no reasonably observable
property line, statute inoperative to impose obligation to stop. Statute places no duty upon traffic authority to erect sign
of any particular type or legible for any particular distance, but, if there is sign legible for one hundred feet, duties upon
driver of car arise. 127 C. 234. Operator of vehicle approaching from right who complies with "stop" regulation has superior
right-of-way if vehicles arrive at intersection at approximately same time. 130 C. 400. Cited. 131 C. 79. Whether placing
of stop sign complies with statute is question of fact for jury. 131 C. 165. Right-of-way of driver entering "through street".
133 C. 455. Where visibility is obscured at required stopping point, statute imposes no duty to make second stop. 133 C.
724. Failure of defendant to stop at a stop line was negligence. 139 C. 223. Error where court charged, in effect, that car
disregarding stop sign at intersection might have right-of-way over car making left turn. 151 C. 199. Charge, "once operator
from right has complied with stop sign regulation, he has superior right-of-way if vehicles arrived at intersection at approximately same time", was erroneous. Id., 221. The word "entrance" does not require a special definition when a jury is
charged. 160 C. 480. Cited. 163 C. 279.
Cited. 29 CA 791, 800.
Cited. 24 CS 375; 26 CS 184.
Subsec. (c):
Subsection explained. 165 C. 635, 640. Cited. 170 C. 583, 585, 587, 588.
Cited. 16 CA 272, 274.
The judge's charge as to this statute if read in its entirety was accurate in law, adapted to the issues and sufficient as a
guide to the jury. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 164.
Sec. 14-302. "Yield" signs. The State Traffic Commission, on any state highway,
or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, may designate intersections
at which signs bearing the words "Yield" may be erected. The driver of a vehicle approaching a "Yield" sign shall, in obedience to such sign, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions, and shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the
intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate
hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection, provided,
if such driver is involved in a collision, such collision shall be deemed prima facie
evidence of such driver's failure to yield the right-of-way.
(1955, S. 1406d; February, 1965, P.A. 448, S. 40.)
History: 1965 act deleted reference to state aid highway, words "right-of-way" after "Yield" and provision specifying
application of collision proviso was to collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles, and changed driver's duty on approaching sign from slowing to ten miles per hour and yielding so as to avoid collision to slowing to reasonable speed so
as to avoid hazard.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Sec. 14-303. Designation of one-way streets. Subject to the provisions of this
chapter, the traffic authority shall have power to designate streets as one-way streets
and to place and maintain on each street intersecting a street designated as a one-way
street, at or near the property line of such one-way street, appropriate signs upon or in
the street; such signs, devices or marks to bear the word "one-way" with an arrow
pointing in the direction that all vehicular traffic shall travel when using such designated
one-way street. No person shall operate or drive any vehicle upon or through any one-way street contrary to the directions as indicated by such signs, devices or marks established under the provisions of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 2521.)
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Sec. 14-304. Safety zones. (a) The traffic authority shall have power to establish
safety zones of such character and at such places as it deems necessary for the protection
of pedestrians.
(b) No person shall operate or drive any vehicle over or through any safety zone
established under the provisions of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 2522.)
Sec. 14-305. Bus stops and public service motor vehicle stands. (a) The traffic
authority shall have power to establish bus stops with the approval of the Department
of Transportation. The traffic authority shall also have the power to establish stands for
other motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for hire and designate the
same by appropriate signs and markings.
(b) No person other than an operator of a motor vehicle used for the transportation
of passengers for hire shall park any vehicle in any officially designated public service
motor vehicle stand, and no operator of any such motor vehicle shall park such vehicle
upon any highway in any business district at any place other than a public service motor
vehicle stand; but this provision shall not prevent the operator of any such motor vehicle
from temporarily stopping such vehicle in accordance with parking regulations at any
place for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
(1949 Rev., S. 2523; 1949, S. 1407d; P.A. 75-486, S. 45, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 36, 348; P.A.
84-20, S. 3; P.A. 90-263, S. 54, 74.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 replaced
authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979;
P.A. 80-482 gave division of public utility control department status and deleted reference to abolished department of
business regulation; P.A. 84-20 amended Subsec. (a) to transfer power to approve establishment of bus stops from public
utility control department to transportation department; P.A. 90-263 substituted "motor vehicles used for the transportation
of passengers for hire" for "public service motor vehicle".
