Sec. 14-299. Traffic control signals. Right turn on red.
Sec. 14-307g. Initial and annual reports by municipality.
Sec. 14-307h. Annual report re status of municipal plans submitted to Department of Transportation.
Sec. 14-314e. Training requirements for traffic authority.
Sec. 14-299. Traffic control signals. Right turn on red. (a) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, no installation of or revision to any traffic control signal light shall be made by any town, city or borough until the same has been approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration. Such approval shall be based on necessity for, location of and type of such signal light and shall be applied for on a form supplied by the Office of the State Traffic Administration and shall be submitted to said office by the traffic authority having jurisdiction. Approval of any such signal light may be revoked by the Office of the State Traffic Administration at any time if said office deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety, and thereupon such signal lights shall be removed by the traffic authority having jurisdiction.
(b) When traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed and to stop by the use of signals exhibiting colored lights or lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian-control signals carrying word legends or symbols. Such lights or arrows shall apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians and shall indicate the following:
(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular traffic facing a green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or marking at such place prohibits either such turn or straight through movement, except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and vehicles within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time such signal was exhibited; pedestrians facing the green signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, may proceed across the highway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) Yellow: Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter, when vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the intersection unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
(3) Red alone: Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and remain standing until the next indication is shown; provided, on or after July 1, 1979, vehicular traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest the right hand curb or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration has been erected in the appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn onto a two-way street or onto another one-way street on which all the traffic is moving to such vehicle's right after such vehicle has stopped as required in this subdivision and yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, shall not enter the roadway.
(4) Green arrow: Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time, but such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully within the intersection.
(5) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words “Walk” or “Don't Walk” or the image of a walking person symbolizing “Walk” or an upraised hand symbolizing “Don't Walk” are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows: “Walk” or walking person symbol: Pedestrians facing such signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; “Don't Walk” or upraised hand symbol: No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the flashing “Don't Walk” or flashing upraised hand symbol signal is showing.
(c) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line when marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(2) When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles facing such signal may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
(d) Lenses of the following colors only shall be used and shall be arranged vertically in the signal face or, when necessary, horizontally, and shall conform to the following positions: When arranged vertically, red shall be located at the top, yellow shall be located directly below red and the remaining indications below the yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, circular green, vertical arrow, left-turn arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed; when arranged horizontally, red shall be located at the left, yellow shall be located directly to the right of red and the remaining indications to the right of yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, left-turn arrow, circular green, vertical arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed.
(e) When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green arrow signal is shown, but shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red X signal is shown.
(f) If a traffic control signal, approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
(1949 Rev., S. 2518; 1967, P.A. 428; P.A. 75-297; P.A. 78-309, S. 1; P.A. 12-132, S. 29; P.A. 23-135, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act restated provisions of Subsecs. (b) to (d) and added Subsecs. (e) and (f); P.A. 75-297 added provisions in Subsec. (b)(3) re right turns on red; P.A. 78-309 revised and amplified Subsec. (b)(3) and changed emphasis by allowing right turn on red unless sign prohibits it, whereas previously turn allowed only where sign permitted it; P.A. 12-132 amended Subsecs. (a) and (f) by replacing references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration and amended Subsec. (b)(3) by deleting provisions re review and erection of signs by June 30, 1979, and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (a) to add “or revision to”, amended Subsec. (b) to add provisions re symbols on pedestrian-control signals in Subdivs. (1) and (5) and delete “lawfully” re pedestrians within crosswalk in Subdivs. (1), (3) and (4), and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2023.
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Sec. 14-300. Crosswalks. Pedestrian-control signals. Regulation of pedestrians and motor vehicles at crosswalks. Pedestrians who are blind or have guide dogs. (a) The traffic authority may designate, by appropriate official traffic control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk facing vehicular traffic.
