CT Gen Stat § 14-44 (2020)
2020 Connecticut General Statutes|Title 14 - Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway by Vehicles. Gasoline|Chapter 246 - Motor Vehicles|Section 14-44 - License endorsement for operators of commercial motor vehicles used for passenger transportation, school buses, student transportation vehicles, taxicabs, motor vehicles in livery service and motor or service buses. Requirements. Hearing. Appeal. Report re persons whose license or endorsement has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked. Penalty.

 (a)(1) No person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle used for passenger transportation on any public highway of this state until such person has obtained a commercial driver's license with a public passenger endorsement, as defined in section 14-1, from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, except a nonresident who holds such license with such endorsement issued by another state. (2) No person shall operate a school bus until such person has obtained a commercial driver's license with a school bus endorsement, except that a person who holds such a license without such endorsements may operate a school bus without passengers for the purpose of road testing or moving the vehicle. (3) No person shall operate a student transportation vehicle, as defined in section 14-212, taxicab, motor vehicle in livery service, motor bus or service bus until such person has obtained an operator's license of the proper classification bearing an appropriate public passenger endorsement from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, issued in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 14-36a, except that a person who holds an operator's license without such endorsement may operate any such vehicle without passengers for the purpose of road testing or moving the vehicle.(b) No operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement shall be issued or renewed in accordance with the provisions of this section or section 14-36a, until the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or the commissioner's authorized representative, is satisfied that the applicant is a proper person to receive such an operator's license bearing an endorsement, holds a valid motor vehicle operator's license, or, if necessary for the class of vehicle operated, a commercial driver's license and is at least eighteen years of age. Each applicant for an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement or the renewal of such a license shall furnish the commissioner, or the commissioner's authorized representative, with satisfactory evidence, under oath, to prove that such person has no criminal record and has not been convicted of a violation of section 14-227a or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n within five years of the date of application and that no reason exists for a refusal to grant or renew such an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement. Each applicant for such an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement shall submit with the application proof satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant has passed a physical examination administered not more than ninety days prior to the date of application and meets the physical qualification standards set forth in 49 CFR 391, as amended from time to time. Each applicant for renewal of such license shall present evidence that such applicant is in compliance with the physical qualification standards established in 49 CFR 391, as amended from time to time. Each applicant for such an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement shall be fingerprinted before the license bearing a public passenger endorsement is issued.(c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue, withhold, renew, suspend, cancel or revoke any public passenger endorsement required to operate a motor vehicle that transports passengers, as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-36a. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, in making his or her decision, consider the age, accident and criminal record, moral character and physical condition of any such applicant or public passenger endorsement holder and such other matters as the commissioner may determine. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may require any such applicant or public passenger endorsement holder to furnish the statements of two or more reputable citizens, which may be required to be under oath, vouching for the good character or other qualifications of the applicant or public passenger endorsement holder.(d) Upon the arrest of any person who holds an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement, as defined in section 14-1, and who is charged with a felony or violation of section 53a-73a, the arresting officer or department, within forty-eight hours, shall cause a report of such arrest to be made to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The report shall be made on a form approved by said commissioner containing such information as the commissioner prescribes. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection.(e) (1) Prior to issuing an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall require each applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks, conducted in accordance with section 29-17a. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall complete such state and national criminal history records checks required pursuant to this section within sixty days of receiving such a request for a check of such records. If notice of a state or national criminal history record is received, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, subject to the provisions of section 46a-80, refuse to issue an operator's license bearing such public passenger endorsement and, in such case, shall immediately notify the applicant, in writing, of such refusal. Each applicant for a public passenger endorsement to operate a school bus or student transportation vehicle shall submit to a check of the state child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k. If notification that the applicant is listed as a perpetrator of abuse on the state child abuse and neglect registry is received, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may refuse to issue an operator's license bearing such public passenger endorsement and, in such case, shall immediately notify the applicant, in writing, of such refusal. