Sec. 14-212b. School zones. Fines doubled.
Sec. 14-218a. Traveling unreasonably fast. Establishment of speed limits.
Sec. 14-253c. Accessible Parking Advisory Council.
Sec. 14-212b. School zones. Fines doubled. (a) As used in this section, “local highway” means a highway that is under the control of a town, city or borough; and “local traffic authority” means the traffic authority of a town, city or borough.
(b) (1) At the request of the legislative body of a town, city or borough, the Office of the State Traffic Administration may designate as a school zone any part of a state highway that is adjacent to school property or is, in the opinion of said office, sufficiently close to school property as to constitute a risk to the public safety under all the circumstances. At the request of such legislative body, the office may revoke any such designation. (2) A local traffic authority may designate as a school zone, and may revoke any such designation, any part of a local highway that is adjacent to school property or is, in the opinion of the local traffic authority, sufficiently close to school property as to constitute a risk to the public safety under all the circumstances.
(c) The Superior Court shall impose an additional fee equivalent to one hundred per cent of the fine established or imposed for the violation of the provisions of section 14-218a or 14-219, for any such violation committed in a school zone designated in a conspicuous manner by the Office of the State Traffic Administration or local traffic authority.
(d) The Office of the State Traffic Administration with regard to a state highway or the local traffic authority with regard to a local highway shall cause to be posted a sign approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration (1) at the beginning of a school zone in each direction that traffic is permitted to flow which shall read as follows: “SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD FINES DOUBLED”, and (2) at the end of such zone in each direction that traffic is permitted to flow which shall read as follows: “END SCHOOL ZONE”.
(P.A. 98-252, S. 64; P.A. 12-132, S. 14; P.A. 23-116, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration and, in Subsec. (d), replaced “post” with “cause to be posted”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 23-116 amended Subsec. (b) to replace “commission” with “office”, effective July 1, 2023.
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Sec. 14-215. Operation while registration or license is refused, suspended or revoked. Operation in violation of restriction or limitation on operator's license or right to operate motor vehicle that requires use of ignition interlock device. Penalty. (a) No person to whom an operator's license has been refused, or, except as provided in section 14-215a, whose operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state has been suspended or revoked, shall operate any motor vehicle during the period of such refusal, suspension or revocation. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any motor vehicle, the registration of which has been refused, suspended or revoked, or any motor vehicle, the right to operate which has been suspended or revoked.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall, for a first offense, be fined not less than one hundred fifty dollars or more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three months, or be both fined and imprisoned, and, for any subsequent offense, be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than six hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or be both fined and imprisoned.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, in addition to the penalty prescribed under subdivision (1) of this subsection, any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section who (A) has, prior to the commission of the present violation, committed a violation of subsection (a) of this section or section 14-36 shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or sentenced to perform not more than one hundred hours of community service, or (B) has, prior to the commission of the present violation, committed two or more violations of subsection (a) of this section or section 14-36, or any combination thereof, shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year, and, in the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court, ninety days of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced in any manner.
(c) (1) Any person who operates any motor vehicle during the period such person's operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state is under suspension or revocation on account of a violation of section 14-227a or 14-227m, subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or pursuant to section 14-227b, or in violation of a restriction or limitation placed on such person's operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles pursuant to subsection (i) of section 14-227a or pursuant to an order of the court under subsection (b) of section 14-227j, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than one year, and, in the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court, thirty consecutive days of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced in any manner.
(2) Any person who operates any motor vehicle during the period such person's operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state is under suspension or revocation on account of a second violation of section 14-227a or 14-227m, subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or for the second time pursuant to section 14-227b, or in violation of a restriction or limitation placed for the second time on such person's operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles pursuant to subsection (i) of section 14-227a or pursuant to an order of the court under subsection (b) of section 14-227j, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than two years, and, in the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court, one hundred twenty consecutive days of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced in any manner.
(3) Any person who operates any motor vehicle during the period such person's operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state is under suspension or revocation on account of a third or subsequent violation of section 14-227a or 14-227m, subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or for the third or subsequent time pursuant to section 14-227b, or in violation of a restriction placed for the third or subsequent time on such person's operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles pursuant to subsection (i) of section 14-227a or pursuant to an order of the court under subsection (b) of section 14-227j, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than three years, and, in the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court, one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced in any manner.
(4) The court shall specifically state in writing for the record the mitigating circumstances, or the absence thereof.
(1949 Rev., S. 2420; 1957, P.A. 421; P.A. 82-258; P.A. 83-534, S. 3; P.A. 85-387, S. 2; P.A. 89-314, S. 3, 5; P.A. 97-291, S. 4, 5; P.A. 03-233, S. 2; P.A. 04-257, S. 100; P.A. 05-215, S. 4; P.A. 07-167, S. 23, 40; P.A. 11-48, S. 56; 11-51, S. 221; P.A. 12-80, S. 164; 12-178, S. 5; P.A. 16-126, S. 16; P.A. 23-47, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 82-258 increased the minimum penalty for a first offense from $100 to $150, and increased the maximum penalty for a subsequent offense from $500 to $600 and from three months to one year imprisonment; P.A. 83-534 added Subsec. (c) re increased penalties when the reason for the suspension or revocation was operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence, refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test or manslaughter or assault with a motor vehicle while intoxicated; P.A. 85-387 amended Subsec. (c) to increase from 5 to 30 days the period of imprisonment which may not be suspended or reduced; P.A. 89-314 amended Subsec. (c) to replace reference to a suspension or revocation “on account of a violation of subsection (d) or (f) of section 14-227b” with “pursuant to section 14-227b” and to specify that the period of imprisonment which may not be suspended or reduced is 30 “consecutive” days; P.A. 97-291 amended Subsec. (c) to provide that the nonsuspendable sentence of 30 consecutive days is imposed in the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court and to require the court to specifically state in writing for the record the mitigating circumstances, or absence thereof, effective July 8, 1997; P.A. 03-233 amended Subsec. (a) to add “except as provided in section 14-215a”; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (c), effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 05-215 amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) re additional penalties for persons who have one or more prior violations of Subsec. (a) or Sec. 14-36; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (b)(2)(B) by changing penalty from term of imprisonment of 90 days which may not be suspended or reduced to term of imprisonment of one year, 90 days of which may not be suspended or reduced and amended Subsec. (c) by designating existing penalty provisions as Subdiv. (1), adding Subdivs. (2) and (3) re penalties for second, third and subsequent violations and designating existing provisions re court record of mitigating circumstances as Subdiv. (4); P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (c) to make penalties in Subdivs. (1) to (3) applicable to person operating motor vehicle in violation of restriction placed on license or right to operate by commissioner pursuant to Sec. 14-227a(i) or pursuant to order of court under Sec. 14-227j(b), effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 11-51 made identical changes as P.A. 11-48, effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 12-80 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to replace maximum term of imprisonment for first offense of “ninety days” with “three months” and make a technical change; P.A. 12-178 amended Subsec. (c)(1) and (2) to add “or limitation” re first and second violation of restriction on person's operator's license or right to operate motor vehicle pursuant to Sec. 14-227a(i), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 16-126 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing references to Sec. 14-227a(a) with references to Sec. 14-227a and by adding references to Secs. 14-227m and 14-227n(a)(1) and (2); P.A. 23-47 amended Subsec. (b)(2)(B) by adding provision re absence of mitigating circumstances and making a technical change.
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Sec. 14-218a. Traveling unreasonably fast. Establishment of speed limits. (a)(1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway of the state, or road of any specially chartered municipal association or any district organized under the provisions of chapter 105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads and sidewalks, or on any parking area as defined in section 14-212, or upon a private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance with this subsection, or upon any school property, at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable, having regard to the width, traffic and use of highway, road or parking area, the intersection of streets and weather conditions.
