Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/sup/chap248.htm
Timestamp: 2015-03-31 15:32:52
Document Index: 751576415

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1235', 'art 383', 'art 383', 'art 658', 'art 658', 'art 658', 'arts 382', 'arts 382']

Sec. 14-253a. Special license plates and removable windshield placards for blind persons and persons with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk. Parking spaces. Penalty. Regulations.
(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, ninety days of which 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 subsection (a) of section 14-227a or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or pursuant to section 14-227b, 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 subsection (a) of section 14-227a or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or for the second time pursuant to section 14-227b, 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 subsection (a) of section 14-227a or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or for the third or subsequent time pursuant to section 14-227b, 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.)
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).
Not unconstitutionally vague when applied to all-terrain vehicles; all-terrain vehicle is a motor vehicle for purposes of subsec. 281 C. 707.
(P.A. 81-26, S. 1; P.A. 07-167, S. 34.)
History: P.A. 07-167 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), inserting Subsec. (b) exception clause therein, and added Subsec. (b) re negligent operation of commercial motor vehicle, effective July 1, 2007.
No authority for defendant's argument that court is required to charge the jury that compliance with remaining duties of Subsec. are legally excused if defendant was arrested by police while trying to render such assistance as defendant deemed reasonably necessary. 99 CA 233.
Starting car using a remote starter not considered first act to put vehicle in motion if person does not have the keys with him or her in the vehicle or if the whereabouts of the keys is unknown. 101 CA 709. Informant's report of erratic driver exhibited sufficient indicia of reliability to justify Terry stop of driver for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor, even though the police officer neither observed the errant driver nor knew informant's name. 103 CA 646.
A conviction under Subdiv. (1) is not inconsistent with an acquittal under Subdiv. (2). 98 CA 847. Defendant's action of inserting key into vehicle ignition is an act which alone or in sequence set in motion the vehicle's motive power and constituted operation of a motor vehicle within the meaning of subsec. 102 CA 241.
Chemical analysis evidence of alcohol level not required to be reported as a percentage of weight and can be reported by volume and equipment that performed test must be approved by Department of Public Safety but is not required to satisfy criteria of regulations. 99 CA 563.
Defendant's being found intoxicated and asleep with key inserted in the ignition in the on position is sufficient evidence of operation of a motor vehicle. 281 C. 604.
Watching refusal to submit to test via closed circuit television does not constitute "witnessing such refusal". 101 CA 674.
Sec. 14-227c. Blood or breath samples required following accidents resulting in death or serious physical injury. (a) As part of the investigation of any motor vehicle accident resulting in the death of a person, the Chief Medical Examiner, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, an associate medical examiner, a pathologist as specified in section 19a-405, or an authorized assistant medical examiner, as the case may be, shall order that a blood sample be taken from the body of any operator or pedestrian who dies as a result of such accident. Such blood samples shall be examined for the presence and concentration of alcohol and any drug by the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Public Safety or by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Nothing in this subsection or section 19a-406 shall be construed as requiring such medical examiner to perform an autopsy in connection with obtaining such blood samples.
History: P.A. 75-308 deleted 4-hour deadline for taking sample after death and required examination by health department toxicology lab or medical examiner's office; P.A. 76-245 added provision re autopsy; P.A. 77-614 replaced state department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-47 included references to deputy chief medical examiners, associate medical examiners and pathologists; P.A. 80-142 and 80-190 deleted reference to coroners; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-314 required that blood or breath test be performed by or at direction of police officer according to approved methods and with equipment checked for accuracy by certified personnel and provided if a blood test is performed, it shall be on a blood sample taken by specified medical personnel; P.A. 99-218 replaced toxicological laboratory of the Department of Public Health with Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Public Safety, and replaced Department and Commissioner of Public Health with Department and Commissioner of Public Safety, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-196 changed an incorrect internal reference to Sec. 14-227b to Sec. 14-227a; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 made a technical change, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-265 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) and (b), amended Subsec. (a) to replace "a fatality" with "the death of a person" and require the blood samples be examined for the presence and concentration of "any drug", amended Subsec. (b) to replace "To the extent provided by law, a blood or breath sample may also be obtained from any surviving operator whose motor vehicle is involved in such an accident" with "A blood or breath sample shall be obtained from any surviving operator whose motor vehicle is involved in an accident resulting in the serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, or death of another person, if a police officer has probable cause to believe that such operator operated such motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both", to require the blood samples be examined for the presence and concentration of "any drug" and to make technical changes and repositioned from Subsec. (b) to Subsec. (a) language re nothing being construed as requiring the performance of an autopsy; P.A. 04-250 amended Subsec. (b) to permit physician assistant to take blood sample of surviving operator; P.A. 06-173 amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing provision requiring police officer to have probable cause as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) requiring that sample be obtained if the operator has been charged with a motor vehicle violation in connection with accident and police officer has a reasonable and articulable suspicion that operator operated vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug or both; P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting authority of emergency medical technicians to take blood samples, effective July 1, 2007.
Sec. 14-253a. Special license plates and removable windshield placards for blind persons and persons with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk. Parking spaces. Penalty. Regulations. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(2) "Removable windshield placard" means a two-sided, hanger-style placard which bears on both of its sides: (A) The international 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; and (D) a statement indicating that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles issued such placard;
(3) "Temporary removable windshield placard" means a placard that is the same as a removable windshield placard except that the international symbol of access appears on a red background.
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept applications and renewal applications for special license plates and removable windshield placards from (1) any person who is blind, as defined in section 1-1f; (2) any person with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR Part 1235.2; (3) any parent or guardian of any blind person or person with disabilities who is under eighteen years of age at the time of application; and (4) any organization which meets criteria established by the commissioner and which certifies to the commissioner's satisfaction that the vehicle for which a plate or placard is requested is primarily used to transport blind persons or persons with disabilities which limit or impair their ability to walk. Such applications shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall include certification of disability from a licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse, licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 378, or of blindness from an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. In the case of persons with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, the application shall also include certification from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 378, or a member of the handicapped driver training unit established pursuant to section 14-11b that the applicant meets the definition of persons with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR Section 1235.2. 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 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 to be unfavorable to the applicant, the commissioner may refuse to issue or, if already issued, suspend or revoke such special license plate or removable windshield placard. The commissioner shall not be required to issue more than one removable windshield placard per applicant. 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 removable windshield 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 is eligible to obtain a special license plate pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and who has a motor vehicle registered in his name as a passenger vehicle, passenger and commercial vehicle or motorcycle 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 international access symbol. The registration of any motor vehicle 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. Any person eligible to obtain a special license plate pursuant to this section who transfers the expired registration of a motor vehicle owned by him and replaces his number plate with a special license plate shall be exempt from payment of any fee for such transfer or replacement. Any 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 special license plate was issued.