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals bearing the words “Walk” or “Don't Walk” or the image of a walking person symbolizing “Walk” or an upraised hand symbolizing “Don't Walk” are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the highway against a red or “Stop” signal and shall not cross at any place not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting across the highway or on any such crosswalk shall have the right-of-way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within such crosswalk. For the purposes of this subsection, a pedestrian is “crossing the roadway within such crosswalk” when the pedestrian (1) is within any portion of the crosswalk, (2) steps to the curb at the entrance to the crosswalk and indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by raising his or her hand and arm toward oncoming traffic, or (3) indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by moving any part of his or her body or an extension thereof, including, but not limited to, a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, stroller, carriage, cart or leashed or harnessed dog, into the crosswalk at the entrance to the crosswalk. No operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such sidewalk.
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection (a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, or a pedestrian being guided by a guide dog, shall reduce speed or stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian. No person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white, tipped with red.
(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time for the safe crossing of pedestrians.
(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per se shall not apply.
(1949 Rev., S. 2519; 1955, S. 1403d; 1967, P.A. 639; P.A. 78-309, S. 2; P.A. 94-189, S. 33, 34; P.A. 00-196, S. 13; P.A. 07-167, S. 26; P.A. 08-150, S. 32; P.A. 10-159, S. 9; P.A. 12-132, S. 30; P.A. 16-54, S. 1; P.A. 21-28, S. 1; P.A. 23-135, S. 2.)
History: 1967 act made special reference to specially marked crosswalks near schools in Subsec. (a); P.A. 78-309 added Subsecs. (c) and (d); P.A. 94-189 amended Subsec. (c) by changing “yield” to “grant”, making the section also applicable to a pedestrian who “steps to the curb at the entrance to a crosswalk” and deleting the requirement that such pedestrian should be “approaching at such a rate of speed or has approached so near to that half of the roadway upon which such operator is traveling so as to be in reasonable danger of being struck by the vehicle of such operator”, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 00-196 made a technical change; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “steps to the curb” with “steps off the curb or into the crosswalk”, making infraction applicable to “The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section”, rather than “A violation of this subsection”, and specifying a fine of $90, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (c) to delete penalty provision, reflecting its reenactment as new Subsec. (e), added new Subsec. (d) requiring motor vehicle operator to yield right-of-way to pedestrian who is blind carrying a white cane or white cane tipped with red or being guided by a guide dog and prohibiting a person who is not blind from carrying or using a cane or walking stick white in color or white, tipped in red, added new Subsec. (e) re penalty, formerly part of Subsec. (c), and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as new Subsec. (f) and amended same to add reference to new Subsec. (d); P.A. 10-159 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute “official traffic control devices” for “devices” and make technical changes, made technical changes in Subsec. (c), inserted new Subsec. (e) requiring crosswalks designated on or after October 1, 2010, to have necessary markings, signage or control signals to provide sufficient time for safe crossing of pedestrians and redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) and (f) as Subsecs. (f) and (g); P.A. 12-132 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 16-54 amended Subsec. (f) by replacing provision re violator deemed to have committed infraction and fined $90 with provision re violator fined not more than $500; P.A. 21-28 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing provision re pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk with definition of “crossing the roadway within such crosswalk”; P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “shall have power to” with “may” and amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re image of walking person or upraised hand on pedestrian-control signals and delete “on a ‘Walk' signal” and “on a green or ‘Go' signal” re pedestrian starting across highway or crosswalk, effective July 1, 2023.
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Sec. 14-307b. Definitions. For the purposes of this section and sections 14-307c to 14-307h, inclusive:
(1) “Automated traffic enforcement safety device” means a device designed to detect and collect evidence of alleged violations of an ordinance adopted under section 14-307c by recording images that capture the number plate, date, time and location of a motor vehicle that (A) exceeds the posted speed limit by ten or more miles per hour, or (B) fails to stop such vehicle when facing a steady red signal on a traffic control signal.
(2) “Automated traffic enforcement safety device operator” means a person who is trained and certified to operate an automated traffic enforcement safety device.
(3) “Driver”, “number plate” and “owner” have the same meanings as provided in section 14-1.
(4) “Equitable” means efforts, policies, standards, processes and any other functions of government intended to (A) ensure that patterns of discrimination and disparities of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, whether intentional or unintentional, are neither reinforced nor perpetuated, and (B) prevent the emergence and persistence of foreseeable future patterns of discrimination or disparities of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
(5) “Pedestrian safety zone” means an area designated by the Office of the State Traffic Administration or the traffic authority of a town, city or borough pursuant to section 14-307a.
