CHAPTER 248*
VEHICLE HIGHWAY USE

Terms used in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless another construction is clearly apparent from the language or context in which the term is used or unless the construction is inconsistent with the manifest intention of the General Assembly:
(1) The following terms shall be construed as they are defined in section 14-1: "Authorized emergency vehicle", "commissioner", "driver", "fuels", "gross weight", "head lamp", "high-mileage vehicle", "highway", "light weight", "limited access highway", "maintenance vehicle", "motor bus", "motorcycle", "motor vehicle registration", "nonresident", "nonskid device", "number plate", "officer", "operator", "owner", "passenger motor vehicle", "passenger and commercial motor vehicle", "person", "pneumatic tires", "pole trailer", "registration", "registration number", "second offense", "semitrailer", "shoulder", "solid tires", "stop", "subsequent offense", "tail lamp", "tractor", "tractor-trailer unit", "trailer", "truck" and "vanpool vehicle";
(2) "Carrier" means (A) any local or regional school district, any educational institution providing elementary or secondary education or any person, firm or corporation under contract to such district or institution engaged in the business of transporting school children; (B) any person, firm or corporation providing transportation for compensation exclusively to persons under the age of twenty-one years; or (C) any corporation, institution or nonprofit organization providing transportation as an ancillary service primarily to persons under the age of eighteen years;
(3) "Curb" includes the boundary of the traveled portion of any highway, whether or not the boundary is marked by a curbstone;
(4) "Intersection" means the area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral curb lines of two or more highways which join one another at an angle, whether or not one of the highways crosses the other;
(5) "Motor vehicle" includes all vehicles used on the public highways;
(6) "Parking area" means lots, areas or other accommodations for the parking of motor vehicles off the street or highway and open to public use with or without charge;
(7) "Rotary traffic island" means a physical barrier legally placed or constructed at an intersection to cause traffic to move in a circuitous course;
(8) "Student transportation vehicle" means any motor vehicle other than a registered school bus used by a carrier for the transportation of students, including children requiring special education; and
(9) "Vehicle" is synonymous with "motor vehicle".
(1949 Rev., S. 2488; February, 1965, P.A. 448, S. 16; P.A. 84-429, S. 38; P.A. 90-112, S. 3, 14; 90-263, S. 50, 74; P.A. 94-189, S. 31, 34.)
History: 1965 act deleted provisions excepting rail or track vehicles and including all motor vehicle statutory definitions by reference and added "motor vehicle"; P.A. 84-429 substantially revised section, dividing section into Subsecs., applying definitions in Sec. 14-1 to terms added in Subdiv. (1) and added definitions in Subdivs. (2), (3), (5) and (6); P.A. 90-112 added definitions of "carrier" in Subdiv. (2) and "student transportation vehicle" in Subdiv. (8), renumbering remaining Subdivs. accordingly; P.A. 90-263 amended Subdiv. (1) to delete from list of terms "commercial motor vehicle" and "public service motor vehicle"; P.A. 94-189 redefined "carrier", effective July 1, 1994.
Cited. 9 CA 686, 714, 715.
Subdiv. (1):
Cited. 9 CA 686, 714.
Subdiv. (5):
Term "open to public use" discussed. Judgment of appellate court in 11 CA 644 revised. 207 C. 612, 614—618.
"Open to public use" discussed. 11 CA 644—646, 648, but see 207 C. 612, 614—618. Cited. 17 CA 100—102.
Subdiv. (6):
Cited. 45 CA 225.