(d) Any removable windshield 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 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.
(e) Vehicles displaying a special license plate or a removable windshield 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 with disabilities which limit or impair their ability to walk or blind persons, 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 blind person or a person with disabilities. A removable windshield placard shall not be displayed on any motor vehicle when such vehicle is not being operated by or carrying as a passenger the blind person or a person with disabilities to whom the removable windshield placard was issued. Vehicles bearing a special license plate shall not utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities when such vehicles are not being operated by or carrying as a passenger the blind person or a person with disabilities to whom such special license plate was issued.
(f) Only those motor vehicles displaying a plate or placard issued pursuant to this section shall be authorized to park in public or private areas reserved for exclusive use by blind persons or persons with disabilities, 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 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.
(g) The State Traffic Commission, 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 removable windshield 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 ofParking Lot SpacesNumber of SpecialParking Spaces Required
0 - 200Exempt
201 - 10001.0%
1001 - 2000 10 plus 0.8% of spacesover 1000
2001 - 3000 18 plus 0.6% of spacesover 2000
3001 - 4000 24 plus 0.4% of spacesover 3000
4001 or more 28 plus 0.2% of spacesover 4000
All such spaces shall be designated as reserved for exclusive use by handicapped persons 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 blind or handicapped person 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 the handicapped 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, 2004, parking spaces for passenger motor vehicles designated for the handicapped shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be fifteen feet wide including five feet of cross hatch. On and after October 1, 2004, parking spaces for passenger vans designated for the handicapped shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be sixteen feet wide including eight feet of cross hatch. 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 sign shall also bear the international symbol of access. When such a sign is replaced, repaired or erected it shall 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.
(k) Nothing in this section may be construed to allow a blind person 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 handicapped persons 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) Violation of any provision of this section shall, for a first violation, be subject to a fine of one hundred fifty dollars, and for a subsequent violation, be subject to a fine of two hundred fifty dollars.
(m) 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.)
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 notorized 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.
Sec. 14-260n. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 14-219, 14-240, 14-261, 14-261a and 14-262:
(1) "Gross weight" means the light weight of a vehicle plus the weight of any load thereon, provided, in the case of a tractor-trailer unit, "gross weight" means the light weight of the tractor plus the light weight of the trailer or semitrailer plus the weight of the load thereon.
(2) "Semitrailer" means any vehicle of the trailer type so designed and used in conjunction with a motor vehicle that some part of its own weight and load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
(3) "Trailer" means any rubber-tired vehicle without motive power drawn or propelled by a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a semitrailer.
(4) "Truck" means every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
(5) "Tractor" or "truck tractor" means a motor vehicle that is a non-cargo-carrying power unit used for drawing a trailer or two trailers for commercial purposes, except that a truck tractor and semitrailer engaged in the transportation of automobiles may transport motor vehicles on part of the power unit.
(6) "Tractor-trailer unit" means a combination of a tractor and trailer or a combination of a tractor and a semitrailer.
(7) "Converter dolly" means an axle to which is attached a hook engaged to an eye at the rear of a trailer and normally used in conjunction with the last trailer of a commercial vehicle combination.
(8) "Commercial vehicle combination" means a combination of vehicles consisting of a truck tractor and two trailers, with the length of each trailer being not more than twenty-eight feet, exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices, such as rear view mirrors, turn signal lamps, marker lamps, steps and handholds for entry and egress, flexible fender extensions, mudflaps and splash and spray suppressant devices, load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration units, air compressors or air shields and other devices, which the secretary of the federal Department of Transportation may interpret as necessary for the safe and efficient operation of such vehicles, provided no such device has by its design or use the capability to carry cargo.
(9) "Class 1 license" means a license designated class 1 by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in accordance with the provisions of section 14-36a.
(10) "Commercial driver's license" or "CDL" means a license issued by a state which has enacted into law legislation in conformity with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Title XII, P.L. 99-570, which has been issued to an individual in accordance with the standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Part 383, as amended, and which authorizes such individual to operate a class of commercial motor vehicle.
(11) "CDL equivalent license" means a license issued by a state which has not enacted into law legislation in conformity with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Title XII, P.L. 99-570, but which, in the judgment of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, has been issued to an individual in accordance with standards no less stringent than those specified in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Part 383, as amended, with respect to the knowledge, skills and driving record necessary for the individual to safely operate a commercial vehicle combination.
(12) "Endorsement" means an authorization to the commercial driver's license required to permit the individual to operate a commercial vehicle combination pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Section 383.93, as amended.
(13) "Endorsed commercial driver's license" or "endorsed CDL" means a commercial driver's license as defined in subdivision (10) of this section with an endorsement as defined in subdivision (12).
(14) "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, association, copartnership, company, firm or other aggregation of individuals.
(15) "Fullmount" means a combination of vehicles as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 23, Part 658, as amended.
(16) "Saddlemount" means a combination of vehicles as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 23, Part 658, as amended.
(17) "Dromedary box" means a cargo-carrying container mounted on the frame of a tractor and located behind the cab.
(18) "Articulated bus" means a motor vehicle designed and used for the purposes of carrying public transit passengers, with two separate passenger compartments connected by a kingpin or similar joint, and may be composed of a tractor section and a trailer section, or a forward portion with no motive power and a trailer section with a power unit.
(P.A. 83-21, S. 1, 5; P.A. 84-372, S. 1, 9; P.A. 89-171, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-307, S. 6, 34; P.A. 95-79, S. 41, 189; P.A. 97-304, S. 26, 31; P.A. 07-232, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 84-372 excluded safety and energy conservation devices from consideration in determining length of trailers in Subdiv. (8); P.A. 89-171 added definitions of "class 1 license", "commercial driver's license", "CDL equivalent license", "endorsement" and "endorsed commercial driver's license"; P.A. 93-307 amended the section by adding new Subdivs. (15) and (16) defining "fullmount" and "saddlemount", effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 95-79 redefined "person" to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 97-304 added definition of "dromedary box" in Subdiv. (17), effective July 8, 1997; P.A. 07-232 added Subdiv. (18) defining "articulated bus", effective July 1, 2007.