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a temporary operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement for operation of a school bus or student transportation vehicle.(2) The fingerprints of an applicant for a public passenger endorsement to operate a school bus may be captured electronically or by other means in accordance with section 29-17a.(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, “certificate or permit holder” means any person, association, limited liability company or corporation that holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a taxicab, as described in section 13b-97 or holds a permit to operate a motor vehicle in livery service, as described in section 13b-103. Any certificate or permit holder who seeks to employ a person who has applied for a public passenger endorsement to operate a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section may permit such person to operate a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service prior to the approval by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of the application for such endorsement, but in no event for a period longer than ninety days after the date of application for such endorsement, provided such certificate or permit holder determines such person meets the requirements to operate a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service set forth in regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (f) of this section. In making such determination, such certificate or permit holder shall (A) conduct, or have a consumer reporting agency regulated under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act conduct, a local, state and national criminal history records check, including a search of state and national sexual offender registry databases, and (B) review such person's driving history record maintained by the commissioner and dated not more than seven days prior to the date of such review. A person who is approved by a certificate or permit holder under this subdivision shall carry and present, upon request, a copy of such person's application to the commissioner and criminal history records check when such person is operating a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service.(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the commissioner shall not issue an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement to transport passengers who are students, and shall suspend any such public passenger endorsement that has been issued, to any person who has been convicted of a serious criminal offense, as determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or convicted of any provision of federal law or the law of any other state, the violation of which involves conduct that is substantially similar to a violation determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to be a serious criminal offense, if any part of the sentence of such conviction has not been completed, or has been completed during the preceding five years. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection.(g) Any applicant who is refused an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement or the renewal of such a license, or whose operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement or the renewal of such a license is withdrawn or revoked on account of a criminal record, shall be entitled to a hearing if requested in writing within twenty days. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of chapter 54 and the applicant may appeal from the final decision rendered therein in accordance with section 4-183.(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14-10, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall furnish to any board of education or to any public or private organization that is actively engaged in providing public transportation, including the transportation of school children, a report containing the names and motor vehicle operator license numbers of each person who has been issued an operator's license with one or more public passenger endorsements, authorizing such person to transport passengers in accordance with the provisions of section 14-36a, but whose license or any such public passenger endorsement has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section, or any other provision of this title. The report shall be issued and updated periodically in accordance with a schedule to be established by the commissioner. Such report may be transmitted or otherwise made available to authorized recipients by electronic means.(i) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.(1949 Rev., S. 2384; 1963, P.A. 336; 372; 1969, P.A. 110, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 612, S. 4; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 17; P.A. 74-152; P.A. 75-213, S. 10, 53; 75-577, S. 22, 126; P.A. 76-382, S. 2; P.A. 83-340, S. 2, 4; P.A. 84-254, S. 31, 62; 84-429, S. 25; P.A. 85-148, S. 2; P.A. 87-329, S. 7; 87-585, S. 1; P.A. 89-320, S. 1, 2, 12; P.A. 90-112, S. 12, 14; 90-263, S. 10, 74; P.A. 91-272, S. 1, 8; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 62, 70; P.A. 93-341, S. 13-15, 38; P.A. 01-175, S. 9, 32; P.A. 02-70, S. 83; P.A. 03-278, S. 37; P.A. 04-217, S. 4; P.A. 05-218, S. 6; P.A. 06-130, S. 10; P.A. 07-167, S. 47; 07-224, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5, S. 20; P.A. 09-187, S. 11; P.A. 10-32, S. 49; 10-110, S. 35, 57; P.A. 11-213, S. 18; P.A. 12-81, S. 49; P.A. 14-130, S. 9, 29; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 200; P.A. 16-39, S. 9; 16-55, S. 14; 16-126, S. 10; P.A. 17-68, S. 15; 17-140, S. 12; P.A. 18-164, S. 26; P.A. 19-119, S. 5, 6.)History: 1963 acts raised minimum age requirement from 18 to 21 and added provisions for examination of operating ability and fee for same; 1969 act replaced interstate commerce commission with United States department of transportation and required that applicants for public service license to operate school bus be at least nineteen and not more than 69 years old; 1971 act replaced reference to repealed Sec. 14-30 with reference to Sec. 14-34; 1972 act changed minimum age for public service vehicle license from 