(6) “Personally identifiable information” means information created or maintained by the municipality or a vendor that identifies or describes an owner and includes, but need not be limited to, the owner's address, telephone number, number plate, photograph, bank account information, credit card number, debit card number or the date, time, location or direction of travel on a highway.
(7) “School zone” means an area designated by the Office of the State Traffic Administration or the traffic authority of a town, city or borough pursuant to section 14-212b.
(8) “Traffic authority”, “traffic control sign” and “traffic control signal” have the same meanings as provided in section 14-297.
(9) “Vendor” means a person who (A) provides services to a municipality under sections 14-307c and 14-307f; (B) operates, maintains, leases or licenses an automated traffic enforcement safety device; or (C) is authorized to review and assemble the recorded images captured by an automated traffic enforcement safety device and forward such recorded images to the municipality.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 10.)
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Sec. 14-307c. Municipal use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices. Agreements re design, installation, operation or maintenance. Ordinance. Requirements. Citations. Defenses. (a) Any municipality may authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices at locations within school zones, pedestrian safety zones and other places in such municipality, provided (1) the municipality adopts an ordinance in accordance with the provisions of this section, and (2) the locations of such devices are identified in a plan approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to section 14-307e.
(b) The municipality may enter into agreements with vendors for the design, installation, operation or maintenance, or any combination thereof, of automated traffic enforcement safety devices. If a vendor designs, installs, operates or maintains an automated traffic enforcement safety device, the vendor's fee may not be contingent on the number of citations issued or fines paid pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this section.
(c) Any ordinance adopted under this section shall specify the following: (1) That an automated traffic enforcement safety device shall be operated by an automated traffic enforcement safety device operator; (2) that the owner of a motor vehicle commits a violation of the ordinance if the person operating such motor vehicle (A) exceeds the posted speed limit by ten or more miles per hour and such operation is detected by an automated traffic enforcement safety device, or (B) fails to stop such motor vehicle when facing a steady red signal on a traffic control signal and such failure is detected by an automated traffic enforcement safety device; (3) an automated traffic enforcement safety device shall be used solely for identifying violations of the ordinance; (4) for the first thirty days after a location is equipped with an operational automated traffic enforcement safety device, the owner of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of such ordinance that is detected by such device shall receive a written warning instead of a citation, as described in subsection (i) of this section; (5) payment of a fine and any associated fee imposed for a violation of the ordinance may be made by electronic means; (6) a sworn member or employee of the municipality's police department or an employee of the municipality, as designated by the traffic authority, shall review and approve the recorded images before a citation is mailed to the owner of such motor vehicle; and (7) the defenses available to the owner of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of such ordinance, which shall include, but need not be limited to, the defenses listed in subsection (j) of this section.
(d) Any ordinance adopted under this section may: (1) Establish a fine to be imposed against the owner of a motor vehicle committing a violation of such ordinance, provided the amount of such fine is not more than fifty dollars for a first violation and not more than seventy-five dollars for a second or subsequent violation, and (2) impose a reasonable fee, not to exceed fifteen dollars, for the costs associated with the electronic processing of the payment of any such fine. Any funds received by a municipality from fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this section shall be used for the purposes of improving transportation mobility, investing in transportation infrastructure improvements or paying the costs associated with the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in the municipality.
(e) Any municipality that adopts an ordinance under this section shall also adopt the following: (1) A citation hearing procedure pursuant to section 7-152c, (2) a comprehensive safety action plan to ensure that the streets located in the municipality safely and conveniently serve road users of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, transit users, bicyclists, persons using wheelchairs or other assistive devices and motor vehicle operators, and (3) a written policy that meets or exceeds the standards of the model privacy policy and protocol developed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 14-307d. Such municipality shall also be in compliance with any order made by the Office of the State Traffic Administration pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or any regulation adopted pursuant to said chapter by the office regarding a traffic control sign or traffic control signal at a location equipped or proposed to be equipped with an automatic traffic enforcement safety device.