Sec. 14-261a. Regulation of commercial vehicle combinations. (a) A commercial vehicle combination may be operated by any person who holds an endorsed commercial driver's license or a CDL equivalent license on highways which are part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and those sections of the Federal-Aid Primary System which are divided highways with four or more lanes and full control of access, which highways and sections are designated by the Secretary of the federal Department of Transportation pursuant to the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, as amended, provided the Commissioner of Transportation shall impose reasonable restrictions consistent with federal law. The Commissioner of Transportation may permit the operation of a commercial vehicle combination, defined as "specialized equipment" in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 23, Part 658, as amended, by any person holding a license to operate a commercial vehicle combination as provided in this section and semitrailers, as described in subsection (c) of section 14-262, on any other highway in order to allow the vehicle reasonable access to terminals, facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest, and points of loading and unloading for household goods carriers. If a commercial vehicle combination consists of two semitrailers or a trailer drawing a semitrailer, such trailers shall be coupled by a converter dolly or a type of dolly approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
(b) Any person operating a commercial vehicle combination or a semitrailer, as described in subsection (c) of section 14-262, in violation of any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be fined one thousand dollars for each offense. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall also suspend, for sixty days, the motor vehicle registration certificate, privilege to operate or operator's license of any such person.
(P.A. 83-21, S. 3, 5; P.A. 84-372, S. 3, 9; 84-546, S. 45, 173; P.A. 85-254; 85-613, S. 134; P.A. 89-171, S. 3, 5; P.A. 93-307, S. 8, 34; P.A. 98-91, S. 3; P.A. 07-167, S. 12.)
History: (Note re P.A. 83-21, S. 3: The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut granted the United States' motion for preliminary injunction enjoining the state from enforcing a prohibition on operation of commercial vehicle combinations on interstate highways and primary system highways designated pursuant to Section 411(e) of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982. U.S. v. State of Conn., D.C. Conn. 1983, 566 F. Supp. 571, affirmed 742 F.2d 1443); P.A. 84-372 deleted provision making section applicable only upon court enjoining enforcement of commercial vehicle combination prohibition, deleted Subdivs. (2) to (5), inclusive, changed numbering of remaining Subsecs. to lettering, authorized permits for operation of commercial vehicle combinations to license testing site and to reasonable access points in Subsec. (a), modified class 1A license requirements in Subsec. (b) and added Subsecs. (c), (d), (e) and (f), concerning, respectively, safety inspections, reporting, regulations and penalties; P.A. 84-546 made technical amendments to former Subdivs. (2) and (3) which failed to take effect, those Subdivs. having been deleted by P.A. 84-372; P.A. 85-254 amended Subsec. (b) by reducing the period during which an applicant must demonstrate he has not violated various traffic laws from five years to three years, inserted a new Subsec. (c) providing for recognition of reciprocal agreements governing licensing requirements and relettering the remaining subsections and amended Subdiv. (2) of the new Subsec. (d) by adding a Subpara. (C) allowing vehicles to operate with a certificate of inspection on the tractors only provided the operator of the vehicle has established a preventive maintenance program approved by the commissioner; P.A. 85-613 revised Subsec. (c) deleting former provision re recognition of reciprocal agreements between other states and adding language re issuance of Class 1A license to holder of license to operate a commercial vehicle combination issued by another state; P.A. 89-171 eliminated all references throughout the section to the issuance and holding of a class 1A license and authorized the operation of a commercial vehicle combination by any person who holds an endorsed commercial driver's license, CDL equivalent license, endorsed class 1 license or an operator's license issued by another state authorizing operation of such vehicle with an endorsement issued by the commissioner, required each person holding a valid class 1A license on June 1, 1989, to surrender such license to commissioner not later than December 31, 1989, who shall then issue an endorsement to such person, deleted Subsecs. (c) and (e) in their entirety, relettering remaining Subsecs., required the commissioner to adopt regulations to carry out purposes of this section and deleted reference to commissioner of transportation and made all technical changes as necessary; P.A. 93-307 amended Subsec. (a) by providing that the commissioner of transportation may permit the operation of a commercial vehicle combination defined as "specialized equipment" in the Code of Federal Regulations, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 98-91 amended Subsecs. (a) and (e) to add references to semitrailers and increased fine in Subsec. (e) from $500 to $1,000; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (3) and (4) re holder of endorsed class 1 license or license issued by another state together with endorsement issued by commissioner, deleting remaining subdivision designators and making technical changes, deleted former Subsecs. (b) re endorsement, (c) re inspections and (d) re regulations, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as new Subsec. (b) and made conforming changes therein.
Sec. 14-261b. Drug and alcohol testing of drivers of certain vehicles, mechanics and forklift operators. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Driver" means an employee driver or a contract driver under contract for ninety days or more in a period of three hundred sixty-five days; and
(2) "Employer" means a person employing or contracting with a driver.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 31-51t to 31-51aa, inclusive, (1) any person employing a driver of a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, operating in intrastate commerce in the state shall require such driver to submit to testing as provided by federal law pursuant to 49 USC 31306 and 49 CFR Parts 382 and 391, and (2) any person employing a driver of a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand and one pounds or more but not more than twenty-six thousand pounds, a mechanic who repairs or services such a vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or a forklift operator may require such driver, mechanic or operator to submit to testing as provided by federal law pursuant to 49 USC 3102 and 49 CFR Parts 382 and 391.
(c) Any employer who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars which shall be imposed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles after notice and opportunity for a hearing pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54. The commissioner shall impose a civil penalty of two thousand five hundred dollars for any subsequent failure to comply by such employer.
(P.A. 91-316, S. 1, 2; 91-406, S. 24, 29; P.A. 94-189, S. 17; P.A. 95-140; P.A. 00-169, S. 28; P.A. 07-224, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 91-406 substituted reference to Subsec. (f) for (e) in Subsec. (a) and "or" for "and" between Subdivs. (3) and (4) in Subsec. (d); P.A. 94-189 amended Subsec. (a) by adding a reference to Secs. 31-51u and 31-51v, changing the vehicle weight rating from "over twenty-six thousand pounds" to "twenty-six thousand and one pounds or more" and adding Subsec. (g) concerning a civil penalty; P.A. 95-140 reversed the order of Subsecs. (a) and (b), eliminating the definition of "urinalysis drug test" in Subsec. (a) and inserting in Subsec. (b) provisions requiring that all drivers of commercial motor vehicles, as defined, submit to alcohol and drug testing and authorizing the testing of drivers of motor vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more but not more than 26,000 pounds, mechanics who repair such vehicles or commercial motor vehicles and forklift operators and deleted Subsecs. (c) to (f), inclusive, re urinalysis drug tests, relettering the remaining Subsec. accordingly; P.A. 00-169 amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical correction; P.A. 07-224 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing civil penalties from $300 to $1,000 for failure to comply and from $1,000 to $2,500 for subsequent failure to comply, effective July 1, 2007.