(2) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may determine speed limits which are reasonable and safe on any state highway, bridge or parkway built or maintained by the state, and differing limits may be established for different types of vehicles, and may erect or cause to be erected signs indicating such speed limits.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and section 14-307a, the traffic authority of any town, city or borough may establish speed limits on streets, highways and bridges or in any parking area for ten cars or more or on any private road wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction; provided such limit on streets, highways, bridges and parking areas for ten cars or more shall become effective only after application for approval thereof has been submitted in writing to the Office of the State Traffic Administration and a certificate of such approval has been forwarded by the office to the traffic authority; and provided such signs giving notice of such speed limits shall have been erected as the office directs, provided the erection of such signs on any private road shall be at the expense of the owner of such road. The presence of such signs adjacent to or on the highway or parking area for ten cars or more shall be prima facie evidence that they have been so placed under the direction of and with the approval of the office. Approval of such speed limits may be revoked by the office at any time if said office deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety and welfare, and thereupon such speed limits shall cease to be effective and any signs that have been erected shall be removed.
(4) Any speed in excess of a speed limit established in accordance with this section or section 14-307a, other than speeding as provided for in section 14-219, shall be prima facie evidence that such speed is not reasonable, but the fact that the speed of a vehicle is lower than such speed limit shall not relieve the operator from the duty to decrease speed when a special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Office of the State Traffic Administration shall establish a speed limit not to exceed sixty-five miles per hour on each multiple lane, limited access highway. The office shall establish speed limits that are suitable for each such highway, taking into consideration relevant factors including design, population of area and traffic flow.
(2) The Commissioner of Transportation may establish the speed limit on limited access highways during a weather event or an emergency, provided the commissioner erects electronic signs indicating such speed limit.
(c) (1) The traffic authority of any town, city or borough may establish, modify and maintain speed limits on streets, highways and bridges or in any parking area for ten cars or more or on any private road wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction without approval from the Office of the State Traffic Administration, provided:
(A) The municipality, by vote of its legislative body, or in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting, its board of selectmen, permits the traffic authority to assume responsibility and authority for the establishment, modification and maintenance of the speed limits on all streets, highways and bridges and in parking areas for ten cars or more or on any private road wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction. Such permission is not required if such legislative body or board of selectmen is also the traffic authority;
(B) The traffic authority notifies the office in writing that the traffic authority is permitted under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and intends to assume such responsibility and authority;
(C) The traffic authority establishes, modifies and maintains the speed limits on all streets, highways and bridges and in parking areas for ten cars or more or on any private road wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction;
(D) The traffic authority conducts an engineering study described in subdivision (3) of this subsection; and
(E) The traffic authority notifies the office of each change to a speed limit on such street, highway, bridge and parking area wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction so the office may maintain a state-wide inventory of speed limits. Any speed limit approved by the office pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall remain in effect until modified by a traffic authority.
(2) (A) The traffic authority shall not establish or reduce a speed limit lower than twenty-five miles per hour unless (i) the speed limit is in a pedestrian safety zone pursuant to section 14-307a, or (ii) the engineering study described in subdivision (3) of this subsection finds that a speed limit lower than twenty-five miles per hour is reasonable.
(B) The traffic authority shall not reduce a speed limit by more than ten miles per hour without approval from the municipality, by vote of its legislative body, or in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting, its board of selectmen, if such legislative body or board of selectmen is not also the traffic authority.
(C) If the traffic authority reduces a speed limit by more than ten miles per hour, the traffic authority shall erect reduced speed limit ahead signs in accordance with the standards contained in the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time.
(D) On any street or highway that runs into an adjoining municipality, a traffic authority shall not reduce the speed limit within one thousand feet of the boundary of the adjoining municipality by more than ten miles per hour from the speed limit on such road in the adjoining municipality without (i) approval of the adjoining municipality, by vote of its legislative body, or in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting, its board of selectmen, and (ii) the approval required under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision.
(E) If a traffic authority reduces the speed limit on any street or highway that runs into an adjoining municipality between one thousand feet and one mile of the boundary of the adjoining municipality by more than ten miles per hour from the speed limit on such road in the adjoining municipality, the traffic authority shall provide written notice of the reduced speed limit to the adjoining municipality.
(3) Prior to establishing or modifying a speed limit pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the traffic authority shall conduct an engineering study in accordance with the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time, and other generally accepted engineering principles and guidance. The study shall be completed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in this state and shall consider factors, including, but not limited to, pedestrian activity, type of land use and development, parking and the record of traffic accidents in the jurisdiction of the traffic authority.
(4) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection.
(d) Any person who operates a motor vehicle at a greater rate of speed than is reasonable, other than speeding, as provided for in section 14-219, shall commit the infraction of traveling unreasonably fast.
(P.A. 75-577, S. 7, 126; P.A. 77-103; 77-340, S. 4; P.A. 84-429, S. 65; P.A. 98-181, S. 1; P.A. 12-132, S. 15; P.A. 21-28, S. 6; P.A. 22-40, S. 2; P.A. 23-135, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 77-103 clarified proviso re effective date of speed limits; P.A. 77-340 replaced first reference to parking areas for 10 or more cars with parking areas as defined in Sec. 14-219a and specified infraction in Subsec. (b) as infraction “of traveling unreasonably fast”; P.A. 84-429 made technical changes for statutory consistency; P.A. 98-181 added new Subsec.(b) requiring the State Traffic Commission to establish a speed limit of 65 miles per hour on multiple lane, limited access highways determined to be suitable for said speed limit, relettering former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c); P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration, effective July 1, 2012 (Revisor's note: In Subsecs. (a) and (b), references to “Office of State Traffic Administration” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Office of the State Traffic Administration” for accuracy); P.A. 21-28 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing provisions as Subdivs. (1) to (4), adding “Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and section 14-307a” in Subdiv. (3), adding “a speed limit established in accordance with this section or section 14-307a” in Subdiv. (4) and making technical changes, added new Subsec. (c) re traffic authority establishing speed limits without approval from office and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d); P.A. 22-40 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provision as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to add provision re except as provided in Subdiv. (2) and adding Subdiv. (2) re commissioner to establish speed limit on limited access highway during weather event or emergency; P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by replacing speed limit of 65 miles per hour with speed limit not to exceed 65 miles per hour and making conforming changes.
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Sec. 14-224. Evasion of responsibility in operation of motor vehicles. Racing, contests, demonstrations of speed or skill or street takeovers. Required removal of motor vehicle from traveled portion of highway. Penalties. (a) Each operator of a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident which results in the death of any other person shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed and shall give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to any officer or witness to the death of any person, and if such operator of the motor vehicle causing the death of any person is unable to give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to any witness or officer, for any reason or cause, such operator shall immediately report such death of any person to a police officer, a constable, a state police officer or an inspector of motor vehicles or at the nearest police precinct or station, and shall state in such report the location and circumstances of the accident causing the death of any person and such operator's name, address, operator's license number and registration number.
(b) (1) Each operator of a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident which causes serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, to any other person shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed and shall give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or to any officer or witness to the serious physical injury to person. If such operator of the motor vehicle causing the serious physical injury of any person is unable to give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or to any witness or officer, for any reason or cause, such operator shall immediately report such serious physical injury of any person to a police officer, a constable, a state police officer or an inspector of motor vehicles or at the nearest police precinct or station, and shall state in such report the location and circumstances of the accident causing the serious physical injury of any person and such operator's name, address, operator's license number and registration number.
(2) Each operator of a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident that causes physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, to any other person shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed and shall give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or to any officer or witness to the physical injury. If such operator of the motor vehicle causing the physical injury is unable to give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or to any witness or officer, for any reason or cause, such operator shall immediately report such physical injury of any person to a police officer, a constable, a state police officer or an inspector of motor vehicles or at the nearest police precinct or station, and shall state in such report the location and circumstances of the accident causing the physical injury of any person and such operator's name, address, operator's license number and registration number.
(3) Each operator of a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident that causes injury or damage to property shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed and shall give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the owner of the injured or damaged property, or to any officer or witness to the injury or damage to property, and if such operator of the motor vehicle causing the injury or damage to any property is unable to give such operator's name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the owner of the property injured or damaged, or to any witness or officer, for any reason or cause, such operator shall immediately report such injury or damage to property to a police officer, a constable, a state police officer or an inspector of motor vehicles or at the nearest police precinct or station, and shall state in such report the location and circumstances of the accident causing the injury or damage to property and such operator's name, address, operator's license number and registration number.
(c) (1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway or parking area for any race, contest, demonstration of speed or skill or street takeover. As used in this section, “street takeover” means taking over a portion of a public highway or parking area by blocking or impeding the regular flow of traffic with intent to cause disorder or create a nuisance for other users of such highway or parking area.