Sec. 14-306. Taxi stands in front of hotels. The traffic authority of any city or
town is authorized to establish a public taxi stand in connection with any hotel within
the limits of such city or town and may, with the approval of the owner or lessee of such
hotel, limit the use of such public taxi stand to cabs of a company to be designated by
such owner or lessee.
(1949 Rev., S. 2524.)
Cited. 118 C. 375. Statute construed as applying to establishment of taxi stands adjacent to hotels in those portions of
highway of which hotel owner holds fee; hence constitutional. 119 C. 325.
Sec. 14-307. Parking restrictions. Regulations. (a) The traffic authority of any
city, town or borough shall have power to prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles
and to erect and maintain signs in each block designating the time or terms of such
prohibition or restriction on any highway or thoroughfare coming under the jurisdiction
of such city, town or borough and such traffic authority may remove from state highways,
except limited access highways, within the territorial limits of such city, town or borough
any vehicles parked in violation of any regulation of the State Traffic Commission
established in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and of any rule, regulation,
order or ordinance of any such city, town or borough relative to or in connection with
parking on such highway. Such removal shall be undertaken in accordance with the
procedures employed by the city, town or borough in the removal of vehicles from any
highway or thoroughfare coming under the jurisdiction of such city, town or borough.
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 54 to establish procedures for the removal of such vehicles by
such traffic authority and for the storage of such vehicles. The regulations shall, at a
minimum, (1) require that such traffic authority provide written notice by certified mail
to the owner of any vehicle removed, (2) provide any such owner with an opportunity
for a hearing before a hearing officer appointed by the chief executive officer of each
city, town or borough and specify procedures for the holding of such hearing, (3) provide
that the owner or keeper of any garage or other place where any such vehicle is stored
shall have a lien on the vehicle for his storage charges and (4) specify procedures for
the sale at public auction of any vehicle placed in storage which is not claimed within
a specified period of time by the owner thereof.
(b) The State Traffic Commission shall have power to prohibit, limit or restrict the
parking of vehicles on any portion of any state highway or on any bridge on any such
highway and to erect and maintain signs designating the terms of such prohibition or
restriction.
(c) No person shall park any vehicle in any place where parking is prohibited or
park any vehicle for a longer period than that indicated as lawful by any sign erected
and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except: (1) A person
operating an armored car vehicle may, while in the performance of such person's duties,
park for a period not to exceed ten minutes in a place where parking is prohibited,
provided such vehicle does not obstruct or impede the normal and reasonable movement
of traffic, or (2) a vehicle displaying a special license plate or a removable windshield
placard issued pursuant to section 14-253a or by authorities of other states or countries
for the purpose of identifying vehicles permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for
persons with disabilities which limit or impair their ability to walk or blind persons,
may park in an area where parking is legally permissible, for an unlimited period of
time without penalty, notwithstanding the period of time indicated as lawful by any (A)
parking meter, or (B) sign erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of
this chapter.
(1949 Rev., S. 2525; 1969, P.A. 236; P.A. 91-408, S. 6; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-4, S. 7, 11; June 18 Sp. Sess. 97-11,
S. 63, 65; P.A. 99-268, S. 35; P.A. 00-169, S. 22.)
History: 1969 act gave local traffic authorities power to remove from roads vehicles parked in violation of state traffic
commission regulations under Subsec. (a); P.A. 91-408 amended Subsec. (c) to add exception authorizing operator of an
armored car vehicle to park where parking is prohibited; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-4 amended Subsec. (a) to require
commissioner to adopt regulations re procedures for removal and storage of vehicles and stated minimum requirements
for such regulations, effective June 30, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11 changed effective date of June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-4 but without affecting this section; P.A. 99-268 amended Subsec. (c) by designating existing exception re armored
cars as Subdiv. (1), adding Subdiv. (2) re allowing a vehicle displaying a special license plate or removable windshield
placard to park without penalty where legally permissible for an unlimited period of time and by making a technical change
re gender neutrality; P.A. 00-169 revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section.
As to local parking regulations. 125 C. 506. Traffic authority has power to install parking meters. 130 C. 243, 244.
Sec. 14-308. Loading and unloading. (a) The traffic authority shall have power
to determine the location of loading and unloading zones and shall erect and maintain
signs designating the same.
(b) No operator of any vehicle shall park for a period of time longer than is necessary
for the loading or unloading of materials or merchandise in any place marked as a loading
or unloading zone.