Sec. 14-267a. Weight restrictions for vehicles, trailers or other objects. Highway weighing procedure. Penalties for overweight violations. Fines for failure to comply. Regulations. (a) A vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or semitrailer or any other object may be operated upon any highway or bridge, subject to the provisions of section 13a-151, provided such vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or semitrailer or other object meets all the applicable requirements of this section or has been granted a permit under section 14-270.
(b) The axle weight on any axle and the gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or vehicle and semitrailer or any other object, including its load, may not exceed the manufacturer's axle weight rating, the gross vehicle weight rating or the following gross weight limits: (1) A two-axle vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires, a gross weight of thirty-two thousand pounds; (2) a two-axle vehicle equipped with solid or pneumatic tires, the weight on any single axle not to exceed eighteen thousand pounds, a gross weight of thirty-six thousand pounds; (3) a three-axle vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires, the weight on any single axle not to exceed twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds or, in the case of axles spaced less than six feet apart, eighteen thousand pounds, gross vehicle weight of fifty-three thousand eight hundred pounds; (4) a three-axle combination of vehicle and trailer or vehicle and semitrailer, the weight on any single axle not to exceed twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds or, in the case of axles spaced less than six feet apart, eighteen thousand pounds, a gross vehicle weight of fifty-eight thousand four hundred pounds; (5) a four-or-more-axle vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or vehicle and semitrailer equipped with pneumatic tires, the weight on any single axle not to exceed twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds or, in the case of axles spaced less than six feet apart, eighteen thousand pounds, a gross vehicle weight of sixty-seven thousand four hundred pounds; (6) a four-or-more-axle vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or vehicle and semitrailer where the distance between the first and last axle is not less than twenty-eight feet, the weight on any single axle not to exceed twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds or, in the case of axles spaced less than six feet apart, eighteen thousand pounds, a gross vehicle weight of seventy-three thousand pounds, provided in no event shall the gross vehicle weight exceed seventy-three thousand pounds; (7) the gross vehicle weight of a bulk milk pickup tanker shall not exceed ninety-nine thousand pounds, provided the weight of the bulk milk pickup tanker is permitted under the federal-aid highway amendments of 1974, 88 Stat. 2281, 23 USC 101 et seq., as amended from time to time, and (8) notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection and subsection (e) of this section, a vehicle or combination of vehicle and semitrailer equipped with pneumatic tires may be operated on any highway or bridge without a written permit, provided the weight on any single axle does not exceed twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds or, in the case of axles spaced less than six feet apart, eighteen thousand pounds, and provided such vehicle or combination is in compliance with the federal-aid highway amendments of 1974, 88 Stat. 2281, 23 USC 101 et seq., as amended from time to time, including the gross vehicle weight limit of eighty thousand pounds and the following weight distribution formula:
Where W = overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest five hundred pounds, L = distance in feet between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and N = number of axles in group under consideration, except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of sixty-eight thousand pounds, provided the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six feet or more.
(c) The weight per inch width of tire on any single vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires, when loaded, shall be not more than six hundred pounds. The sum of the widths of all the tires on a wheel or combination of wheels shall be taken in determining tire width. For the purposes of this section, the width of pneumatic tires shall be determined in conformity with the manufacturer's designated width on the tire. A vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with any solid rubber tires shall not have weights more than eighty per cent of those permitted in this section for pneumatic tires. The width of solid rubber tires shall be ascertained by measuring the width of the tire base channel or between the flanges of the metal rim. No vehicle equipped with solid tires which have at any point less than one inch of rubber above the top or beyond the flange or rim shall be operated upon a public highway.
(d) The owner of any vehicle or other object operated or moved over any highway or bridge in violation of any provision of this section shall be liable for all damages to such highway or bridge resulting from such violation and such damages may be recovered in an action at law by the authority in charge of the maintenance of such highway or bridge.
(e) No person shall operate any commercial motor vehicle, nor shall the owner or lessee of any commercial motor vehicle allow such motor vehicle to be operated, on any public highway or bridge, when the combined weight of vehicle and load exceeds the gross weight, as registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the tire capacity or the axle load, except that the gross vehicle weight shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds, or as provided by statute, or, in the case of a vehicle registered in any other state or country, as so registered or provided in such state or country or as designated as legal for a like motor vehicle of Connecticut registration, whichever is the lesser, without a written permit from the Commissioner of Transportation, which shall prescribe the condition under which such vehicle shall be operated.
(f) (1) The penalties provided for in this subsection shall be assessed against the owner of a commercial motor vehicle when the owner, the owner's agent or employee is the operator, or against the lessee of such vehicle when the lessee, the lessee's agent or employee is the operator of a leased or rented commercial motor vehicle.
(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to the following penalties: (A) For an overweight violation of not more than five per cent of the gross weight or axle weight limits in subsection (b) of this section, a fine of three dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight; (B) for an overweight violation of more than five per cent and not more than ten per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of five dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of fifty dollars; (C) for an overweight violation of more than ten per cent but not more than fifteen per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of six dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of one hundred dollars; (D) for an overweight violation of more than fifteen per cent but not more than twenty per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of seven dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of two hundred dollars; (E) for an overweight violation of more than twenty per cent but not more than twenty-five per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of ten dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of three hundred dollars; (F) for an overweight violation of more than twenty-five per cent but not more than thirty per cent of either such overweight limit, a fine of twelve dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of five hundred dollars; and (G) for an overweight violation of more than thirty per cent of either such overweight limit, a fine of fifteen dollars per one hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of one thousand dollars.
(3) The court shall note on the record any conviction for an overweight violation in excess of fifteen per cent of the gross weight limits in subsection (b) of this section with respect to any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of eighteen thousand pounds or more and shall cause such information to be transmitted to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Upon receipt of such information with respect to a third or subsequent conviction for such overweight violation in a calendar year, the commissioner may schedule a hearing, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to review the record of the motor vehicle registrant and shall notify the registrant of the hearing. In such cases, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may review information and evidence presented at the hearing including, but not limited to, frequency of the registrant's commercial vehicle operations, the size of the registrant's fleet and the culpability, if any, of the shipper. After the hearing, the commissioner may impose a civil penalty on the owner or lessee of such motor vehicle in the amount of two thousand dollars or revoke the registration, for a period of thirty days, of any commercial motor vehicle so operated and may refuse to issue a registration for such motor vehicle during such further time as the commissioner deems reasonable.