21 to 18, reflecting change in age of majority, and deleted minimum age of 19 for school bus operator's license; P.A. 74-152 made provisions applicable to operation of service buses as well as public service motor vehicles and expanded provisions re physical examinations; P.A. 75-213 raised examination fee from $2 to $2.50; P.A. 75-577 replaced provision for maximum $50 fine for violation of provisions with statement that violation constitutes an infraction; P.A. 76-382 added Subsec. (b) re validity of license issued by other state or country; P.A. 83-340 amended Subsec. (a) deleting the statement providing that an applicant for a public service license to operate a school bus shall not be older than 69 years of age; P.A. 84-254 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the examination fee from $2.50 to $5 as of July 1, 1992; P.A. 84-429 relettered Subsecs., rephrased provisions and made other technical changes; P.A. 85-148 amended Subsec. (a), eliminating requirement for nonresidents holding a valid out-of-state public service motor vehicle operator's license to obtain a license to operate in this state if vehicle is engaged in intrastate commerce; P.A. 87-329 amended Subsec. (b), maintaining the fee at the level existing on and after July 1, 1986, and decreasing the fee effective July 1, 1992, to the level formerly existing on and after July 1, 1988; P.A. 87-585 amended Subsec. (b), requiring prerequisites for issuance of license to apply to renewals and applicants to furnish evidence of absence of convictions for violations of Sec. 14-227a(a) within 1 year and negative drug test results, and added new provisions in Subsec. (d) re issuance of a 90-day temporary license to applicants who intend to operate a school bus, relettering remaining Subdivs. accordingly; P.A. 89-320 amended Subsec. (b) to require applicants to furnish evidence of absence of convictions for violations of Sec. 14-227a(a) within 5 years instead of within 1 year and amended Subsec. (d) to require commissioner to request criminal record for each applicant from state police bureau of identification and to forward fingerprints obtained under Subsec. (b) to bureau which shall submit fingerprints to FBI for a national criminal history records check, to authorize immediate withdrawal of the temporary license if notice of a criminal record is received within 90 days, subject to the provisions of Sec. 46a-80 and to require the licensee and his employer to be notified immediately in writing of receipt of a criminal record, making technical changes as necessary; P.A. 90-112 amended Subsecs. (a), (d) and (e) to include references to operation of student transportation vehicles; P.A. 90-263 divided Subsec. (a) into two subdivisions, inserting in Subdiv. (1) prohibition on operation of commercial motor vehicles used for passenger transportation until operator has obtained a commercial driver's license with a passenger endorsement, deleting references to public service motor vehicle or service bus and public service motor vehicle operator's license, and inserting in Subdiv. (2) prohibition on operation of school bus, student transportation vehicle, taxicab, motor vehicle in livery service, motor bus or service bus until operator has obtained a public passenger transportation permit, amended remaining Subsecs. to substitute public passenger transportation permit for public service motor vehicle operator's license, amended Subsec. (d) to insert references to “student transportation vehicle” after references to “school bus”, and amended Subsec. (e) to provide that any applicant refused a permit on account of a criminal record shall be entitled to a hearing, if requested, and to permit applicant to appeal from final decision in accordance with Sec. 4-183, effective July 1, 1991; P.A. 91-272 amended Subsec. (b) to apply to applicants for renewal on and after July 1, 1992, amended Subsec. (d) to require applicants for a temporary permit or for renewal of a permit to submit to a state criminal history records check prior to issuance of such temporary permit or renewal and to make numerous changes throughout the Subsec., and amended Subsec. (e) to apply to applicants who are refused a renewal or whose permit or renewal is withdrawn or revoked on account of a criminal record; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting phrase “or a student transportation vehicle, as defined in section 14-212”; P.A. 93-341 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to provide that no person may operate a school bus carrying passengers without having obtained a commercial driver's license with a passenger endorsement and a school endorsement and substituted references to passenger or school endorsements for references to public passenger transportation permits throughout section, effective July 1, 1994, amended Subsec. (b) by inserting references to an “operator's license bearing an endorsement” and by revising the provisions regarding drug testing and physical examinations of applicants, effective July 1, 1993, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting provisions regarding a 90-day temporary permit pending completion of a national criminal history records check, and deleted Subsec. (f) which had specified contents of public passenger transportation permits in its entirety and relettered remaining Subsec. accordingly, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 01-175 amended Subsec. (d) by making a technical change for the purposes of gender neutrality and by replacing language re state criminal history checks, fingerprinting and fee charged with language re state and national criminal history checks pursuant to Sec. 29-17a, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-70 made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(3), added new Subsec. (d) to require the arresting officer or department, upon the arrest of any person who holds an operator's license bearing a school endorsement for a felony or violation of Sec. 53a-73a, to report such arrest to the commissioner within 48 hours, to specify form of such report and to authorize adoption of regulations, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (d) to (f) as Subsecs. (e) to (g), effective June 3, 2002; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 04-217 amended Subsec. (a) to include “activity vehicle” as vehicle