(1949 Rev., S. 2526.)
Sec. 14-309. Traffic safety measures and control devices; approval of State
Traffic Commission. No traffic safety measure or traffic control device, sign or marking
shall be installed or maintained on any state highway or on any bridge on any such
highway or within the right-of-way of any such highway or bridge by the traffic authority
of any town, city or borough, except by consent and written approval of the State Traffic
Commission. No rule, regulation, order or ordinance of any town, city or borough relative to or in connection with such safety measure or traffic control device, sign or marking
on any such highway or bridge, or within the right-of-way of any such highway or
bridge, shall take effect until approved in writing by said commission or be effective
after such approval has been revoked. Approval of any such traffic control measure may
be revoked by said commission at any time, if it deems such revocation to be in the
interest of public safety.
(1949 Rev., S. 2527.)
Cited. 134 C. 636.
Sec. 14-310. Fraudulent or obstructive signs and signals. (a) No person, firm
or corporation shall place, maintain or display upon or in view from any highway any
unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is in imitation of
or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts
to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal and no person,
firm or corporation shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit, upon
any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
(b) The traffic authority having jurisdiction over any such highway is authorized,
without notice, to cause any such prohibited sign, signal or marking to be removed as
a public nuisance.
(1949 Rev., S. 2528.)
See Sec. 13a-124 re unauthorized signs.
Cited. 122 C. 518.
Sec. 14-311. Open air theaters, shopping centers and certain other developments affecting state highway traffic. (a) No person, firm, corporation, state agency,
or municipal agency or combination thereof shall build, expand, establish or operate
any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes
of traffic, having an exit or entrance on, or abutting or adjoining, any state highway or
substantially affecting state highway traffic within this state until such person or agency
has procured from the State Traffic Commission a certificate that the operation thereof
will not imperil the safety of the public.
(b) No local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any
person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to build, expand, establish
or operate such a development until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides
to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the commission. If
the commission determines that any person, firm, corporation, or state or municipal
agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development
without first obtaining a certificate from the commission or (2) has failed to comply
with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the person, firm, corporation or
agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development
or (B) comply with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time.
If such person, firm, corporation or agency fails to (i) cease such work or (ii) comply
with an order of the commission within such time as specified by the commission, the
commission may make an application to the superior court for the judicial district of
Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or operation of such development.
(c) The State Traffic Commission shall issue its decision on an application for a
certificate under subsection (a) of this section not later than one hundred twenty days
after it is filed, except that, if the commission needs additional information from the
applicant, it shall notify the applicant in writing as to what information is required and
(1) the commission may toll the running of such one-hundred-twenty-day period by the
number of days between and including the date such notice is received by the applicant
and the date the additional information is received by the commission and (2) if the
commission receives the additional information during the last ten days of the one-hundred-twenty-day period and needs additional time to review and analyze such information, it may extend such period by not more than fifteen days. The State Traffic
Commission may also, at its discretion, postpone action on any application submitted
pursuant to this section or section 14-311a until such time as it is shown that an application has been filed with and approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or
other responsible municipal agency.
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the State Traffic Commission shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, the width and character of the
highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the
opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development
is located. If the State Traffic Commission determines that traffic signals, pavement
markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices
are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost
thereof shall be borne by the person building, establishing or operating such open air
theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except
that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to said person to construct or install the changes required
by the State Traffic Commission.
(e) Any person aggrieved by any decision of the State Traffic Commission hereunder may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except
venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate
such establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such provisions
relate to expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other
development generating large volumes of traffic in operation on July 1, 1967.
(1951, S. 1408d; 1967, P.A. 730; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 152; 1971, P.A. 611, S. 1; 870, S. 103; P.A. 73-136; P.A. 74-183,
S. 202, 291; P.A. 76-412; 76-436, S. 173, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 38, 125; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 83-362; P.A. 84-546,
S. 46, 173; P.A. 85-498, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; 90-342, S. 1, 5; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A.
95-220, S. 4-6.)