(2) No person shall (A) possess a motor vehicle under circumstances manifesting an intent that it be used in a race, contest, demonstration or street takeover prohibited under subdivision (1) of this subsection, (B) act as a starter, timekeeper or judge at any such race, contest, demonstration or street takeover, or (C) wager on the outcome of any such race, contest, demonstration or street takeover, or (D) knowingly incite or recruit by any action, method, device or means, including, but not limited to, electronic or social media, in advance of any such race, contest, demonstration or street takeover, any person for participation in the performance of any such race, contest, demonstration or street takeover.
(d) Each person operating a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident on a limited access highway which causes damage to property only shall immediately move or cause such person's motor vehicle to be moved from the traveled portion of the highway to an untraveled area which is adjacent to the accident site if it is possible to move the motor vehicle without risk of further damage to property or injury to any person.
(e) No person who acts in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section may be considered to have violated subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section.
(f) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) or subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be guilty of a class B felony.
(g) (1) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(2) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section or subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section shall be guilty of a (A) class A misdemeanor for a first offense, and (B) class D felony for any subsequent offense.
(3) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
(h) In addition to any penalty imposed pursuant to subsection (g) of this section: (1) If any person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section and the motor vehicle being operated by such person at the time of the violation is registered to such person, the court may order such motor vehicle to be impounded for not more than thirty days and such person shall be responsible for any fees or costs resulting from such impoundment; or (2) if any person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section and the motor vehicle being operated by such person at the time of the violation is not registered to such person, the court may fine such person not more than two thousand dollars, and for any subsequent offense may fine such person not more than three thousand dollars.
(1949 Rev., S. 2410; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 8; P.A. 81-268, S. 2; P.A. 82-472, S. 45, 183; P.A. 83-135; 83-534, S. 10; P.A. 94-188, S. 9; P.A. 97-291, S. 3, 5; P.A. 06-173, S. 2; P.A. 09-120, S. 1; P.A. 14-130, S. 25; P.A. 15-211, S. 28; P.A. 16-94, S. 1; P.A. 19-53, S. 3; P.A. 21-175, S. 23; P.A. 23-135, S. 39; 23-203, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 81-268 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing the minimum fine from $50 to $75 and the maximum fine from $100 to $200 for first offenses, and increasing the maximum fine for subsequent offenses from $200 to $600; P.A. 82-472 made a technical correction; P.A. 83-135 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing the maximum fine from $200 to $600 for a first offense and from $600 to $1,000 for a subsequent offense; P.A. 83-534 inserted new Subsecs. (a) and (d) re evading responsibility in an accident causing serious physical injury or death and the penalty therefor, redesignated the former Subsecs. and limited the former provisions re evading responsibility to accidents causing “physical injury as defined in section 53a-3” or injury or damage to property; P.A. 94-188 inserted new Subsecs. (d) and (e) re removal of vehicle from traveled portion of highway and redesignated the former Subsecs. (d) and (e) as (f) and (g); P.A. 97-291 amended Subsec. (f) to increase the maximum fine from $5,000 to $10,000 and the maximum term of imprisonment from 5 to 10 years; P.A. 06-173 amended Subsec. (c) to designate existing provision as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) prohibiting a person possessing a motor vehicle under circumstances manifesting an intent that it be used in a race or event prohibited under Subdiv. (1), acting as a starter, timekeeper, judge or spectator at such a race or event or wagering on the outcome of such a race or event; P.A. 09-120 added Subsec. (h) re motor vehicle impoundment or fine for violation of Subsec. (c)(1), effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 14-130 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re serious physical injury, amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending same by replacing provisions re physical injury with provisions re serious physical injury and deleting provisions re injury or damage to property, adding Subdiv. (2) re accident that causes physical injury and adding Subdiv. (3) re accident that causes injury or damage to property, and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 15-211 amended Subsec. (f) by increasing maximum fine from $10,000 to $20,000, minimum term of imprisonment from 1 year to 2 years and maximum term of imprisonment from 10 years to 20 years; P.A. 16-94 amended Subsec. (g) by designating existing provision re person who violates provisions of Subsec. (b)(2) or (3) or Subsec. (c) as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to delete references to Subsec. (b)(3) and Subsec. (c) and replace “one year” with “five years”, and by adding Subdiv. (2) re person who violates provisions of Subsec. (b)(3) or Subsec. (c), and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 19-53 amended Subsec. (g) by adding new Subdiv. (2) re violation of Subsec. (c)(1), redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and making a conforming change; P.A. 21-175 amended Subsec. (c) to replace provisions re wager or making a speed record with provisions re contest or demonstration of speed or skill in Subdiv. (1) and replace “or event” with “contest or demonstration of speed or skill” in Subdiv. (2); P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to add reference to parking area, street takeover and motor vehicle stunt and define “street takeover”, amended Subsec. (c)(2) to add reference to street takeover and motor vehicle stunt, remove reference to spectator in Subpara. (B) and add Subpara. (D) re knowingly encouraging, promoting, instigating, assisting, facilitating or aiding or abetting, amended Subsec. (g) to move provisions re violation of Subsec. (b)(3) from existing Subdiv. (3) to new Subdiv. (2), redesignate existing Subdiv. (2) as new Subdiv. (3), delete provision re penalty for subsequent offense of Subsecs. (b)(3) and (c)(2), and add Subdiv. (4) to make violation of Subsec. (c)(2) a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for 6 months or more or both, and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 23-203 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting language re motor vehicle stunt and making conforming changes throughout, replacing “for the purpose of causing disorder or creating a nuisance to” with “with intent to cause disorder or create a nuisance for” in Subdiv. (1) and replacing “encourage, promote, instigate, assist, facilitate or aid or abet any person” with “incite or recruit by any action, method, device or means, including, but not limited to, electronic or social media, in advance of any such race, contest, demonstration or street takeover, any person for participation” in Subdiv. (2), replaced penalties in Subsec. (f) by making the violation a class B felony, amended Subsec. (g) by replacing penalties in Subdiv. (1) by making the violation a class D felony, adding a violation of Subsec. (c)(1) and replacing penalties in Subdiv. (2) by making the violations a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for any subsequent offense, deleting Subdiv. (3) re a violation of Subsec. (c)(1), redesignating existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (3) and therein replacing penalties by making violation a class B misdemeanor.
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Sec. 14-253a. Special license plates and removable windshield placards for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities. Parking spaces. Penalty. Regulations. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Special license plate” means a license plate displaying the symbol of access in a size identical to that of the letters or numerals on the plate and in a color that contrasts with the background color of the plate;
(2) “Removable windshield placard” means a two-sided, hanger-style placard which bears on both of its sides: (A) The symbol of access in a height of three inches or more centered on such placard and colored white on a blue background; (B) a unique identification number; (C) a date of expiration; (D) a statement indicating that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles issued such placard; and (E) the words “Accessibility Parking Permit”;
(3) “Temporary removable windshield placard” means a placard that is the same as a removable windshield placard except that the symbol of access appears on a red background;
(4) “Person with disabilities” means a person with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR Section 1235.2; and
(5) “Symbol of access” means the symbol designated by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to section 29-269b used to indicate access for persons with disabilities.