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(a) The Superior Court shall impose an additional fee equivalent to one hundred per cent of the fine established or imposed for the violation of the provisions of section 14-213, 14-213b, 14-214, 14-215, 14-216, 14-218a, 14-219, 14-220, 14-221, 14-222, 14-222a, 14-223, 14-224, 14-225, 14-227a, 14-230, 14-230a, 14-231, 14-232, 14-233, 14-235, 14-236, 14-237, 14-238, 14-238a, 14-239, 14-240, 14-240a, 14-241, 14-242, 14-243, 14-244, 14-245, 14-246a, 14-247, 14-247a, 14-248a, 14-249, 14-250, 14-250a, 14-257, 14-261, 14-266, 14-271, 14-273, 14-279, 14-281a, subsection (e) or (g) of section 14-283, section 14-289a or 14-289b for any such violation committed while construction work is ongoing within a highway construction zone designated in a conspicuous manner by the Department of Transportation or while utility work is ongoing within a utility work zone designated in a conspicuous manner by a public service company, as defined in section 16-1, or by a water company, as defined in section 25-32a.
(b) (1) The Department of Transportation shall post a sign at the beginning of a highway construction zone which shall read as follows: "ROAD WORK AHEAD FINES DOUBLED", and at the end of such zone which shall read as follows: "END ROAD WORK".
(2) A public service company or water company shall post a sign at the beginning of a utility work zone which shall read as follows: "UTILITY WORK AHEAD FINES DOUBLED", and at the end of such zone which shall read as follows: "END UTILITY WORK".
(c) The state or any agency or employee of the state shall not be civilly liable for any injuries or damages to any person or property which may result, either directly or indirectly, from failure on the part of the Department of Transportation to post any sign required under subsection (b) of this section.
(P.A. 95-181, S. 1; P.A. 98-196, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 98-196 added utility work zones to areas where additional fines are imposed (Revisor's note: The Revisors reformatted Subsec. (b) to match the format of Sec. 14-212b(d) and in so doing inserted a comma following "ROAD WORK AHEAD FINES DOUBLED" and "UTILITY WORK AHEAD FINES DOUBLED").

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(a) As used in this section, "local highway" means a highway that is under the control of a town, city or borough; and "local traffic authority" means the traffic authority of a town, city or borough.
(b) (1) At the request of the legislative body of a town, city or borough, the State Traffic Commission may designate as a school zone any part of a state highway that is adjacent to school property or is, in the opinion of the commission, sufficiently close to school property as to constitute a risk to the public safety under all the circumstances. At the request of such legislative body, the commission may revoke any such designation. (2) A local traffic authority may designate as a school zone, and may revoke any such designation, any part of a local highway that is adjacent to school property or is, in the opinion of the local traffic authority, sufficiently close to school property as to constitute a risk to the public safety under all the circumstances.
(c) The Superior Court shall impose an additional fee equivalent to one hundred per cent of the fine established or imposed for the violation of the provisions of section 14-218a or 14-219, for any such violation committed in a school zone designated in a conspicuous manner by the State Traffic Commission or local traffic authority.
(d) The State Traffic Commission with regard to a state highway or the local traffic authority with regard to a local highway shall post a sign approved by said commission (1) at the beginning of a school zone in each direction that traffic is permitted to flow which shall read as follows: "SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD FINES DOUBLED", and (2) at the end of such zone in each direction that traffic is permitted to flow which shall read as follows: "END SCHOOL ZONE".
(P.A. 98-252, S. 64.)

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A surcharge shall be imposed equivalent to one hundred per cent of the fine established or imposed for a violation of subsection (e) of section 14-242, section 14-245, 14-246a, 14-247 or 14-247a for such violation when the driver of a vehicle fails to grant or yield the right-of-way to a person riding a bicycle, as defined in section 14-286.
(P.A. 98-165, S. 1.)

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Each operator of a motor vehicle shall carry his operator's license while operating such vehicle. Failure to carry such operator's license as required by the provisions of this section shall be an infraction.
(1949 Rev., S. 2416; P.A. 75-577, S. 65, 126.)
History: P.A. 75-577 replaced three-dollar fine provision with statement that violation deemed an infraction.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
Failure to carry his license does not make an operator "an unlicensed person." 93 C. 457.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 23 CA 50, 52.

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Sec. 14-213a. Operation of private passenger motor vehicle when insurance coverage does not meet minimum no-fault security requirements. Penalty. Section 14-213a is repealed.
(P.A. 79-577, S. 5, 8; P.A. 80-483, S. 63, 186; P.A. 81-217, S. 7.)