(f) (1) Prior to the operation of an automated traffic enforcement safety device, the municipality shall (A) install at least two conspicuous signs at a reasonable distance in advance of such location, in accordance with the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time, notifying motor vehicle operators of such location, and (B) provide notification of such location to persons, firms or corporations that operate a mobile application that is used for navigation purposes or to provide real-time information on motor vehicle traffic. The Department of Transportation shall designate which such persons, firms or corporations shall be notified and provide technical guidance to such municipalities regarding how to provide such notification.
(2) At least thirty days before the date the first automated traffic enforcement safety device becomes operational in the municipality, the municipality shall develop and implement a public awareness campaign to educate the public concerning the importance of obeying speed limits and traffic control signals and the imminent use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in the municipality at the locations identified in the plan approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to section 14-307e.
(g) An automated traffic enforcement safety device operator shall complete training offered by the manufacturer of such device or the manufacturer's representative regarding procedures for setting up, testing and operating such device. The manufacturer or manufacturer's representative shall issue a signed certificate to the automated traffic enforcement safety device operator upon such operator's completion of the training. Such signed certificate shall be admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c.
(h) The municipality shall ensure each automated traffic enforcement safety device used by such municipality undergoes an annual calibration check performed at a calibration laboratory. The calibration laboratory shall issue a signed certificate of calibration after the annual calibration check. Such signed certificate of calibration shall be kept on file and admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c.
(i) (1) Whenever an automated traffic enforcement safety device detects and produces recorded images of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of an ordinance adopted under this section, a sworn member or employee of the municipality's police department or an employee of the municipality designated by the traffic authority shall review the recorded images provided by such device. If, after such review, such member or employee determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of the ordinance has occurred, such member or employee may issue a citation to the owner of the motor vehicle. The citation shall include the following: (A) The name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle; (B) the number plate of the motor vehicle; (C) the violation charged; (D) the location of the automated traffic enforcement safety device and the date and time of the violation; (E) a copy of or information on how to view, through electronic means, the recorded images described in this section; (F) a statement or electronically generated affirmation by the member or employee who reviewed the recorded images and determined that the motor vehicle violated the ordinance; (G) verification that the automated traffic enforcement safety device was operating correctly at the time of the alleged violation and the date of the most recent calibration check performed pursuant to subsection (h) of this section; (H) the amount of the fine imposed and how to pay such fine; and (I) the right to contest the violation and request a hearing pursuant to section 7-152c.
(2) In the case of an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle registered in the state, the citation shall be mailed not later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is ascertained to the address of the owner that is in the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. In the case of an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle registered in another jurisdiction, the citation shall be mailed not later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is ascertained to the address of the owner that is in the records of the official in the other jurisdiction issuing such registration. A citation shall be invalid unless mailed to an owner not later than sixty days after the alleged violation.
(3) The citation shall be sent by first class mail. A manual or automated record of mailing prepared by the municipality's police department shall be prima facie evidence of mailing and shall be admissible in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c as to the facts contained in the citation.
(j) The following defenses shall be available to the owner of a motor vehicle who is alleged to have committed a violation of such ordinance adopted under this section: (1) The operator was driving an emergency vehicle in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 14-283; (2) the traffic control signal was inoperative, which is observable on the recorded images; (3) the violation was necessary in order for the operator to comply with an order or direction from a law enforcement officer, which is observable on the recorded images; (4) the violation was necessary to allow the passage of an authorized emergency vehicle, which is observable on the recorded images; (5) the violation took place during a period of time in which the motor vehicle had been reported as being stolen to a law enforcement unit, as defined in section 7-294a, and had not been recovered prior to the time of the violation; or (6) the automated traffic enforcement safety device was not in compliance with the calibration check required pursuant to subsection (h) of this section.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 11.)