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept applications and renewal applications for removable windshield placards from (1) any person who is blind, as defined in section 1-1f; (2) any person with disabilities; (3) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is under eighteen years of age at the time of application; (4) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is unable to request or complete an application; and (5) any organization which meets criteria established by the commissioner and which certifies to the commissioner's satisfaction that the vehicle for which a placard is requested is primarily used to transport persons who are blind or persons with disabilities. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, on and after October 1, 2011, the commissioner shall not accept applications for special license plates, but shall accept renewal applications for such plates that were issued prior to October 1, 2011. No person shall be issued a placard in accordance with this section unless such person is the holder of a valid motor vehicle operator's license, or identification card issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1-1h. The commissioner is authorized to adopt regulations for the issuance of placards to persons who, by reason of hardship, do not hold or cannot obtain an operator's license or identification card. The commissioner shall maintain a record of each placard issued to any such person. Such applications and renewal applications shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner. The application and renewal application shall include: (A) Certification by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 378, or a member of the driver training unit for persons with disabilities established pursuant to section 14-11b, that the applicant meets the definition of a person with a disability which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR Section 1235.2; or (B) certification by a psychiatrist who is employed by, or under contract with, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that the applicant (i) is a veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, who has post-traumatic stress disorder certified as service-connected by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and (ii) meets the definition of a person with a disability which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR Section 1235.2. In the case of persons who are blind, the application or renewal application shall include certification of legal blindness made by the Department of Aging and Disability Services, an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Any person who makes a certification required by this subsection shall sign the application or renewal application under penalty of false statement pursuant to section 53a-157b. The commissioner, in said commissioner's discretion, may accept the discharge papers of a disabled veteran, as defined in section 14-254, in lieu of such certification. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may require additional certification at the time of the original application or at any time thereafter. If a person who has been requested to submit additional certification fails to do so within thirty days of the request, or if such additional certification is deemed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to be unfavorable to the applicant, the commissioner may refuse to issue or, if already issued, suspend or revoke such special license plate or placard. The commissioner shall not issue more than one placard per applicant, except the commissioner shall issue one placard to each applicant who is a parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, provided no more than two such placards shall be issued on behalf of such person. The fee for the issuance of a temporary removable windshield placard shall be five dollars. Any person whose application has been denied or whose special license plate or placard has been suspended or revoked shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(c) Any person who meets the requirements to obtain a removable windshield placard pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and who has a motorcycle registered in such person's name shall be issued, upon approval of the application, number plates in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 14-21b, which shall bear letters or numerals or any combination thereof followed by the symbol of access. The registration of any motorcycle for which a special license plate is issued shall expire and be renewed as provided in section 14-22 and be subject to the fee provisions of section 14-49. No person shall be issued such number plates for the registration of more than two motorcycles. Any person eligible to obtain a special license plate pursuant to this section who transfers the expired registration of a motorcycle owned by such person and replaces such number plate with a special license plate shall be exempt from payment of any fee for such transfer or replacement. A person who obtains a special plate or plates under this subsection may also obtain a removable windshield placard in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
(d) (1) Any placard issued pursuant to this section shall be displayed by hanging it from the front windshield rearview mirror of the vehicle when utilizing a parking space reserved for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities. If there is no rearview mirror in such vehicle, the placard shall be displayed in clear view on the dashboard of such vehicle.
(2) On and after October 1, 2023, any placard issued pursuant to this section shall not bear the words “parking permit for persons with disabilities”. Any placard issued prior to October 1, 2023, that is otherwise valid, shall remain valid, according to its terms, until the expiration of such placard.
(e) Vehicles displaying a special license plate or a placard issued pursuant to this section or by authorities of other states or countries for the purpose of identifying vehicles permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities, shall be allowed to 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 (1) parking meter, or (2) sign erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of chapter 249, provided the operator of or a passenger in such motor vehicle is a person who is blind or a person with disabilities. A placard shall not be displayed on any motor vehicle when such vehicle is not being operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who is blind or a person with disabilities to whom the placard was issued. Vehicles bearing a special license plate shall not utilize parking spaces reserved for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities or the cross hatch abutting such spaces when such vehicles are not being operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who is blind or a person with disabilities to whom such special license plate was issued.
(f) Only motor vehicles displaying a plate or placard issued pursuant to this section shall be authorized to (1) park in public or private areas reserved for exclusive use by persons who are blind or persons with disabilities, and (2) to use the cross hatch abutting such areas, except that any ambulance, as defined in section 19a-175, which is transporting a patient may park in such area for a period not to exceed fifteen minutes while assisting such patient. Any motor vehicle parked or using the cross hatch in violation of the provisions of this subsection for the third or subsequent time shall be subject to being towed from such designated area. Such vehicle shall be impounded until payment of any fines incurred is received. No person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of leasing or renting motor vehicles without drivers in this state may be held liable for any acts of the lessee constituting a violation of the provisions of this subsection. Any municipal police officer who observes a motor vehicle parked in violation of this subsection shall issue a written warning or a summons for such violation.
(g) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or local traffic authority, on any highway or street under its control, shall establish parking spaces in parking areas for twenty or more cars in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying a special license plate or a placard issued pursuant to this section. Parking spaces in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying such special plate or placard shall be established in private parking areas for two hundred or more cars according to the following schedule:
Total Number |
Number of Special |
|
0 – 200 |
|
Exempt |
201 – 1000 |
|
1.0% |
1001 – 2000 |
|
10 plus 0.8% of spaces |
|
over 1000 |
|
2001 – 3000 |
|
18 plus 0.6% of spaces |
|
over 2000 |
|
3001 – 4000 |
|
24 plus 0.4% of spaces |
|
over 3000 |
|
4001 or more |
|
28 plus 0.2% of spaces |
|
over 4000 |
|
All such spaces shall be designated as reserved for exclusive use by persons who are blind and persons with disabilities and identified by the use of signs in accordance with subsection (h) of this section. Such parking spaces shall be adjacent to curb cuts or other unobstructed methods permitting sidewalk access to a person who is blind or a person with disabilities and shall be fifteen feet wide, including three feet of cross hatch, or be parallel to a sidewalk. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply (1) in the event the State Building Code imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of the private parking area in which special parking spaces are required or as to the number of special parking spaces required, or (2) in the event a municipal ordinance imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of existing private parking areas in which special parking spaces are required or as to the number of special parking spaces required.
(h) Parking spaces designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities on or after October 1, 1979, and prior to October 1, 2004, shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be fifteen feet wide including three feet of cross hatch, or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway. On and after October 1, 2017, parking spaces for passenger motor vehicles designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be fifteen feet wide including five feet of cross hatch or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway. On and after October 1, 2017, parking spaces for passenger vans designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be sixteen feet wide including eight feet of cross hatch or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway. Such spaces shall be designated by above grade signs with white lettering against a blue background and shall bear the words “handicapped parking permit required” and “violators will be fined”. Such signs shall also bear the international symbol of access. Whenever such a sign is replaced, repaired or erected it shall bear the words “reserved parking permit required” and “violators will be fined”, bear the symbol of access and indicate the minimum fine for a violation of subsection (f) of this section. Such indicator may be in the form of a notice affixed to such a sign.
(i) Any public parking garage or terminal, as defined in the State Building Code, constructed under a building permit application filed on or after October 1, 1985, and prior to October 1, 2004, shall have nine feet six inches' vertical clearance at a primary entrance and along the route to at least two parking spaces which conform with the requirements of subsection (h) of this section and which have nine feet six inches' vertical clearance unless an exemption has been granted pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 29-269. Each public parking garage or terminal, as defined in the State Building Code, constructed under a building permit application filed on or after October 1, 2004, shall have eight feet two inches' vertical clearance at a primary entrance and along the route to at least two parking spaces for passenger vans which conform with the requirements of subsection (h) of this section and which have eight feet two inches' vertical clearance unless an exemption has been granted pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 29-269.
(j) The commissioner may suspend or revoke any plate or placard issued pursuant to this section when, after affording the person to whom such plate or placard was issued an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with chapter 54, the commissioner or his representative determines that such person has used or permitted the use of such plate or placard in a manner which violates the provisions of this section.
(k) Nothing in this section may be construed to allow a person who is blind or a person with disabilities who is a bona fide resident of the state to park in a public or private area reserved for the exclusive use of persons who are blind and persons with disabilities as provided in this section if such person does not display upon or within his vehicle a plate or placard issued pursuant to this section.
(l) (1) Any person who violates any provision of this section for which a penalty or fine is not otherwise provided shall, for a first violation, be subject to a fine of two hundred fifty dollars, and for a subsequent violation, be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars.
(2) No owner or lessee of a private parking area subject to the requirements of this section, or an agent of such owner or lessee, shall dump, or allow any other person to dump, or otherwise place accumulated snow in a special parking space reserved as required in this section. Any owner, lessee or agent who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall, for a first violation, be subject to a fine of two hundred fifty dollars, and for a subsequent violation, be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars.
(m) Any placard or special license plate issued pursuant to this section shall be returned to the commissioner upon the subsequent change of residence to another state or death of the person to whom such placard or license plate was issued. Any person who uses a placard or a special license plate issued pursuant to this section after the death of the person to whom such placard or special license plate was issued shall be fined five hundred dollars.