requiring operator to have appropriate endorsement, amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate public passenger transportation permit, to eliminate provision requiring applicant for license with endorsement or renewal of license with endorsement to have received negative drug test results in two or more urine tests if administered within 1 year of date of application and to substitute requirement that applicant for renewal of such license present evidence that applicant is in compliance with medical qualifications under federal law, amended Subsec. (c) to change references to “permittee” to “endorsement holder”, to eliminate “passenger or school” endorsement and substitute endorsement “required to operate a motor vehicle that transports passengers”, and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2005; P.A. 05-218 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding camp vehicles; P.A. 06-130 added new Subsec. (g) re notification of school boards and providers of public transportation of drivers whose licenses or endorsements have been withdrawn, suspended or revoked and redesignated existing Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (h); P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by deleting reference to camp vehicle, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 07-224 amended Subsec. (a) by repositioning existing provisions re endorsement for taxicabs, motor vehicles in livery service and motor or services buses as Subdiv. (3), redesignating existing provisions re endorsement for student transportation vehicles and activity vehicles as Subdiv. (4) and deleting “camp vehicle”, amended Subsec. (b) by requiring evidence furnished by applicant to be under oath, amended Subsec. (e) by adding provisions re endorsement for operation of student transportation vehicle, re check of state child abuse registry and notification that applicant is listed thereon and re prohibition on issuance of temporary operator's license, by deleting provision re withdrawal of operator's license bearing school endorsement and by making conforming changes, added new Subsec. (f) re convictions, redesignated existing Subsecs. (f), (g) and (h) as Subsecs. (g), (h) and (i), amended redesignated Subsec. (h) to require report to be furnished by commissioner and made technical changes throughout, effective July 1, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 amended Subsec. (e) to substitute “abuse and neglect” for “abuse”, reorganize provisions and delete reference to Sec. 46a-80 re perpetrators of abuse listed on registry, effective October 6, 2007; P.A. 09-187 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to require endorsement for operation of student transportation vehicle or activity vehicle and add exception authorizing person without endorsement to operate vehicle without passengers for purpose of road testing or moving vehicle, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 10-32 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 10-110 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change, effective October 1, 2010, and further amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to activity vehicle in Subdivs. (3) and (4), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-213 amended Subsec. (a) to require “proper classification” of license and make technical changes in Subdiv. (3) and to delete former Subdiv. (4) containing duplicate provision re student transportation vehicle, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-81 amended Subsec. (e) to add provision requiring Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to complete criminal history records checks within 60 days of request and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-130 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re exemption from medical qualifications for certain Class D operator's license applicants, effective October 1, 2014, and amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “school endorsement” with “public passenger endorsement, as defined in section 14-1, and who is”, effective June 6, 2014; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 replaced references to passenger endorsement and endorsement with references to public passenger endorsement and, in Subsec. (a)(1), added reference to Sec. 14-1, effective June 30, 2015; P.A. 16-39 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by adding reference to licensed advanced practice registered nurse; P.A. 16-55 amended Subsec. (e) by replacing reference to Subsec. (a)(4) with reference to Subsec. (a)(3), effective May 31, 2016; P.A. 16-126 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing reference to Sec. 14-227a(a) with reference to Sec. 14-227a and by adding references to Secs. 14-227m and 14-227n(a)(1) and (2); P.A. 17-68 amended Subsec. (h) by adding provision re commissioner to ensure that carriers review report, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 17-140 amended Subsec. (e) to designate existing provision re applicant to submit to criminal history records checks as Subdiv. (1) and amended same to replace “school endorsement or bearing the appropriate type of public passenger endorsement for operation of a student transportation vehicle” with “public passenger endorsement” and make technical and conforming changes, and to add Subdiv. (2) re operation of taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service, effective January 1, 2018; P.A. 18-164 amended Subsec. (e) to replace reference to Subsec. (a)(3) with reference to Subsec. (a) in Subdiv. (1), add new Subdiv. (2) re fingerprints for applicant for public passenger endorsement to operate school bus, redesignate existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and amend same to replace reference to Subsec. (a)(1) with reference to Subsec. (a)(3), and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-119 amended Subsec. (b) to replace provision re safety regulations by U.S. Department of Transportation with provision re physical qualification standards set forth in 49 CFR 391, delete provision re certain Class D operator's license applicants and make conforming and technical changes, and amended Subsec. (h) to delete provision re commissioner to ensure that carrier review report and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2019.