History: 1967 act made provisions applicable to shopping centers and other developments generating large volumes
of traffic, added provisions re percentage of cost of traffic signals, pavement markings, road widening etc. to be borne by
developer and re permit to construct or install required changes and replaced exemption for developments under construction
or in operation on June 5, 1951, with exemption for developments in operation on July 1, 1967; 1969 act replaced highway
commissioner with commissioner of transportation; 1971 acts made provisions applicable to expansions of developments
or facilities, required developer to bear seventy-five rather than fifty per cent of cost of road or traffic signal changes,
qualified exemption by excluding expansion operations and replaced superior court with court of common pleas; P.A. 73-136 required developer to pay one hundred per cent of cost of road or traffic signal changes; P.A. 74-183 added reference
to judicial districts; P.A. 76-412 included facilities or developments of state or municipal agencies, made provisions
applicable to projects "substantially affecting state highway traffic", exempted municipal agency from payment of cost of
changes and added provision re postponement of action on applications; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with
superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous appeal provision with requirement that appeals be
made in accordance with Sec. 4-183 except that venue remains in county or judicial district affected; P.A. 78-280 deleted
reference to counties; P.A. 83-362 divided section into Subsecs., prohibited local building officials from issuing building
or foundation permits for developments until commission issues certificates and required commission to act on certificate
applications within one hundred twenty days unless additional information needed; P.A. 84-546 made technical grammatical change in Subsec. (e); P.A. 85-498 extended the provisions of Subsecs. (a) and (b) to firms, corporations or any
combination of a firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency;; P.A. 90-342 added provision in Subsec. (b) authorizing injunction for failure to comply with commission's orders and provision in Subsec. (d) requiring the commission to
seek the opinion of the traffic authority of the municipality where the development is located (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230 and P.A. 90-98 authorized substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain"
in public and special acts of the 1990 session, effective September 1, 1993); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of
P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective
date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 14-311c re developed parcels of land separately owned and utilized together for a single development purpose
which affects state highway traffic.
Approval by state traffic commission is not a condition precedent to issuance of a building permit by local authority.
144 C. 67. Cited. 176 C. 63, 66. Cited. 180 C. 11, 34, 35.
Cited. 43 CA 52.
No open air theater can lawfully be built until the required certificate has been issued. 18 CS 521. The issue of adequacy
of roads leading to proposed site is determined by the state traffic commission. 20 CS 192.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 43 CA 52.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 43 CA 52.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 43 CA 52.
Sec. 14-311a. New certificate for increase in parking spaces. Any open air theater, shopping center or other development, generating large volumes of traffic, in respect of which a certificate of operation has been issued under section 14-311 by the
State Traffic Commission, or any such open air theater, shopping center or other development in operation on July 1, 1967, shall not increase its parking facilities by fifty or
more parking spaces without first procuring a new certificate of operation from the State
Traffic Commission under section 14-311.
(1971, P.A. 611, S. 2.)
Sec. 14-311b. Traffic controls for certain parking areas and commercial establishments. The State Traffic Commission, in cooperation and agreement with local
traffic authorities, may, in any parking area for twenty or more vehicles or for any
commercial establishment having an exit or entrance on or abutting or adjoining any
state highway, establish traffic controls by signal or device, for access to and egress
from and for traffic within such parking area or commercial establishment. The traffic
authority of any city, town or borough may establish similar controls for parking areas
for twenty or more vehicles or for any commercial establishment having an exit or
entrance on or abutting or adjoining any highway under their jurisdiction. The owner
or operator of any parking area or commercial establishment where such traffic controls
have been established, pursuant to this section, shall erect and maintain the necessary
uniform traffic control signals or devices, which shall conform to the specifications
of the manual of uniform traffic control devices established under this chapter and as
approved and revised by the State Traffic Commission, provided no traffic control signal
or device shall be installed, operated or maintained until a permit for such installation,
operation or maintenance has been procured from the State Traffic Commission.
(1971, P.A. 600.)
History: (Revisor's note: In 2005 a reference to "chapter 249" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "this chapter").
Sec. 14-311c. Developed parcels of land separately owned and utilized together for a single development purpose which affects state highway traffic. (a) No
group of persons, firms, corporations, state agencies or municipal agencies or combination thereof shall build, expand, establish or operate any open air theater, shopping
center or other development generating large volumes of traffic on any group of individual parcels of land which are separately owned but are utilized together for a single
development purpose, whether or not such parcels are separated by any state, local or
private roadway, having an exit or entrance on, or abutting or adjoining, any state highway or substantially affecting state highway traffic within this state until such group
has procured from the State Traffic Commission a certificate that the operation thereof
will not imperil the safety of the public.