(n) The commissioner shall develop a procedure for the renewal of existing placards. The procedure may be implemented over a period of several years. Any renewal of such placards shall require the issuance of a new placard in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(o) The commissioner shall check the Department of Public Health's state registration of deaths on a monthly basis and shall cancel any placard issued to an individual identified in such registry as deceased.
(p) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this chapter and to establish a uniform system for the issuance, renewal and regulation of special license plates, removable windshield placards and temporary removable windshield placards. Such plates and placards shall be used only by persons to whom such plates and placards are issued.
(P.A. 76-427, S. 1–3; P.A. 77-366, S. 1, 2; P.A. 79-144; P.A. 80-367, S. 1–3; 80-466, S. 23, 25; P.A. 81-172, S. 14; P.A. 82-420, S. 1, 4; P.A. 83-412, S. 2, 5; P.A. 84-377, S. 1, 4; 84-546, S. 44, 173; P.A. 85-206; P.A. 86-103; 86-388, S. 27, 31; P.A. 87-304, S. 3; P.A. 88-32, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-74, S. 2; P.A. 90-300, S. 1, 2, 8; P.A. 94-189, S. 16; P.A. 95-325, S. 12, 16; P.A. 99-268, S. 24, 25, 34, 44; P.A. 00-169, S. 18, 19, 22, 34, 36; P.A. 02-70, S. 55; P.A. 04-199, S. 19; 04-237, S. 1; P.A. 06-130, S. 14; P.A. 07-52, S. 1; P.A. 08-184, S. 14; P.A. 09-11, S. 1; 09-187, S. 37; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 105; P.A. 10-110, S. 24; P.A. 11-44, S. 45; 11-213, S. 39; P.A. 12-132, S. 22; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 64; P.A. 13-282, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 224; P.A. 16-78, S. 3–5; P.A. 17-79, S. 23; 17-230, S. 4; P.A. 19-119, S. 11, 12; 19-157, S. 37; 19-161, S. 37; P.A. 21-106, S. 36; P.A. 23-40, S. 33–35.)
History: P.A. 77-366 included reference to vehicles with special license plates in Subsec. (c) and clarified parking permission for vehicles with special plates in Subsec. (e); P.A. 79-144 greatly expanded provisions, revising Subsec. (a), inserting new Subsec. (b), revising former Subsec. (b) and redesignating it as (c), inserting new Subsec. (d), revising former Subsec. (c) and redesignating it as (e), deleting former Subsecs. (d) and (e), inserting new Subsecs. (f) to (i), replacing former provision for $99 maximum fine with statement that violation is an infraction in former Subsec. (f) and redesignating it as Subsec. (j); P.A. 80-367 amended Subsec. (c) to delete reference to plates in provision re display and to add provision prohibiting use of plate for special parking privileges when car not conveying handicapped person and amended Subsec. (e) to add provisions re parking spaces in parking areas for two hundred or more cars; P.A. 80-466 replaced references to set of plates in Subsec. (b) with reference to single plate; P.A. 81-172 amended Subsec. (a) by providing for a five-year, rather than one-year validity period for a special parking identification card; P.A. 82-420 allowed nonprofit organizations that transport handicapped persons to obtain special parking identification cards; P.A. 83-412 deleted all references to nonprofit organizations which transport handicapped persons, thereby eliminating their parking privileges, provided for the phase-out of the special “HP” license plate and its replacement by a special international symbol of access license plate and provided that the provisions of Subsec. (e) are not applicable where an ordinance or state building code specifies more stringent requirements re size of parking area or number of special parking spaces; P.A. 84-377 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for a fee of $2 for the original issuance and renewal of special parking identification cards, a period of validity of two, rather than five, years for such cards and different colors for renewal cards, specific information in the physician's certification of impairment of ability to walk, authorization for commissioner to require additional certification, submission of notarized statement or personal appearance by applicant to request identification and issuance of temporary special parking identification cards, amended Subsec. (b) to provide that special license plates may bear letters or any combination of numerals or letters and that identification issued be returned upon death or change in legal residence to another state, amended Subsec. (d) to provide for towing of vehicles parked in violation of Subsec. (d) for third or subsequent time and impounding of such vehicles, amended Subsec. (f) to require a warning and the international symbol of access in above grade signs, and amended Subsec. (g) to insert new language re required vertical clearance for parking garages or terminals constructed on and after October 1, 1985, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 84-546 made technical change in Subsec. (j); P.A. 85-206 amended Subsec. (g), requiring that parking spaces in garages or terminals conform with the requirements of Subsec. (f); P.A. 86-103 permitted the issuance of special parking identification cards to blind persons and permitted the issuance of special license plates to handicapped persons who own motorcycles; P.A. 86-388 amended Subsecs. (a) to (c), inclusive, substituting “number” plate for license plate and including reference to issuance of a set of plates in accordance with provisions of Sec. 14-21b(a); P.A. 87-304 amended Subsec. (b) to increase fee for issuance of special number plate from $5 to $10 and exempt any handicapped person who transfers an unexpired registration and replaces number plate with special plate from payment of fees for transfer or replacement; P.A. 88-32 amended Subsec. (a) to require M.D. certification of blindness or “permanent” impairment of ability to walk only at time of original application and amended Subsec. (k) to require that the fine for violation of Subsec. (d) be a minimum of $85; P.A. 89-74 amended Subsec. (a) to permit optometrists to certify blindness at the time of original application and to delete requirement that permanent impairment of walking ability be certified at time original application is made; P.A. 90-300 amended Subsec. (e) to add two subdivision designations in the last sentence re exceptions and to insert new language as Subdiv. (2) “in the event a municipal ordinance imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of existing private parking areas …” and amended Subsec. (g) to insert “public” before “parking garage or terminal” and “as defined in the state building code” thereafter, to require that vertical clearance be provided at a primary entrance and to add language concerning an exemption granted pursuant to Sec. 29-269(b); P.A. 94-189 substantially revised provisions of section deleting former Subsecs. (a), (b), (c) and (j) re special parking identification cards and license plates with new provisions, relettering former Subsecs. (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (k) accordingly and making technical changes; P.A. 95-325 amended Subsec. (f) to specify when ambulances transporting patients may park in reserved area, effective July 13, 1995; P.A. 99-268 amended Subsec. (b) by allowing the commissioner to accept discharge papers of a disabled veteran for establishing that such veteran meets the definition of a person with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, amended Subsec. (e) to revise provisions re parking without penalty in legally permissible parking areas for unlimited periods of time, notwithstanding periods indicated by parking meters or signs, and amended Subsec. (h) by increasing designated parking space size from 15 feet wide, including 3 feet of cross hatch, to 16 feet wide, including 7 feet of cross hatch, and by requiring parking space signs to indicate the minimum fine for a violation of Subsec. (f); P.A. 00-169 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by removing provision stating a placard is valid for a period of five years from the date of issuance, Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to the $5 fee re applications and renewal applications for special license plates and removable windshield placards, and by adding a provision requiring a $5 fee for temporary removable windshield placard, effective October 1, 2000, and Subsec. (h) by changing parking space size requirements from “sixteen feet wide including seven feet of cross hatch” to “fifteen feet wide including three feet of cross hatch”, effective June 1, 2000, and revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section; P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 04-199 amended Subsec. (b) to permit advanced practice registered nurse to certify disabilities which limit or impair ability to walk re applications for special license plates and removable windshield placards and to certify that such disabilities meet definition under federal law, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-237 amended Subsec. (h) to insert “and prior to October 1, 2004,” and to add requirements re parking spaces for passenger motor vehicles and passenger vans designated for the handicapped, and amended Subsec. (i) to make a technical change, to provide that requirement re 9 feet 6 inches' vertical clearance for public parking garages or terminals apply to those constructed under a building permit application filed on or after October 1, 1985, and prior to October 1, 2004, and to add 8 feet 2 inches vertical clearance requirements for public parking garages or terminals constructed under a building permit application filed on or after October 1, 2004; P.A. 06-130 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that commissioner is not required to issue more than one placard per applicant, amended Subsec. (d) by removing requirement that commissioner issue an additional placard to an applicant who has no special license plates and made a technical change in Subsec. (l), effective June 2, 2006; P.A. 07-52 amended Subsec. (l) by replacing infraction and minimum fine provisions with a fine of $150 for a first violation and a fine of $250 for a subsequent violation; P.A. 08-184 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “physician's assistant” to health care providers who may issue certification of disability; P.A. 09-11 made a technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 09-187 added Subsec. (a)(4) to define “persons with disabilities”, amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re applications from parent or guardian if person is unable to request or complete application, establish requirements for issuance of placards on and after January 1, 2010, add requirement re record, replace former certification language with provision re certification of legal blindness from board, and limit issuance to 1 placard per applicant, amended Subsec. (c) to limit issuance of plates to 2 vehicles per person, added new Subsecs. (m) to (o) re issuance, renewal and cancellation of placards, redesignated existing Subsec. (m) as Subsec. (p), changed “removable windshield placard” to “placard”, “blind persons” to “persons who are blind” and “handicapped person” to “person