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Sec. 14-307d. Guidelines issued by Department of Transportation re municipal plan on use and locations of automated traffic enforcement safety devices and re effectiveness of municipal plan. (a) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Department of Transportation shall issue written guidance to municipalities concerning the development of a plan to use automated traffic enforcement safety devices, the submission of such plan and the criteria to be used by the department when evaluating any such plan for approval. Such guidance shall be consistent with the goal of installing automated traffic enforcement safety devices at locations likely to improve traffic safety and ensuring that the distribution of such devices throughout the municipality is equitable. Such guidance shall include the following factors to be considered by the municipality when determining the locations to include in a plan: (1) The history of traffic crashes caused by excessive speeding or the violation of a traffic control sign or traffic control signal at such location, (2) the history of traffic crashes that resulted in the fatality or serious injury of a person at such location, (3) the rate of poverty in such municipality as determined by the five-year estimates of the most recent American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, (4) the per cent of occupied housing units with vehicles available as determined by the five-year estimates of the most recent American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, (5) the average daily traffic of such location, (6) the history of traffic stops conducted in the municipality and reported to the Office of Policy and Management pursuant to subsection (h) of section 54-1m, (7) the roadway geometry of any such location, and (8) any other additional information or data as determined by the department. Such guidance shall include a model privacy policy and protocol regarding the privacy, security, collection and destruction of personally identifiable information and other information and data gathered from automated traffic enforcement safety devices and establishing internal audit requirements to ensure compliance with such policy and protocol.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Department of Transportation shall issue written guidance to municipalities concerning how to evaluate the effectiveness of automated traffic enforcement safety devices and submit a subsequent plan to use such devices together with supporting documentation. Such guidance shall include the factors to be considered when determining whether an automated traffic enforcement safety device at a location improved traffic safety.
(c) The guidance issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be revised as necessary and published on the department's Internet web site.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 16.)
History: P.A. 23-116 effective June 27, 2023.
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Sec. 14-307e. Municipal plan re use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices. Approval. Modification. Subsequent plans. (a)(1) A municipality's plan concerning the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in the municipality shall identify the proposed locations of such devices and include documentation that such proposed locations comply with the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 14-307d. The municipality shall conduct a public hearing regarding any such plan prior to submission and, by vote of its legislative body or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of the board of selectman, shall submit such plan to the Department of Transportation, in such form as the department may prescribe.
(2) Not later than sixty days after the date a plan is received by the department, the department shall determine if the plan is likely to improve traffic safety at the proposed locations and the distribution of such devices throughout the municipality is equitable, and shall approve or disapprove the plan, in whole or in part. If the department disapproves any such plan, in whole or in part, the department shall provide a written explanation of the reason for such disapproval and guidance to revise such plan for resubmission. Any such disapproval shall not preclude the submission of a revised plan.
(3) The approval of a municipality's initial plan shall be valid for a period of three years from the date the first automated traffic enforcement safety device becomes operational in the municipality and, thereafter, the approval of any subsequent plan shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of approval.
(b) A municipality operating automated traffic enforcement safety devices pursuant to an approved plan that has not yet expired may submit to the Department of Transportation a modification to such plan to propose the use of such devices at additional locations, in the same manner as described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section. The department shall approve or disapprove any such modification, in whole or in part, in the same manner as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section. The approval of any such modification shall expire on the date the approved plan expires.
(c) (1) A municipality that seeks to continue to use automated traffic enforcement safety devices after such expiration shall submit a subsequent plan to the Department of Transportation for approval. Such subsequent plan may include some or all of the previously approved locations for such devices and propose new locations for such devices. The municipality shall conduct a public hearing regarding such subsequent plan prior to its submission to the department and, by vote of its legislative body or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of the board of selectman, submit to the department such plan and supporting documentation in accordance with the guidelines issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 14-307d. Supporting documentation for any subsequent plan shall include, but need not be limited to: (A) Evidence that the devices used by the municipality at locations identified in a prior plan improved traffic safety, (B) a description of how any proposed new locations comply with the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 14-307d, and (C) records that the funds received by the municipality from fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this section were expended in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 14-307c.
(2) Not later than sixty days after the date a subsequent plan and supporting documentation is received by the department, the department shall determine: (A) If the subsequent plan is likely to improve traffic safety at the proposed locations, (B) if the subsequent plan includes a location previously equipped with an automated traffic enforcement safety device, whether the use of such device improved traffic safety at such location, and (C) if the distribution of such devices throughout the municipality is equitable, and shall approve or disapprove the plan, in whole or in part. The department shall not approve any part of a plan that includes a location previously equipped with an automated traffic enforcement safety device unless the department determines the use of such device improved traffic safety at such location.
(d) In no event shall a municipality use, install or operate an automated traffic enforcement safety device unless such use, installation or operation complies with the provisions of a plan approved by the Department of Transportation and the approval of such plan is effective.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 17.)