(4) An owner or lessee who is assessed penalties pursuant to this subsection for an overweight violation in excess of fifteen per cent of the gross weight limits in subsection (b) of this section five times during any calendar year shall be assessed by the court an additional five thousand dollars for the fifth violation and an additional five thousand dollars for each subsequent overweight violation in excess of fifteen per cent of such limits in such calendar year.
(5) No more than twenty-five per cent of any fine imposed pursuant to this subsection may be remitted unless the court determines that there are mitigating circumstances and specifically states such circumstances for the record.
(g) For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section, any state police officer, Department of Public Safety employee designated by the Commissioner of Public Safety, local police officer, Department of Motor Vehicles inspector, or Department of Transportation employee designated by the Commissioner of Transportation, may require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing by means of either portable or stationary scales and may require that such vehicle be driven to a scale or safety inspection site.
(h) Whenever signs are displayed on a public highway, indicating that a scale is in operation and directing the driver of a commercial vehicle to stop at the weighing area, the driver shall stop and, in accordance with the directions of any state police officer, Department of Public Safety employee designated by the Commissioner of Public Safety, local police officer, Department of Motor Vehicles inspector, or Department of Transportation employee designated by the Commissioner of Transportation, allow the vehicle to be weighed or inspected.
(i) The driver of a vehicle which is weighed may remove from such vehicle any material, including, but not limited to, sand, debris, ice or snow, which may have accumulated on the outside of such vehicle, before any such official determines that the weight of such vehicle is unlawful.
(j) Whenever such an official, upon weighing a vehicle and load, determines that the weight is unlawful, such official may require the driver to remove from the vehicle that portion of the load that may be necessary to reduce the gross or axle weight of such vehicle to the limit permitted under this chapter, provided if the vehicle is in violation of an axle weight limit in subsection (b) of this section but not a gross weight limit under said subsection, such official shall allow the driver to manually shift the load in order to comply with such axle weight limit without penalty.
(k) (1) Any driver of a vehicle who fails or refuses when directed by such official, upon a weighing of the vehicle, to comply with such official's directions shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars or more than two hundred dollars for the first offense and not less than two hundred dollars or more than five hundred dollars for each subsequent offense. (2) Any driver of a vehicle who (A) exits a limited access highway on which a scale or safety inspection site is in operation with intent to circumvent the provisions of subsection (h) of this section, without a bona fide business purpose, or (B) fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (h) of this section shall be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars or more than five hundred dollars for the first offense and not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars for each subsequent offense.
(l) The Commissioner of Transportation may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 necessary to implement the purposes of this section. The Commissioner of Transportation, after consultation with the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 defining safety standards and inspection procedures to assure compliance with the safety requirements of 10 CFR 71 and 49 CFR 100 through 199 and the fines for noncompliance. The Department of Transportation shall coordinate development of state policy and regulations concerning the trucking industry.
(P.A. 79-188, S. 1, 10; P.A. 80-71, S. 22, 30; P.A. 81-472, S. 23, 159; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-1, S. 1, 4; P.A. 84-516, S. 2-4, 7; P.A. 85-198; 85-533, S. 1; P.A. 86-403, S. 30, 132; P.A. 88-320, S. 1; P.A. 94-188, S. 11; P.A. 02-70, S. 58, 59, 64; P.A. 03-190, S. 1; P.A. 07-217, S. 52.)
History: P.A. 80-71 amended Subsec. (b) to include provisions re weight distribution formula, raised maximum weight in Subsec. (e) from 73,000 to 80,000 pounds, completely changed fine provisions of Subsec. (f), made technical corrections in Subsecs. (g) and (h) and expanded regulation powers in Subsec. (k); P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-1 entirely replaced Subsec. (f) provisions re penalties with new provisions; P.A. 84-516 deleted Subsec. (b)(9), which required use of the federal bridge formula in computing gross weight for all commercial vehicles on and after January 1, 1990, completely changed the fines in Subsec. (f)(2), limited the applicability of Subsec. (f)(3) and (5) to violations of gross weight limits and added the provision in Subsec. (i) re shifting of loads; P.A. 85-198 inserted a new Subsec. (i) which allows drivers to remove material which may have accumulated on the outside of a vehicle before such vehicle is weighed and relettered former Subsecs. (i) to (k) accordingly; P.A. 85-533 amended Subsec. (f)(3) by requiring a bond of an out-of-state owner or lessee of a motor vehicle and requiring a fine of $2,000 of an in-state owner or lessee upon a second conviction; P.A. 86-403 replaced numeric Subpara. indicators with alphabetic Subpara. indicators in Subsec. (f)(3); P.A. 88-320 added Subsec. (k)(2) to require a penalty for any driver of a vehicle who attempts to avoid a scale or safety inspection site or fails to comply with the provisions of Subsec. (h); P.A. 94-188 amended Subsec. (b) by eliminating the 2% tolerance in the weight calculation formula, providing that axle weight and gross weight, including load weight, may not "exceed the manufacturer's axle weight rating, the gross vehicle weight rating or the following gross weight limits", amended Subdiv. (1) by deleting language concerning a 26,000 pound weight limit for a two-axle vehicle equipped with solid tires, and making what was formerly Subdiv. (2) the new Subdiv. (1), renumbering the remaining Subdivs., eliminating language concerning "all enforcement tolerances", and increasing the gross load that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry from 34,000 pounds each to 68,000 pounds. Further, the act amended Subsec. (e) by eliminating the 2% tolerance in the weight calculation formula and revising Subsec. (j) to provide that the driver be allowed to shift the load manually; (Revisor's note: In 1997 references in Subsecs. (g) and (h) to "Motor Vehicles Department" and "Transportation Department" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Motor Vehicles" and "Department of Transportation" for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (f) by making technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality in Subdiv. (1), by rewriting Subdiv. (3) to delete requirement that court note on the record any forfeiture of bond for failure to appear for an overweight violation, to require court to transmit to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles information re convictions for overweight violations in excess of 15% of the gross weight limits, to allow commissioner to schedule a hearing review record of the registrant upon receipt of information re a third or subsequent conviction for overweight violation in a calendar year, to allow commissioner to review information and evidence presented at the hearing including, but not limited to, frequency of registrant's operations, size of fleet and culpability of shipper, to allow commissioner, after hearing, to impose a civil penalty in amount of $2,000, to delete former Subparas. (A) and (B) re out-of-state owners or lessees to provide a bond in the sum of $2,000 and re commissioner to fine an in-state owner or lessee $2,000 upon a second conviction, and to delete provisions re revocation of registration and bond requirements, by deleting former Subdiv. (4) re revocation of registration upon third conviction or forfeiture of a bond for failure to appear for overweight violations re vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 18,000 pounds, by redesignating existing Subdivs. (5) and (6) as Subdivs. (4) and (5) and by amending redesignated Subdiv. (4) to delete reference to "forfeits a bond for failure to appear" and to reduce the assessment by the court from $10,000 to $5,000 for a fifth, instead of a fourth, overweight violation in a calendar year, and amended Subsecs. (g) and (h) to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-190 added new Subsec. (b)(7) increasing permissible weight of bulk milk pickup tankers to 99,000 pounds, subject to applicable federal law, redesignating existing Subdiv. (7) as Subdiv. (8); P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (k), effective July 12, 2007.