with disabilities” throughout, and made conforming and technical changes, effective July 8, 2009; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (b) by authorizing certification of disability from a physician's assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 10-110 amended Subsec. (a)(4) to revise reference to 23 CFR by replacing “Part” with “Section” and amended Subsec. (b) to restate application and renewal application process for persons with disabilities and persons with blindness and to provide that any person who makes a required certification shall sign application under penalty of false statement, effective June 5, 2010; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Board of Education and Services for the Blind” with “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” and replacing “commissioner” with “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles”, effective July 1, 2011 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b), a reference to “handicapped driver training unit” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “driver training unit for persons with disabilities” to conform with changes made by P.A. 11-44, S. 46); P.A. 11-213 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize renewal of special plates issued prior to October 1, 2011, prohibit issuance of new special plates for motor vehicles on and after October 1, 2011, and make conforming changes, and amended Subsec. (c) to replace “motor vehicle” with “motorcycle”, authorize issuance and renewal of windshield placards and special plates for motorcycles, and make conforming and technical changes; P.A. 12-132 amended Subsec. (g) by replacing “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” with “Department of Rehabilitation Services”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-282 amended Subsec. (f) to add provision re municipal police officer who observes violation to issue written warning or summons; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (l) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re dumping snow in a special parking space; P.A. 16-78 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (5) defining “symbol of access”, amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing “international symbol of access” and “international access symbol” with “symbol of access” and amended Subsec. (h) by adding provisions re requirements for parking space sign replaced, repaired or erected on and after January 1, 2017, effective January 1, 2017; P.A. 17-79 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subpara. (A) re certification that applicant is disabled, redesignating existing Subpara. (B) re certification that applicant meets the definition of a person with a disability which limits or impairs ability to walk as Subpara. (A), and adding new Subpara. (B) re veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder and who meets definition of person with a disability, effective June 27, 2017; P.A. 17-230 amended Subsec. (h) by replacing “2004” with “2017”, adding “or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway”, deleting reference to January 1, 2017, and making technical changes; P.A. 19-119 amended Subsec. (e) to add “or the cross hatch abutting such spaces”, amended Subsec. (f) to designate existing provision re parking in reserved public or private areas as Subdiv. (1), add Subdiv. (2) re use of cross hatch and make technical and conforming changes, amended Subsec. (l)(1) and (2) to increase fine for first violation from $150 to $250 and increase fine for subsequent violation from $250 to $500; P.A. 19-157 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Department of Rehabilitation Services” with “Department of Aging and Disability Services”; P.A. 19-161 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re issuance of placard to applicant who is parent or guardian of person who is blind or person with disabilities and such person is under 18 years of age; P.A. 21-106 amended Subsec. (b) to remove “if such person is under eighteen at the time of application” re issuance of placard to applicant who is parent or guardian of person who is blind or person with disabilities; P.A. 23-40 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “removable windshield placard”, amended Subsec. (d) by designating existing provision as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re content of placard issued on and after October 1, 2023, and re validity of placard issued prior to October 1, 2023, and amended Subsec. (o) by increasing check of state registration of deaths from periodically to monthly.
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Sec. 14-253c. Accessible Parking Advisory Council. (a) There is established an Accessible Parking Advisory Council, which shall be within the Department of Motor Vehicles for administrative purposes only. The advisory board shall: (1) Develop a strategy to detect, deter and prevent fraud and misuse from occurring with regard to the issuance and use of removable windshield placards for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities from occurring without adversely impacting persons who are blind and persons with disabilities, (2) review the laws in other states concerning the issuance and use of such removable windshield placards, (3) recommend best practices for policies and regulations regarding the application for, and issuance and use of, removable windshield placards and the enforcement of subsection (l) of section 14-253a, (4) identify and make recommendations regarding streetscape issues that interfere with the ability of a person who is blind or person with disabilities to access and use public and private areas reserved for exclusive use by persons who are blind or persons with disabilities, (5) make educational materials available to medical professionals, law enforcement officers and the general public regarding the proper issuance and use of such removable windshield placards, and (6) review the status of such removable windshield placards issued to persons who are blind and persons with disabilities prior to January 1, 2010, for the lifetime of such persons.
(b) The advisory council shall consist of (1) the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or the commissioner's designee, (2) the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services or the commissioner's designee, (3) two members appointed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, who are licensed physicians, physician assistants or advanced practice registered nurses who certify applications for removable windshield placards while in the course of employment, (4) one member appointed by the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services who represents an organization that advocates on behalf of persons with physical disabilities, (5) one appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who is a municipality planner, (6) one appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who uses or advocates on behalf of users of accessible parking, (7) one appointed by the House ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who uses or advocates on behalf of users of accessible parking, (8) one appointed by the Senate ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, who is a sworn member of a municipal police department, and (9) and such other members as the advisory council may prescribe. All initial appointments to the advisory council shall be made not later than September 1, 2023. Each member appointed pursuant to subdivisions (3) to (9), inclusive, of this subsection shall serve for a term of two years and may serve until such member's successor is appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or the commissioner's designee, shall serve as chairperson of the advisory council. The advisory council shall meet at such times as it deems necessary and may establish rules governing its internal procedures.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the advisory council shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, regarding the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the findings of the advisory council and any recommendations for legislation to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation.
(P.A. 23-40, S. 36.)
History: P.A. 23-40 effective June 12, 2023.
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Sec. 14-276a. School bus operators and operators of student transportation vehicles: Regulations; qualifications; training; drug testing. (a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing a procedure for the safety training of school bus operators and operators of student transportation vehicles. Such regulations shall provide for minimum proficiency requirements for school bus operators. The safety training administered by the commissioner shall conform to the minimum requirements of number 17 of the National Highway Safety Standards. Such safety training shall include instruction relative to the location, contents and use of the first aid kit in the motor vehicle. A class or classroom instruction may be offered in person in a congregate setting, through distance learning or through a combination of both in-person and distance learning, provided such distance learning has interactive components such as mandatory interactions, participation or testing.
(b) No person shall operate a school bus, as defined in section 14-275, or a student transportation vehicle, as defined in section 14-212, for the purpose of transporting school children unless such person has, prior to the issuance or renewal of such person's license endorsement: (1) Furnished evidence to the satisfaction of the commissioner that such person meets the physical qualification standards established in 49 CFR 391, as amended from time to time; and (2) successfully completed a course in safety training and, in the case of school bus operators, passed an examination in proficiency in school bus operation given by the commissioner. Such proficiency examination shall include a road test administered in either a type I school bus having a gross vehicle weight exceeding ten thousand pounds or a type II school bus having a gross vehicle weight of ten thousand pounds or less. The commissioner shall prioritize scheduling a road test for persons seeking or renewing a public passenger endorsement to operate a school bus. Any operator administered a road test in a type II school bus shall not be eligible for a license to operate a type I school bus. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be deemed to have committed an infraction.
(c) Any town or regional school district may require its school bus operators to have completed a safety training course in the operation of school buses, consisting of a minimum of ten hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and three hours of classroom instruction. Classroom instruction shall include instruction offered in person in a congregate setting, through distance learning or through a combination of both in-person and distance learning, provided such distance learning has interactive components such as mandatory interactions, participation or testing.