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Sec. 14-307f. Disclosure, storage, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information. Disclosure of other information and data gathered from automated traffic enforcement safety devices. (a) No personally identifiable information shall be disclosed by the municipality or a vendor to any person or entity, including any law enforcement unit, except where the disclosure is made in connection with the charging, collection and enforcement of the fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted under section 14-307c.
(b) No personally identifiable information shall be stored or retained by the municipality or a vendor unless such information is necessary for the charging, collection and enforcement of the fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted under section 14-307c.
(c) The municipality or a vendor shall destroy personally identifiable information and other data that specifically identifies a motor vehicle and relates to a violation of an ordinance adopted under section 14-307c not later than thirty days after any fine is collected or the resolution of a hearing conducted for the alleged commission of such violation, whichever is later.
(d) Any information and other data gathered from automated traffic enforcement safety devices shall be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, except no personally identifiable information may be disclosed.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 12.)
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Sec. 14-307g. Initial and annual reports by municipality. (a) Not later than eighteen months following the date an automated traffic enforcement safety device becomes operational in a municipality pursuant to section 14-307c, the municipality shall submit a report to the Department of Transportation and to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The number of violations of sections 14-218a and 14-219 and subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 14-299 that occurred at the locations where such automated traffic safety devices were installed prior to the use of such devices; (2) the number of violations where a motor vehicle exceeded the posted speed limit by ten or more miles that were captured by such devices at such locations; (3) the number of violations where a motor vehicle failed to comply with the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 14-299 when facing a steady red signal on a traffic control signal that were captured by such devices at such locations; (4) if available, the number and type of related traffic violations and crashes that occurred at each location where an automated traffic safety device was installed prior to such installation and during the use of such devices; (5) the number of violations of sections 14-218a and 14-219 and subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 14-299 and related traffic violations and crashes that occurred at locations where such devices were used and at similar locations where such devices were not used; (6) a description of situations where recorded images could not be used or were not used; (7) the number of leased or rented motor vehicles, out-of-state motor vehicles or other vehicles, including trucks, where enforcement efforts were unsuccessful; (8) the amount of revenue from the fines and associated fees retained by the municipality; and (9) the cost to the municipality to use such devices.
(b) Not later than a year after a municipality submits a report pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and each year thereafter until an automated traffic safety device is no longer operational in the municipality, the municipality shall submit a report to the Department of Transportation and to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such annual report shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) the number of motor vehicles that were subject to one citation, two citations, three citations or four or more citations, (2) in the case of an automated traffic safety device that records images of motor vehicles failing to comply with the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 14-299 when facing a steady red signal on a traffic control signal, the number of citations at each location that were issued to motor vehicles making a right turn, proceeding through the intersection and making a left turn, (3) a list of engineering and educational measures undertaken by the municipality to improve safety in locations when automated traffic enforcement safety devices are operational, and (4) data regarding how many citations were issued, how many hearings were requested and the results of any such hearings.
(c) The Department of Transportation shall make any report received pursuant to the provisions of this section available on the department's Internet web site.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 13.)
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Sec. 14-307h. Annual report re status of municipal plans submitted to Department of Transportation. Not later than February 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Department of Transportation shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, concerning the status of plans submitted by municipalities pursuant to section 14-307e. Such report shall, at a minimum, (1) list the municipalities that submitted such plans during the previous year, (2) identify which plans the department approved, and (3) identify which plans the department disapproved and provide the reasoning for each such disapproval.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 18.)
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Sec. 14-311. Open air theaters, shopping centers and certain other developments affecting state highway traffic. (a) No person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency, or any combination thereof, shall build, expand, establish or operate any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic that substantially affect state highway traffic within this state, as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, until such person, firm, corporation or agency has procured from said office a certificate that the operation thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that any development, including any development to be built in phases, without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not be required to obtain such certificate if such development is a residential-only development and is not part of a mixed-use development that contains office, retail or other such nonresidential uses, provided if any future development increases the total number of residential units to more than one hundred, and such total substantially affects state highway traffic within the state as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, a certificate shall be procured from said office.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or permitted by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, no local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to build, expand, establish or operate such a development until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the office. No local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or agency for such development until the conditions of the certificate issued by the office under this section have been satisfied. If the office determines that any person, firm, corporation or agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate from said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the person, firm, corporation or agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development, or (B) comply with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such person, firm, corporation or agency fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with an order of the office within such time as specified by the office, the office may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or operation of such development. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to occupy homes on such lots until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions have been satisfied.