Sec. 14-270f. Weigh station logs. (a) On and after January 1, 2008, logs shall be maintained for each shift at all weigh stations located in the state. Each log shall contain the following information with respect to each weigh station: (1) The location, date and hours of each shift, (2) the hours the "OPEN" sign is illuminated, (3) the number of Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Public Safety officers or civilian technicians for each shift, (4) the number and weight of all vehicles inspected, (5) the type of vehicle inspections, (6) the number and types of citations issued, (7) the amount of fines that may be imposed for overweight or other violations, (8) the operating costs for each shift, and (9) the number of vehicles that pass through the weigh station during each shift. Each log shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Public Safety. Not later than December 15, 2007, the Commissioner of Public Safety, in consultation with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall develop and distribute a form for the recording of such information.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2008, and semiannually thereafter, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall submit, in accordance with section 11-4a, a written report that contains a summary of the information specified in subsection (a) of this section for the preceding six-month period to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation. Such report shall also be posted on the Internet web site of the Departments of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7, S. 99.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-7 effective November 2, 2007.
Sec. 14-275. Equipment and color of school buses. (a) The term "school bus" means any motor bus painted, constructed, equipped and registered as hereinafter provided, which is regularly used for transporting school children to and from school or school activities whether or not for compensation or under contract to provide such service. No vehicle shall be registered as a school bus unless it complies with all requirements of sections 14-275 to 14-281, inclusive, as to color, markings, equipment and inspection, and each such vehicle shall be inspected prior to such registration in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The commissioner or the commissioner's designee may also conduct random, unannounced inspections of any registered school bus. Any school bus that transports individuals in wheelchairs shall meet the requirements of subsection (e) of section 14-100a in order to pass inspection. The provisions of said sections requiring other vehicles to stop at the signal of the operator of a registered school bus shall not apply to a signal by the operator of any vehicle not registered as a school bus and not complying with all requirements for such registration.
(c) Each school bus shall be equipped with special automatic, electrically-operated flashing stop signals, which shall be independent and separate from the braking, stop and tail lights of standard equipment. Such flashing lights may include automatic traffic signalling devices showing red and amber lights and shall be so located that adequate warning will be afforded to both oncoming and overtaking traffic, except that each school bus manufactured on and after October 1, 1984, and registered for use in this state shall be equipped with an eight-light warning system, showing two red flashing stop signals and two amber flashing warning signals on the front and rear of the bus, and a stop semaphore. The commissioner may adopt standards for an eight-light warning system and standards and specifications for the construction of school buses and for equipment to be maintained on school buses consistent with the provisions of sections 14-275 to 14-281, inclusive. Both public and private owners of school buses shall maintain a record of such kinds of repairs made to such buses as the commissioner may require and such work record shall be available at all times to the commissioner and the commissioner's designated assistants. All such maintenance records shall be retained for a period of two years. Each school bus shall be equipped with emergency lighting equipment as provided by section 14-97a, with a defrosting device as provided by section 14-97, with a system of mirrors as provided in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Section 571.111, as amended, or with an outside mirror as provided by section 14-99 and a system of crossover mirrors designed and mounted so as to give the driver a view of the road from the front bumper forward to a point where direct observation is possible and along the left and right sides of the bus, with a signalling device as provided by section 14-101, and with chain nonskid devices for immediate use on at least one outside or inside rear tire on each side or tires designed to prevent skidding on all rear wheels when weather and highway conditions require such use. Commencing February 1, 1974, each new school bus with a vehicle air brake system shall be so equipped that the brake system is operated from a separate air reservoir tank other than the air reservoir tank used to operate any other compressed air or vacuum operated devices with which the school bus may be equipped. The seating requirements of section 14-273 shall be observed. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14-98, school buses may be equipped with tires incorporating a metal nonskid device during the period from October fifteenth to April thirtieth, inclusive.
(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, for a first offense, be deemed to have committed an infraction, and for each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
(1955, S. 1319d; 1957, P.A. 481; 1959, P.A. 62, S. 8; 1961, P.A. 279; 1967, P.A. 395; 661; 1969, P.A. 639, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 149; 1972, P.A. 286, S. 1; P.A. 73-150; P.A. 75-161, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-108; P.A. 81-182; 81-256, S. 2; S.A. 81-57, S. 4, 5; P.A. 82-223, S. 20; P.A. 83-577, S. 25; P.A. 84-18, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-118; P.A. 87-169; P.A. 91-272, S. 3, 8; 91-272, S. 3, 8; P.A. 92-47; P.A. 93-341, S. 25, 38; P.A. 96-167, S. 37, 44, 49; P.A. 00-169, S. 9; P.A. 07-134, S. 4; 07-224, S. 6.)