(d) A carrier shall require each person whom it intends to employ to operate a school bus, as defined in section 14-275, or a student transportation vehicle, as defined in section 14-212, to submit to a urinalysis drug test in accordance with the provisions of sections 31-51v and 31-51w and shall require each person it employs to operate such vehicles to submit to a urinalysis drug test on a random basis in accordance with the provisions of section 31-51x and the standards set forth in 49 CFR Parts 382 and 391. No carrier may employ any person who has received a positive test result for such test which was confirmed as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 31-51u. No carrier may continue to employ as a driver, for two years, any person who has received a positive test result for such test which was confirmed as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 31-51u. No carrier may continue to employ as a driver, permanently, any person who has received a second positive test result for such test which was confirmed as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 31-51u. The commissioner may, after notice and hearing, impose a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for the first offense and two thousand five hundred dollars for each subsequent offense on any carrier which violates any provision of this subsection.
(P.A. 73-503, S. 1, 2; P.A. 79-302, S. 1; P.A. 80-277, S. 1; P.A. 82-223, S. 22; P.A. 83-577, S. 27; P.A. 87-585, S. 2, 3; P.A. 88-317, S. 61, 107; P.A. 89-320, S. 6, 7, 12; P.A. 90-112, S. 5, 14; 90-263, S. 71, 74; P.A. 93-341, S. 28, 38; P.A. 96-167, S. 38; P.A. 07-224, S. 2; P.A. 08-150, S. 23; P.A. 19-119, S. 9; P.A. 21-106, S. 27, 28; P.A. 23-40, S. 38.)
History: P.A. 79-302 deleted Subsec. (d) re appropriation to carry out purposes of section; P.A. 80-277 inserted new Subsec. (c) re safety training courses and relettered former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d); P.A. 82-223 amended Subsec. (d) by specifying that violation of the section constituted an infraction, establishing a minimum fine of $25 and lowering the maximum fine from $100 to $90; P.A. 83-577 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting the provision specifying a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $90; P.A. 87-585 amended Subsec. (b), requiring examination re school bus operation to include a road test administered in either a type I or type II school bus; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-166 to 4-174 in Subsec. (a) to include new section added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 89-320 amended Subsec. (a) to require that commissioner to adopt regulations re physical examination and safety training of operators of motor vehicles owned by or under contract to towns, regional school districts and schools and that safety training to include instruction re location, contents and use of first aid kit, and amended Subsec. (b) to prohibit persons from operating other school transportation vehicles unless such persons have satisfied the requirements in Subdivs. (1) and (2) prior to issuance or renewal of their public service operators' licenses, and to delete the definition of “school year”, making technical changes as necessary, effective July 1, 1990; P.A. 90-112 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to substitute “student transportation vehicles” for references to motor vehicles owned by or under contract to a town, regional school district, public, private or religious school and used to transport students to and from school and inserted new Subsec. (d) requiring preemployment drug testing for prospective school bus operators and operators of student transportation vehicles, relettering former Subsec. (d) accordingly; P.A. 90-263 amended Subsec. (b) to substitute public passenger transportation permit for public service operator's license; P.A. 93-341 amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to public passenger transportation permits and with reference to license endorsements, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 96-167 eliminated Subsec. (e), imposing infraction as penalty for violation of any provision of section, and added in Subsec. (b) infraction as penalty and in Subsec. (d) provision authorizing commissioner to impose civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each offense on any carrier which violates provision of subsection; P.A. 07-224 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provisions re random drug testing of persons employed to operate school buses or student transportation vehicles and requirements applicable upon receipt of positive test results, making existing civil penalty applicable for the first offense and adding civil penalty of $2,500 for each subsequent offense, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (d) to provide that random drug test also be in accordance with “the standards set forth in 49 CFR Parts 382 and 391”; P.A. 19-119 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re procedures for physical examination and regulations re minimum physical requirements, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provision re minimum physical requirements established by commissioner with provision re physical qualification standards established in 49 CFR 391, deleting provision re commissioner to administer course in safety training, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting references to Sec. 31-51u(a)(3) and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 21-106 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to add provision re offering of instruction in-person, through distance learning or combination of in-person and distance learning, effective June 30, 2021; P.A. 23-40 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re prioritizing road test for persons seeking or renewing public passenger endorsement to operate school bus and make a technical change, effective July 1, 2023.
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Sec. 14-283b. Motor vehicle operator required to move over or reduce speed when approaching emergency vehicle that is stationary or traveling significantly below speed limit and nonemergency vehicle that is stationary and located on shoulder. (a) For the purpose of this section, “emergency vehicle” means any vehicle with activated flashing lights (1) operated by a member of an emergency medical service organization responding to an emergency call, (2) operated by a fire department or by any officer of a fire department responding to a fire or other emergency, (3) operated by a police officer, (4) that is a maintenance vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or (5) that is a wrecker, as defined in section 14-1, “police officer” has the meaning set forth in section 7-294a, and “highway” has the meaning set forth in section 14-1, provided such highway has two or more travel lanes that proceed in the same direction.
(b) (1) Any operator of a motor vehicle on a highway when approaching one or more emergency vehicles that are stationary or traveling significantly below the posted speed limit and located on the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane of such highway shall (A) immediately reduce speed to a reasonable level below the posted speed limit, and (B) if traveling in the lane adjacent to the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane containing such emergency vehicle, move such motor vehicle over one lane, unless such movement would be unreasonable or unsafe.
(2) Any operator of a motor vehicle on a road that provides for two lanes of undivided traffic proceeding in the opposite direction when approaching one or more emergency vehicles that are stationary or traveling significantly below the posted speed limit and located on the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane of such road shall immediately reduce speed to a reasonable level below the posted speed limit until safely clear of the emergency vehicle.
(c) Any operator of a motor vehicle on a highway when approaching one or more nonemergency vehicles that are stationary and located on the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane of such highway shall, if traveling in the lane adjacent to the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane containing such nonemergency vehicle, move such motor vehicle over one lane, unless such movement would be unreasonable or unsafe.
(d) (1) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall have committed an infraction, except that if such violation results in the injury of the operator or any occupant of an emergency vehicle, such person shall be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars and, if such violation results in the death of the operator or any occupant of an emergency vehicle, such person shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars.
(2) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (c) of this section shall have committed an infraction.
(P.A. 09-121, S. 1; 09-187, S. 44; P.A. 12-19, S. 1; P.A. 16-151, S. 3; P.A. 17-230, S. 14; P.A. 23-40, S. 32.)
History: P.A. 09-187 redefined “police officer” in Subsec. (a); P.A. 12-19 amended Subsec. (a) to redefine “highway” and amended Subsec. (c) to rephrase provisions and make technical changes; P.A. 16-151 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provision re stationary emergency vehicles with provision re emergency vehicles that are stationary or traveling significantly below posted speed limit, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-230 added new Subsec. (c) re moving over for nonemergency vehicles that are stationary and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) re violation of Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d)(1) and amended same by adding Subdiv. (2) re violation of Subsec. (c); P.A. 23-40 amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing provision as new Subsec. (1), redesignate existing Subdivs. (1) and (2) as Subparas. (A) and (B) and add Subdiv. (2) re reducing speed when approaching emergency vehicle on a road with two lanes of undivided traffic proceeding in opposite direction, amended Subsec. (d)(1) to add “or any occupant” and made a technical change.
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Sec. 14-296aa. Use of hand-held mobile telephones and mobile electronic devices by motor vehicle operators and school bus drivers prohibited or restricted. Exceptions. Penalties. Amounts remitted to municipality. Record of violation. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Mobile telephone” means a cellular, analog, wireless or digital telephone capable of sending or receiving telephone communications without an access line for service.
(2) “Using” or “use” means holding a hand-held mobile telephone to, or in the immediate proximity of, the user's ear.
(3) “Hand-held mobile telephone” means a mobile telephone with which a user engages in a call using at least one hand.
(4) “Hands-free accessory” means an attachment, add-on, built-in feature, or addition to a mobile telephone, whether or not permanently installed in a motor vehicle, that, when used, allows the vehicle operator to maintain both hands on the steering wheel.
(5) “Hands-free mobile telephone” means a hand-held mobile telephone that has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped with an attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of such hand-held mobile telephone, by which a user engages in a call without the use of either hand, whether or not the use of either hand is necessary to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone.
(6) “Engage in a call” means talking into or listening on a hand-held mobile telephone, but does not include holding a hand-held mobile telephone to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone.