(c) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency.
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the Office of the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, bicycle and pedestrian access and safety, the width and character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The office may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the extent that such improvements address impacts to state highway safety or bicycle and pedestrian access and safety created by the addition of the applicant's proposed development or activity. If the office determines that such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the person, firm, corporation or agency building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to such person, firm, corporation or agency to construct or install the changes required by the office.
(e) Any person, firm, corporation or agency building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic aggrieved by any decision of the Office of the State Traffic Administration under this section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such establishment. The provisions of this section, except insofar as such provisions relate to expansion, shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic in operation on July 1, 1967.
(f) Before submitting an application for any development generating large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the Office of the State Traffic Administration, the person, firm, corporation or agency submitting such application shall attend a mandatory meeting with the Office of the State Traffic Administration and other staff from the Department of Transportation. At such meeting, such person, firm, corporation or agency shall present the applicant's proposed development and receive feedback, including, but not limited to, information as to what materials need to be submitted for an application to be considered complete.
(1951, S. 1408d; 1967, P.A. 730; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 152; 1971, P.A. 611, S. 1; 870, S. 103; P.A. 73-136; P.A. 74-183, S. 202, 291; P.A. 76-412; 76-436, S. 173, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 38, 125; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 83-362; P.A. 84-546, S. 46, 173; P.A. 85-498, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; 90-342, S. 1, 5; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; P.A. 11-256, S. 14; P.A. 12-132, S. 36; P.A. 21-28, S. 3; P.A. 23-135, S. 3.)
History: 1967 act made provisions applicable to shopping centers and other developments generating large volumes of traffic, added provisions re percentage of cost of traffic signals, pavement markings, road widening etc. to be borne by developer and re permit to construct or install required changes and replaced exemption for developments under construction or in operation on June 5, 1951, with exemption for developments in operation on July 1, 1967; 1969 act replaced highway commissioner with commissioner of transportation; 1971 acts made provisions applicable to expansions of developments or facilities, required developer to bear 75% rather than 50% of cost of road or traffic signal changes, qualified exemption by excluding expansion operations and replaced superior court with court of common pleas; P.A. 73-136 required developer to pay 100% of cost of road or traffic signal changes; P.A. 74-183 added reference to judicial districts; P.A. 76-412 included facilities or developments of state or municipal agencies, made provisions applicable to projects “substantially affecting state highway traffic”, exempted municipal agency from payment of cost of changes and added provision re postponement of action on applications; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous appeal provision with requirement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183 except that venue remains in county or judicial district affected; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties; P.A. 83-362 divided section into Subsecs., prohibited local building officials from issuing building or foundation permits for developments until commission issues certificates and required commission to act on certificate applications within 120 days unless additional information needed; P.A. 84-546 made technical grammatical change in Subsec. (e); P.A. 85-498 extended the provisions of Subsecs. (a) and (b) to firms, corporations or any combination of a firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency; P.A. 90-342 added provision in Subsec. (b) authorizing injunction for failure to comply with commission's orders and provision in Subsec. (d) requiring the commission to seek the opinion of the traffic authority of the municipality where the development is located (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230 and P.A. 90-98 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in public and special acts of the 1990 session, effective September 1, 1993); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 11-256 amended Subsec. (a) to establish exception from certificate requirement for certain developments and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (b) to establish procedure applicable to certain single family home building lots re provision of copy of certificate and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) to require commencement of commission review prior to final approval by municipal agency and to make a technical change, and amended Subsec. (d) to authorize commission to require highway safety improvements, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration, amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provisions re commission action on certificate applications and added Subsec. (f) re mandatory meeting before submitting application, effective July 1, 2012 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b)(ii), a reference to “commission” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “office” for consistency); P.A. 21-28 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provisions re consideration of bicycle and pedestrian access and safety and making technical changes; P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (b) to add “or permitted by the Office of the State Traffic Administration” re exception and add provision re prohibiting local building official from issuing certificate of occupancy until conditions of certificate issued by office have been satisfied and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2023.