History: 1959 act amended Subsec. (c) by removing provision for approval by the commissioner of stop signs and signals; 1961 act deleted authority for manually or mechanically operated stop signs in lieu of automatic signals; 1967 acts required school buses to have at least one convex mirror in Subsec. (c) and required maintenance of repair record on school buses; 1969 act replaced reference to repealed Sec. 14-95 with reference to Sec. 14-97a in Subsec. (c); 1971 act clarified requirement re chains and alternatively allowed use of studded tires in Subsec. (c); 1972 act replaced "applicable to lighting equipment on, and special warning devices to be carried by" with "for the construction of school buses and for equipment to be maintained on" school buses in Subsec. (c); P.A. 73-150 amended Subsec. (c) to require air brake systems operated by separate air reservoir tanks as of February 1, 1974; P.A. 75-161 amended Subsec. (a) to require inspection of buses before registration; P.A. 77-108 allowed use of studded tires on school buses regardless of any general prohibition against their use; P.A. 81-182 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing the commissioner to conduct random, unannounced inspections of registered school buses; P.A. 81-256 added provision to Subsec. (c) prohibiting the commissioner from adopting or enforcing minimum seating width requirements for school children; S.A. 81-57 changed effective date of P.A. 81-256 from October 1, 1981, to its date of passage, June 2, 1981; P.A. 82-223 added Subsec. (d) concerning fines for violations of the section; P.A. 83-577 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting the provision specifying the fine for an infraction is not less than $25 nor more than $90; P.A. 84-18 amended Subsec. (c), requiring that school buses manufactured on and after October 1, 1984, be equipped with an eight light warning system and a stop semaphore and also deleted an obsolete reference to green flashing lights; P.A. 85-118 amended Subsec. (b), requiring that school buses with eight-light warning systems have the words "School Bus" painted thereon; P.A. 87-169 amended Subsec. (c) to permit the use of tire chains on the inside rear tires; P.A. 91-272 amended Subsec. (c) to require each school bus to be equipped with a system of crossover mirrors to give driver a view of the road from front bumper forward to a point where direct observation is possible and along left and right sides of the bus; P.A. 92-47 amended Subsec. (c) to authorize the use of tires designed to prevent skidding on rear wheels in lieu of studded snow tires; P.A. 93-341 amended Subsec. (a) to delete conditional definitions of "registered school bus" and "registered as a school bus", effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 96-167 amended Subsec. (b) to allow the roof to be painted white, effective July 1, 1996, and amended Subsec. (c) to require each school bus to be equipped with a system of mirrors as provided in CFR Title 49, Sec. 571.111 as an alternative to an outside mirror as provided by Sec. 14-99, effective October 1, 1996; P.A. 00-169 amended Subsec. (b) to change the required color of school buses from "National School Bus Chrome" to "National School Bus Glossy Yellow", Subsec. (c) to delete provision prohibiting commissioner from adopting or enforcing any standard or specification re seating width, and to require maintenance records be retained for a period of two years, and made technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 07-134 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision requiring that school buses that transport individuals in wheelchairs meet the requirements of Sec. 14-100a(e); P.A. 07-224 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions requiring name and telephone number of school bus company and bus number to be painted on rear and sides of school buses.
Sec. 14-276. School bus operators to hold a valid passenger and school endorsement. Duties of carrier re withdrawal, suspension or revocation of employee's operator's license or endorsement to operate a school bus or student transportation vehicle. Civil penalties. (a) Registered school buses while transporting school children shall be operated by holders of a valid passenger and school endorsement issued in accordance with section 14-44. Such endorsement shall be held in addition to the commercial driver's license required for the operation of such motor vehicles. A person who has attained the age of seventy shall be allowed to hold a passenger and school endorsement for the purpose of operating a school bus, provided such person meets the minimum physical requirements set by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and agrees to submit to a physical examination at least twice a year or when requested to do so by the superintendent of the school system in which such person intends to operate a school bus. Any person to whom a town has awarded a contract for the transportation of school children who permits the operation of a registered school bus while transporting school children by any person who does not hold a passenger and school endorsement shall be fined not less than two thousand five hundred dollars or more than five thousand dollars.
(b) Not less than twice per month, a carrier shall review the report made by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of section 14-44, with reference to the name and motor vehicle operator's license number of each person such carrier employs to operate a school bus, as defined in section 14-275, or a student transportation vehicle, as defined in section 14-212. If, according to such report, any such employee's motor vehicle operator's license or endorsement to operate a school bus or student transportation vehicle has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked, such carrier shall prohibit such employee from operating a school bus or student transportation vehicle.
(c) Any carrier who fails to review the report made by the commissioner, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, shall be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars for the first violation, and two thousand five hundred dollars for each subsequent violation. Any carrier who fails to remove as an operator, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, not later than ten days after reviewing such report, any employee whose motor vehicle operator's license or endorsement to operate a school bus or student transportation vehicle has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked, shall be subject to a civil penalty of two thousand five hundred dollars for the first violation, and five thousand dollars for each subsequent violation. Upon appropriate justification presented to the commissioner by any carrier, the commissioner may make a determination to reduce any such penalty.
(1955, S. 1320d; 1967, P.A. 859; 1969, P.A. 110, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 21; P.A. 81-256, S. 1; S.A. 81-57, S. 4, 5; P.A. 82-223, S. 21; P.A. 83-340, S. 1, 4; 83-577, S. 26; P.A. 90-263, S. 29, 74; P.A. 93-341, S. 27, 38; P.A. 94-189, S. 19, 34; P.A. 06-130, S. 11; P.A. 07-217, S. 53; 07-224, S. 3.)
History: 1967 act prohibited persons 70 or older from holding license to operate school bus; 1969 act required minimum age of 19 for holding license to operate school bus; 1972 act deleted minimum age requirement; P.A. 81-256 removed provision which had made board of education members subject to fine for permitting unlicensed person to transport children and added Subsec. (b) requiring commissioner to furnish names of those whose licenses are suspended or revoked upon request; S.A. 81-57 revised effective date of P.A. 81-256 but did not change October 1, 1981, effective date of amendments to this section; P.A. 82-223 amended Subsec. (a) by lowering the maximum fine from $100 to $90 and added Subsec. (c) to specify that violation of the section is an infraction; P.A. 83-340 amended Subsec. (a) to allow a person age 70 or older to operate a school bus provided he meets physical requirements set by the commissioner and agrees to take a physical examination at least twice a year, where previously operation of bus by person 70 or older was prohibited; P.A. 83-577 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing the minimum fine from $25 to $35; P.A. 90-263 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to substitute public passenger transportation permits for public service operators' licenses and to insert commercial driver's license in lieu of regular operator's license in Subsec. (a); P.A. 93-341 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to replace references to public passenger transportation permits with references to passenger and school endorsements, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 94-189 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 06-130 deleted former Subsec. (b) which had required commissioner to furnish names of those whose passenger and school endorsements are suspended or revoked and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as new Subsec. (b); P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 07-224 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing minimum fine from $35 to $2,500 and maximum fine from $90 to $5,000, deleted former Subsec. (b) re infraction and added new Subsecs. (b) re review of report by carrier and prohibiting employees whose operator's license or school bus or student transportation vehicle endorsement has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked from operating such vehicles and (c) re civil penalties for failure to review report or remove employee as operator of a school bus or student transportation vehicle, effective July 1, 2007.