(b) No local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any such
group or member thereof to build, expand, establish or operate such a development until
the group or member provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this
section by the commission. If the commission determines that any group or member
has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate from the commission or (2) has failed to comply with
the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the group or member to (A) cease
constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development or (B) to comply
with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such group
or member fails to (i) cease such work or (ii) comply with an order of the commission
within such time as specified by the commission, the commission or the traffic authority
of the municipality wherein the development is located may make an application to
the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the
development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or the operation of such development.
(c) The State Traffic Commission shall issue its decision on an application for a
certificate under subsection (a) of this section not later than one hundred twenty days
after it is filed, except that, if the commission needs additional information from the
applicant, it shall notify the applicant in writing as to what information is required and
(1) the commission may toll the running of such one-hundred-twenty-day period by the
number of days between and including the date such notice is received by the applicant
and the date the additional information is received by the commission and (2) if the
commission receives the additional information during the last ten days of the one-hundred-twenty-day period and needs additional time to review and analyze such information, it may extend such period by not more than fifteen days. The State Traffic
Commission may also, at its discretion, postpone action on any application submitted
pursuant to this section or section 14-311a until such time as it is shown that an application has been filed with and approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or
other responsible municipal agency.
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the State Traffic Commission shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, the width and character of the
highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the
opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development
is located. If the State Traffic Commission determines that traffic signals, pavement
markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices
are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost
thereof shall be borne by the group building, establishing or operating such open air
theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except
that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to said group to construct or install the changes required
by the State Traffic Commission, in consultation with the local traffic authority.
(e) Any group aggrieved by any decision of the State Traffic Commission hereunder
may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue
for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such
establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such provisions relate to
expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other development
generating large volumes of traffic which has received all necessary permits, variances,
exceptions and approvals from the municipal zoning commission, planning commission,
combined planning and zoning commission and zoning board of appeals in which such
development is located prior to or on July 1, 1985, or to any such development which
is in operation on that date.
(P.A. 85-498, S. 2, 3; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; 90-342, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220,
S. 4-6.)
History: P.A. 90-342 added provision in Subsec. (b) authorizing injunction for failure to comply with commission's
orders and provision in Subsec. (d) requiring the commission to seek the opinion of the traffic authority of the municipality
where the development is located (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230 and P.A. 90-98 authorized substitution of "judicial district of
Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in public and special acts of the 1990 session, effective September 1,
1993); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective
June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998,
effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 14-311 re open air theaters, shopping centers and certain other developments affecting state highway traffic.
Sec. 14-312. Regulations. The traffic authority shall have power to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this chapter, and may make and
enforce temporary regulations to cover emergencies and special conditions.
(1949 Rev., S. 2529.)
Cited. 130 C. 243.
Sec. 14-313. Appeal. Any person aggrieved by any order or regulation made by
any traffic authority under the provisions of this chapter, relating to the establishment
of through streets, the making of safety zones, the establishment of parking restrictions
or the location of loading and unloading zones, or by the performance of any act pursuant
to any provision of this chapter, may take an appeal therefrom to the court of common
council or to the board of aldermen of the city, to the town council or board of selectmen
of the town, or to the warden and burgesses of the borough, wherein such traffic authority
is located, or to the superior court for the judicial district in which it is located. Such
appeal shall be to the next session of such court or board which will allow sufficient time
for the service of the notice required herein. A written notice of such appeal, addressed to
such traffic authority, shall be deposited with, or forwarded by registered or certified
mail to, such traffic authority at least ten days before the return day thereof. Upon such
hearing, such court or board shall determine whether the order or regulation appealed
from is reasonable, and shall thereupon sustain or revoke such order or regulation.
(1949 Rev., S. 2530; 1963, P.A. 486; P.A. 74-183, S. 203, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 174, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)
History: 1963 act specified appellate body in towns and boroughs; P.A. 74-183 added reference to judicial districts;
P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to
counties.
Cited. 28 CA 344-346, 349, 351, 352, 354, 356.
Sec. 14-314. Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any
order made pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than five
thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both, and shall be subject
to the provisions of section 14-111. Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply
with any traffic control signal, sign, marking or other device placed and maintained
upon the highway, or with any regulation adopted pursuant to any provision of this
chapter, by the State Traffic Commission or the traffic authority of any city, town or
borough shall be deemed to have committed an infraction, if no other penalty is provided
by law. Traveling at a greater rate of speed than is reasonable as provided in section 14-218a shall not be deemed to be a failure to comply with the provisions of this section
but shall be deemed to be the commission of an infraction within the provisions of said
section 14-218a.