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Sec. 14-213b. Operation prohibited when insurance coverage fails to meet minimum requirements. Penalty. Evidence of insurance coverage required to restore suspended license. (a) No owner of any private passenger motor vehicle or a vehicle with a combination or commercial registration, as defined in section 14-1, registered or required to be registered in this state may operate or permit the operation of such vehicle without the security required by section 38a-371 or with security insufficient to meet the minimum requirements of said section. Failure of the operator to produce an insurance identification card as required by section 14-217 shall constitute prima facie evidence that the owner has not maintained the security required by section 38a-371 and this section.
(b) Any person convicted of violating any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.
(c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the registration, and the operator's license, if any, of an owner, for a first conviction of violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this section for a period of one month and for a second or subsequent conviction for a period of six months. No new registration shall be issued or restored for any private passenger motor vehicle or a vehicle with a combination or commercial registration, as defined in section 14-1, the registration for which has been suspended pursuant to this subsection until the owner has filed proof of financial responsibility in accordance with section 14-112. Any financial responsibility filing shall be maintained for a period of three years unless waived by the commissioner after one year has elapsed, or unless such registration for such motor vehicle has been cancelled or the commissioner is satisfied that a transfer of the private passenger motor vehicle has been made in good faith and not for the purpose of or with the effect of circumventing the intention of sections 14-12b and 14-12c. No operator's license which has been suspended pursuant to this subsection shall be restored until the owner has provided evidence to the commissioner that he maintains the security required by section 38a-371 for each motor vehicle registered in his name.
(P.A. 81-217, S. 5; P.A. 94-243, S. 3; P.A. 97-226, S. 2.)
History: (Revisor's note: In 1993 an obsolete reference to Subsec. (c) of Sec. 14-117 was deleted editorially by the Revisors since Sec. 14-117 is repealed and a reference in Subsec. (c) to "sections 14-12b to 14-12e, inclusive," was changed editorially by the Revisors to "sections 14-12b and 14-12c" to reflect the repeal of sections 14-12d and 14-12e by P.A. 93- 298, S. 10); P.A. 94-243 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to apply to vehicles with commercial registrations; P.A. 97-226 amended (1) Subsecs. (a) and (c) to apply provisions to vehicles with combination registrations and to eliminate reference to "subdivision (12) of" before Sec. 14-1, (2) Subsec. (a) to apply to vehicles required to be registered and (3) Subsec. (c) to prohibit restoration of an operator's license which has been suspended pursuant to Subsec. until owner provides evidence of insurance coverage.
See Sec. 14-12f re exempt vehicles.
Cited. 11 CA 122, 124.

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Any licensed operator, being twenty years of age or older and having had an operator's license to operate a motor vehicle of the same class as the motor vehicle being operated for at least four years preceding the date of such instruction, may instruct a person sixteen or seventeen years of age who holds a learner's permit issued in accordance with subsection (c) of section 14-36, or a person who is eighteen years of age or older, in the operation of a motor vehicle. Any person so instructing another in the use of any motor vehicle shall be responsible for the operation thereof. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(1949 Rev., S. 2421; 1969, P.A. 55, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 20; P.A. 75-577, S. 66, 126; P.A. 96-248, S. 3, 4; P.A. 97- 1, S. 3, 4.)
History: 1969 act required instructor to be twenty-one and to have had license in class of vehicle for which instruction is being given for two years, added exception re motorcycles and raised fine from ten to fifty dollars; 1972 act dropped age requirement to eighteen, reflecting change in age of majority; P.A. 75-577 replaced fine provision with statement that violation deemed to be infraction; P.A. 96-248 raised minimum age for instructor from eighteen to twenty and required holding license in class of vehicle for which instruction is being given for minimum of four, rather than two, years, authorized instruction of persons who hold a learner's permit under Subsec. (b) of Sec. 14-36 and eliminated exception re motorcycles and requirement that instructor be "so seated as to control the operation of the motor vehicle", effective January 1, 1997; P.A. 97-1 provided that instructor may be older than twenty years of age, limited instruction of holders of learners' permits to persons sixteen and seventeen years of age, substituted reference to Subsec. (c) for (b), and authorized instruction of persons eighteen years of age or older, effective January 30, 1997.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
If owner of car allows another to drive it, but himself retains control of it, he is liable for actual driver's negligence. 119 C. 563. Cited. 175 C. 112 —115, 123—125.
Cited. 30 CS 233.