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Sec. 14-311c. Developed parcels of land separately owned and utilized together for a single development purpose which affects state highway traffic. (a) No person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency, or any combination thereof, shall build, expand, establish or operate any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic on any group of individual parcels of land which are separately owned but are utilized together for a single development purpose, whether or not such parcels are separated by any state, local or private roadway that substantially affect state highway traffic within this state, as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, until such person, firm, corporation or agency has procured from the Office of the State Traffic Administration a certificate that the operation thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that any development, including any development to be built in phases without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not be required to obtain such a certificate if such development is a residential-only development and not part of a mixed-use development containing office, retail or other such nonresidential uses, provided if any future development increases the total number of residential units to more than one hundred, and this total substantially affects state highway traffic within the state as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, a certificate shall be procured from said office.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or permitted by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, no local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any such person, firm, corporation or agency to build, expand, establish or operate such a development until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the Office of the State Traffic Administration. No local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or agency for such development until the conditions of the certificate issued by the office under this section have been satisfied. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that any person, firm, corporation or agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate from said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the person, firm, corporation or agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development, or (B) to comply with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such person, firm, corporation or agency fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with such order within such time as specified by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, said office or the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or the operation of such development. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or agency to occupy homes on such lots until such person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by said office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions have been satisfied.
(c) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency.
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the Office of the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, the width and character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The Office of the State Traffic Administration may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the extent that such improvements address impacts to state highway safety created by the addition of the applicant's proposed development or activity. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the person, firm, corporation or agency building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to such person, firm, corporation or agency to construct or install the changes required by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, in consultation with the local traffic authority.
(e) Any person, firm, corporation or agency building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic aggrieved by any decision of the Office of the State Traffic Administration under this section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such provisions relate to expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic which has received all necessary permits, variances, exceptions and approvals from the municipal zoning commission, planning commission, combined planning and zoning commission and zoning board of appeals in which such development is located prior to or on July 1, 1985, or to any such development which is in operation on that date.
(f) Before submitting an application for any development generating large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the Office of the State Traffic Administration, the person, firm, corporation or agency submitting such application shall attend a mandatory meeting with the Office of the State Traffic Administration and other staff from the Department of Transportation. At such meeting, such person, firm, corporation or agency shall present the applicant's proposed development and receive feedback, including, but not limited to, information as to what materials need to be submitted for an application to be considered complete.
(P.A. 85-498, S. 2, 3; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; 90-342, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; P.A. 11-256, S. 15; P.A. 12-132, S. 38; P.A. 23-135, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 90-342 added provision in Subsec. (b) authorizing injunction for failure to comply with commission's orders and provision in Subsec. (d) requiring the commission to seek the opinion of the traffic authority of the municipality where the development is located (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230 and P.A. 90-98 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in public and special acts of the 1990 session, effective September 1, 1993); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 11-256 amended Subsec. (a) to establish exception from certificate requirement for certain developments and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (b) to establish procedure applicable to certain single family home building lots re provision of copy of certificate and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) to require commencement of commission review prior to final approval by municipal agency and to make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (d) to authorize commission to require highway safety improvements, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration and amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provisions re commission action on certificate applications, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (b) to add “or permitted by the Office of the State Traffic Administration” re exception and add provision prohibiting local building official from issuing certificate of occupancy until conditions of certificate issued by office have been satisfied, added Subsec. (f) re mandatory meeting before submitting application and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2023.
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Sec. 14-314e. Training requirements for traffic authority. (a) The Connecticut Training and Technical Assistance Center at The University of Connecticut shall conduct training sessions for traffic authorities, at least three times a year, concerning the powers and responsibilities of traffic authorities, the installation of official traffic control devices and an overview of the applicable provisions of the general statutes and any regulations adopted by the Office of the State Traffic Administration.
(b) On or before January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, each traffic authority, or such authority's appointed representative, shall complete one training offered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The Connecticut Training and Technical Assistance Center shall maintain records indicating when a traffic authority, or such authority's representative, completed such training.
(P.A. 23-135, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 23-135 effective June 26, 2023.
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