(1949 Rev., S. 2531; 1967, P.A. 195, S. 1; P.A. 75-577, S. 125, 126; P.A. 76-381, S. 19; P.A. 90-342, S. 3, 5.)
History: 1967 act deleted reference to violations of "any provision of this chapter" and added additional fifty dollar
maximum penalty for failure to comply with signals, markings, etc.; P.A. 75-577 replaced provision for fifty-dollar maximum fine with statement that violation is an infraction and moved failure to comply with regulations from one-hundred-dollar penalty provision to infraction provision; P.A. 76-381 added provision re traveling at greater than reasonable speed;
P.A. 90-342 increased penalty for violations of the chapter from one hundred dollars to five thousand dollars.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
Cited. 131 C. 167.
Cited. 43 CA 52. Section does not provide state with method of charging the driving public with an infraction for failing
to obey a warning sign. Regulations of Connecticut state agencies delineate between regulatory signs, warning signs and
guide signs, and driver's failure to follow a warning sign's advice does not give rise to an infraction with which driver
may be cited. 54 CA 98.
Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 619.
Sec. 14-314a. Periodic review of traffic control signals and signs. Section 14-314a is repealed.
(1961, P.A. 339; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 153; P.A. 95-325, S. 15.)
Sec. 14-314b. Injury to or removal of traffic control devices, signs or lights.
Any person who, without lawful authority, attempts to or in fact alters, defaces, injures,
knocks down or removes any official traffic control device, signal light, railroad sign,
portable warning light or barricade, or any other sign or light or any part thereof, shall
be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days
or both.
(1971, P.A. 690, S. 1.)
Cited. 219 C. 179, 182.
Sec. 14-314c. Erection of signs to warn operators of presence of deaf persons.
Regulations. (a) The State Traffic Commission, on any state highway, or a local traffic
authority, on any highway under its control, shall, upon receipt of an application on
behalf of any person under the age of eighteen who is deaf, as certified by a physician,
erect one or more signs in the person's neighborhood to warn motor vehicle operators
of the presence of the deaf person.
(b) The State Traffic Commission may adopt regulations in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this section.
(P.A. 84-72; P.A. 97-236, S. 26, 27.)
History: P.A. 97-236 amended Subsec. (b) to substitute "may" for "shall" re adoption of regulations, effective June
24, 1997.
Sec. 14-314d. Erection of signs stating the requirement of the use of signal
lights when changing lanes. The State Traffic Commission, on any state highway,
or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, may, within available
appropriations, designate locations at which signs bearing the words "STATE LAW
REQUIRES USE OF SIGNAL LIGHTS WHEN CHANGING LANES" may be
erected.
(P.A. 99-181, S. 23.)
PART II
STREET AND HIGHWAY SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION
Sec. 14-315. Duties of Commissioner of Public Safety re street and highway
safety and accident prevention. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall study the
problems of street and highway safety, shall act as the central coordinating agency of
state departments, organizations and instrumentalities engaged in the elimination of
motor vehicle accidents; shall study all phases of the problem of obtaining better observance and uniform enforcement of the laws for the regulation of highway travel and
motor vehicle operation; shall study methods of safety control and engineering in this
and other states with a view to improvement in such methods in this state; shall study
problems of safety as they affect home, farm and school accidents; shall act as the central
coordinating agency of the state in the planning and execution of safety programs and
campaigns for the prevention of accidents and the loss of manpower and may conduct
educational programs and campaigns relating to industrial safety; shall advise with and
assist the Commissioner of Transportation and other state department heads in the accomplishment of the purposes stated herein.
(1949 Rev., S. 2532; 1951, S. 1409d; 1957, P.A. 305, S. 1; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 154;
P.A. 77-614, S. 513, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 12, 136.)
History: 1969 act replaced highway commissioner with commissioner of transportation; P.A. 77-614 abolished Connecticut safety commission and transferred duties to commissioner of public safety, deleted reference to commissioner of motor
vehicles and deleted provision re annual report to governor, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 deleted obsolete
reference to commissioner of state police.
See title 29 re Department of Public Safety.
See Sec. 38a-683 re accident prevention course for senior citizens, entitling them to insurance premium reductions.