(7) “Immediate proximity” means the distance that permits the operator of a hand-held mobile telephone to hear telecommunications transmitted over such hand-held mobile telephone, but does not require physical contact with such operator's ear.
(8) “Mobile electronic device” means any hand-held or other portable electronic equipment capable of providing data communication between two or more persons, including a text messaging device, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, equipment that is capable of playing a video game or a digital video disk, or equipment on which digital photographs are taken or transmitted, or any combination thereof, but does not include any audio equipment or any equipment installed in a motor vehicle for the purpose of providing navigation, emergency assistance to the operator of such motor vehicle or video entertainment to the passengers in the rear seats of such motor vehicle.
(9) “Operating a motor vehicle” means operating a motor vehicle on any highway, as defined in section 14-1, including being temporarily stationary due to traffic, road conditions or a traffic control sign or signal, but not including being parked on the side or shoulder of any highway where such vehicle is safely able to remain stationary.
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway, as defined in section 14-1, while using a hand-held mobile telephone to engage in a call or while using a mobile electronic device. An operator of a motor vehicle who types, sends or reads a text message with a hand-held mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle shall be in violation of this section, except that if such operator is driving a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, such operator shall be charged with a violation of subsection (e) of this section.
(2) An operator of a motor vehicle who holds a hand-held mobile telephone to, or in the immediate proximity of, his or her ear while operating a motor vehicle is presumed to be engaging in a call within the meaning of this section. The presumption established by this subdivision is rebuttable by evidence tending to show that the operator was not engaged in a call.
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of a hand-held mobile telephone or a mobile electronic device, unless otherwise provided by law.
(4) Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply to: (A) The use of a hand-held mobile telephone for the sole purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: An emergency response operator; a hospital, physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire department; or a police department, or (B) any of the following persons while in the performance of their official duties and within the scope of their employment: A peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, a firefighter or an operator of an ambulance or authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or a member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, while operating a military vehicle, or (C) the use of a hand-held radio by a person with an amateur radio station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission in emergency situations for emergency purposes only, or (D) the use of a hands-free mobile telephone.
(c) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other electronic device, including those with hands-free accessories, or a mobile electronic device, while operating a school bus that is carrying passengers, except that this subsection shall not apply when such person: (1) Places an emergency call to school officials; (2) uses a hand-held mobile telephone as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section; (3) uses a hand-held mobile telephone or mobile electronic device in a manner similar to a two-way radio to allow real-time communication with a school official, an emergency response operator, a hospital, physician's office or health clinic, an ambulance company, a fire department or a police department; or (4) uses a mobile electronic device with a video display, provided such device (A) is used as a global positioning system or to provide navigation, (B) is securely attached inside the school bus near such person, and (C) has been approved for such use by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(d) No person under eighteen years of age shall use any hand-held mobile telephone, including one with a hands-free accessory, or a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway, except as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section.
(e) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other electronic device or type, read or send text or a text message with or from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, except for the purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: An emergency response operator; a hospital; physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire department or a police department.
(f) Except as provided in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section, no person shall engage in any activity not related to the actual operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe operation of such vehicle on any highway, as defined in section 14-1.
(g) Any law enforcement officer who issues a summons for a violation of this section shall record on such summons the specific nature of any distracted driving behavior observed by such officer.
(h) Any person who violates this section shall be fined two hundred dollars for a first violation, three hundred seventy-five dollars for a second violation and six hundred twenty-five dollars for a third or subsequent violation.
(i) An operator of a motor vehicle who commits a moving violation, as defined in subsection (a) of section 14-111g, while engaged in any activity prohibited by this section shall be fined in accordance with subsection (h) of this section, in addition to any penalty or fine imposed for the moving violation.
(j) The state shall remit to a municipality twenty-five per cent of the fine amount received for a violation of this section with respect to each summons issued by such municipality. Each clerk of the Superior Court or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other official of the Superior Court designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall, on or before the thirtieth day of January, April, July and October in each year, certify to the Comptroller the amount due for the previous quarter under this subsection to each municipality served by the office of the clerk or official.
(k) A record of any violation of this section shall appear on the driving history record or motor vehicle record, as defined in section 14-10, of any person who commits such violation, and the record of such violation shall be available to any motor vehicle insurer in accordance with the provisions of section 14-10.
(P.A. 05-159, S. 1–7; 05-220, S. 2, 3; P.A. 06-196, S. 284; P.A. 09-54, S. 1; P.A. 10-32, S. 51, 52; 10-109, S. 1; P.A. 11-213, S. 53; P.A. 12-67, S. 1; 12-133, S. 3; P.A. 13-271, S. 37; 13-277, S. 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 227; P.A. 19-108, S. 2; 19-119, S. 15; P.A. 21-28, S. 13; P.A. 23-40, S. 37.)
History: P.A. 05-220 amended Subsec. (a) to make definitions applicable to Subsecs. (c) and (d) and add new Subdiv. (8) defining “mobile electronic device”, amended Subsec. (b) to add references to a mobile electronic device in Subdivs. (1) and (3) and delete exemption for “the operator of a taxi cab, tow truck or bus without passengers” in Subdiv. (4)(B) and amended Subsec. (c) to make prohibition applicable to the use of a mobile electronic device and make a technical change and amended Subsec. (d) to apply prohibition to a person under 18 years of age rather than to a person who holds a learner's permit or any holder of a motor vehicle license subject to the requirements of Sec. 14-36(d) and make prohibition applicable to the use of a mobile electronic device; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 09-54 amended Subsec. (b)(4) to add members of the armed forces, effective May 21, 2009; P.A. 10-32 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (e), effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 10-109 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to establish violation re operator of vehicle in motion who types, sends or reads text message with hand-held mobile telephone or mobile electronic device, made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (e), amended Subsec. (g) to replace fine of not more than $100 and provision suspending fine for first-time violator who acquires hands-free accessory with fine of $100 for first violation, $150 for second violation and $200 for third or subsequent violation, and added Subsec. (j) to require state to remit to municipalities 25% of amount received by state for each summons issued by such municipality; P.A. 11-213 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to add provision re operator driving commercial motor vehicle to be charged with violation of Subsec. (e), added new Subsec. (e) to prohibit texting while operating commercial motor vehicle, except for emergency situations, redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) to (g) as Subsecs. (f) to (h), deleted former Subsec. (h) re $100 fine for violation of Subsec. (c) or (d), amended redesignated Subsec. (h) to increase fines for violations from $100, $150 and $200 to $125, $250 and $400, respectively, and made conforming and technical changes, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 12-67 amended Subsec. (b)(4) to add new Subpara. (C) re use of hand-held radio by person with amateur radio station license and redesignate existing Subpara. (C) as Subpara. (D); P.A. 12-133 amended Subsec. (j) to specify that the state is to remit to a municipality 25% of the fine amount received for a violation of section for each summons issued by such municipality; P.A. 13-271 amended Subsec. (e) to add provision re prohibition of use of hand-held mobile telephone or other electronic device, amended Subsec. (h) to increase fines for violations from $125, $250 and $400 to $150, $300 and $500, respectively, and added Subsec. (k) re record of violation on driving history or motor vehicle record and availability of record to motor vehicle insurer; P.A. 13-277 added Subsec. (a)(9) defining “operating a motor vehicle”, amended Subsec. (b)(1) and (2) to delete provisions limiting violations to vehicles in motion and to add references to “operating a motor vehicle”, amended Subsec. (b)(4) to limit exemption for hand-held radio use to emergency purposes only, and amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) to delete provisions limiting violations to “moving” bus or vehicle; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (b)(4)(B) to add sworn motor vehicle inspector to list of persons allowed to use hand-held mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while driving, effective June 30, 2015; P.A. 19-108 amended Subsec. (b)(4)(B) to delete reference to sworn motor vehicle inspector; P.A. 19-119 amended Subsec. (c) to add Subdiv. (3) re use of hand-held mobile telephone or mobile electronic device in manner similar to two-way radio and made technical changes; P.A. 21-28 amended Subsec. (h) to increase fines for violations from $150, $300 and $500 to $200, $375 and $625, respectively; P.A. 23-40 amended Subsec. (c) to add Subdiv. (4) re use of mobile electronic device with video display and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2023.
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