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 physical examination and safety training of school bus operators and operators of student transportation vehicles. Such regulations shall provide for minimum physical requirements for such operators and 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.
(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 his license endorsement: (1) Furnished evidence to the satisfaction of the commissioner that he meets the minimum physical requirements set by the commissioner for operation of a school bus or a student transportation vehicle; (2) successfully completed a course in safety training administered by the commissioner 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. Any operator administered a road test in a type II school bus only 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.
(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. No carrier may employ any person who has received a positive test result for such test which was confirmed as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) 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 subdivisions (2) and (3) 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 subdivisions (2) and (3) 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.)
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.
Sec. 14-281. Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of sections 14-275 to 14-280, inclusive, for which no other penalty is provided shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than one hundred dollars for the first offense, and not less than one hundred dollars or more than five hundred dollars for each subsequent offense.
(1955, S. 1325d; P.A. 07-217, S. 54.)
Sec. 14-284. Use of restricted highway by livery service vehicles. The restriction of any highway to use by passenger motor vehicles shall not prohibit the use thereof by motor vehicles in livery service as defined in chapter 244b, provided such vehicles comply with the regulations of the State Traffic Commission, pursuant to subsection (f) of section 13a-26 for the length, height and width requirements of vehicles authorized to operate on the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways.
(1955, S. 1402d; 1957, P.A. 109; P.A. 07-167, S. 30.)
History: P.A. 07-167 replaced provision re vehicles having a maximum capacity of seven passengers with provision re vehicles complying with State Traffic Commission regulations re length, height and width requirements for operation on Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways, effective July 1, 2007.
Sec. 14-286e. Police officers, firefighters or emergency service personnel on bicycles. (a) Any police officer, firefighter or person engaged in providing emergency services who operates a bicycle in response to an emergency call or while engaged in rescue operations or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 14-286, 14-286a, 14-286b, 14-286c and 14-289 provided (1) the police officer, firefighter or person engaged in providing emergency services is sixteen years of age or older, (2) the police officer, firefighter or person engaged in providing emergency services is wearing a distinctive uniform, and (3) the police officer has completed a course of instruction in basic police bicycle patrol certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council or an equivalent course of instruction, and the firefighter or person engaged in providing emergency services has completed an equivalent course of basic bicycle patrol.
(P.A. 93-292, S. 6; P.A. 95-108, S. 12; P.A. 06-72, S. 1; P.A. 07-6, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 95-108 amended Subsec. (a) to rename Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council; P.A. 06-72 amended Subsec. (a) to exempt firefighters or emergency service personnel, to require in new Subdiv. (1) that bicycle operator be 16 years of age or older, to renumber existing Subdiv. (1) as (2) and require that firefighters and emergency service personnel wear uniforms, and to renumber existing Subdiv. (2) as (3) and require that firefighters and emergency service personnel complete a bicycle patrol course; P.A. 07-6 substituted "person engaged in providing emergency services" for "emergency service personnel" in Subsec. (a).
Sec. 14-289a. Riding on motorcycle. Carrying of passenger. A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless such motorcycle is properly equipped to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the rear or side of the operator. No operator of a motorcycle who has not held an endorsement to operate a motorcycle for a period of three months shall carry any other person on such motorcycle, except that any operator sixteen or seventeen years of age shall not transport any passenger on a motorcycle for a period of six months after obtaining such endorsement. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(February, 1965, P.A. 448, S. 17; 1967, P.A. 728; P.A. 75-577, S. 112, 126; P.A. 07-167, S. 8.)
History: 1967 act prohibited persons licensed to operate motorcycle for less than three months from carrying passengers; P.A. 75-577 stated that violation of provisions is an infraction; P.A. 07-167 replaced "a license" with "an endorsement" and added provision restricting transportation of passenger by operator sixteen or seventeen years of age.
Sec. 14-289j. Restrictions on the use and sale, lease or rental of mini-motorcycles. (a) For the purposes of this section, "mini-motorcycle" means a vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, that (1) has not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, (2) has a manufactured seat height of less than twenty-six inches measured at the lowest point on top of the seat cushion without the rider, and (3) is propelled by an engine having a piston displacement of less than 50 c.c.
(b) No person shall operate a mini-motorcycle or ride as a passenger on a mini-motorcycle on any highway or public sidewalk. No owner of a mini-motorcycle shall permit a person to operate the owner's mini-motorcycle or to ride as a passenger on the owner's mini-motorcycle on any highway or public sidewalk.
(f) No person may offer a mini-motorcycle for sale, lease or rent unless such mini-motorcycle has a warning label that gives warning information about the safe and legal use of a mini-motorcycle and about the limitations on use and the possible consequences of use in violation of such limitations, set forth in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section. Such person, on sale, lease or rent of a mini-motorcycle, shall give a written clear and conspicuous statement, separate from the warning label, to the purchaser, lessee or renter of such mini-motorcycle containing such warning information. Advertisements for mini-motorcycles and oral communications of a person offering a mini-motorcycle for sale, lease or rent shall not contain information inconsistent with any information required in this section. Until regulations required in subsection (g) of this section are adopted, persons offering a mini-motorcycle for sale, lease or rent shall display such warning information, advertise and make oral communications in a manner consistent with the provisions of this section. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to any person selling fewer than five used mini-motorcycles in one calendar year, provided any person claiming inapplicability of the provisions of this subsection shall have the burden of proving such inapplicability.
(g) On or before January 1, 2007, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, that set forth the warning information required in this section and manner of display of such warning information, establish reasonable transportation and storage fees and otherwise implement the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 05-173, S. 1; P.A. 06-130, S. 17; P.A. 07-167, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 06-130 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision re seat with requirement re seat height in Subdiv. (2), by changing "50 c.c. or less" to "less than 50 c.c." in Subdiv. (3) and by deleting former Subdivs. (4) re speed and (5) re registration, amended Subsec. (b) by removing public property from list of prohibited riding areas and amended Subsec. (g) to change date re adoption of regulations from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2007, effective June 2, 2006; P.A. 07-167 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective June 25, 2007.