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Sec. 14-215. Operation while registration or license is refused, suspended or revoked. Penalty. (a) No person to whom an operator's license has been refused, or whose operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state has been suspended or revoked, shall operate any motor vehicle during the period of such refusal, suspension or revocation. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any motor vehicle, the registration of which has been refused, suspended or revoked, or any motor vehicle, the right to operate which has been suspended or revoked.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than ninety days or be both fined and imprisoned for the first offense, and for any subsequent offense shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than six hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned.
(c) Any person who operates any motor vehicle during the period his 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 nor 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. 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.)
History: P.A. 82-258 increased the minimum penalty for a first offense from one hundred to one hundred fifty dollars, and increased the maximum penalty for a subsequent offense from five hundred to six hundred dollars 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 five to thirty 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 thirty "consecutive" days; P.A. 97-291 amended Subsec. (c) to provide that the nonsuspendable sentence of thirty 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.
See Sec. 14-111(b), (h), (k) re suspension or revocation of driver's license.
See Sec. 14-227h re impoundment of motor vehicle in certain cases.
Cited. 159 C. 549. Cited. 209 C. 98, 124. Cited. 226 C. 191, 199. Cited. 234 C. 301, 303. Defendant's knowledge that her license has been suspended is not an essential element of the crime of operating vehicle with a suspended license. 245 C. 442.
Cited. 12 CA 338—340. Cited. 21 CA 496, 497, 500, 505. Cited. 23 CA 50, 52. Cited. 24 CA 438. Cited. 26 CA 716, 717, 719. Cited. 31 CA 797, 798, 801. Cited. 34 CA 557, 564. Cited. 36 CA 710, 711, 713. Cited. 45 CA 12. Plain meaning of section is to give state authority to prosecute any person who operates a motor vehicle outside scope of work permit while license under suspension. 53 CA 23. Legislature did not include language within section indicating that a work permit issued pursuant to Sec. 14-37a is an affirmative defense to a violation of section. Id. One whose operator's license is under suspension violates section whenever he operates a motor vehicle, regardless of whether it is operated on public or private property. 72 CA 127.
Suspension extends beyond period for which license issued. 16 CS 178. A person who manipulates the steering wheel as it is being pushed along a public highway by a second car is operating a motor vehicle within the meaning of this section. 22 CS 494. One who operates a car in this state while his right to operate remains under suspension may be convicted under this section, even though he has in the meantime moved to another state and obtained a license in that state. 23 CS 26. Cited. 24 CS 347. Arrest for violation of this statute did not justify search of car without a warrant. 25 CS 229. Cited. 36 CS 586, 587. Cited. 38 CS 384, 385, 387; Id., 472, 473. It is not obligatory for state to prove commissioner's action in suspending a license is valid where prosecution is for driving while under suspension. Time to contest validity of suspension is when it occurs. 39 CS 381—383, 385.
No conviction unless operation on public highway. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 79. Cited. Id., 520. Since a running engine means "operating" within the meaning of the statute, a turning off of the engine would be as much a part of operation. Id., 662. What constitutes a "public highway" for the purposes of a conviction under this section. Id. Cited. Id., 684; 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 110. Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 467; id., 586; 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 253; id., 408. Operation of motor vehicle during period of license suspension not violation of statute when under direct order of police official. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 424, 428, 431. Ownership of vehicle not required element of violation. Id., 431. That suspension of driver's license was not known to him as notice of suspension was mailed to his last address after he had moved therefrom was no defense in a trial for violation of this section. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 72. That defendant obtained a provisional license while his license was suspended under this section is no defense. Id. Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 161. Motorcycles are motor vehicles within the meaning of this statute and revocation of a license applies to motorcyclist's license as well as motor vehicle operator's license. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 219. Operation of motor vehicle, defined. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 639.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 216 C. 172, 174. Cited. 229 C. 824, 826, 828.
Cited. 19 CA 594, 595. Cited. 30 CA 742, 750. Cited. 31 CA 797, 798, 804—806. Cited. 36 CA 710, 715—718.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 229 C. 824, 826, 828.
Cited. 9 CA 686, 730. Cited. 21 CA 496, 506. Cited. 31 CA 797, 804—806. Cited. 36 CA 710, 713, 715—718. Cited. 45 CA 12.
Subsec. (c):
Violation of statute was a "crime" for purposes of qualifying for alcohol abuse treatment program under Secs. 17a-648 to 17a-658, inclusive. 226 C. 191—193, 195, 201—203. Cited. 227 C. 914. Cited. 229 C. 824—828. Cited. 230 C. 427, 429, 430. Work permit exception under Sec. 14-37a constitutes an affirmative defense, for which defendant bears the burden of persuasion, to a violation of this subsection. 254 C. 107.
Cited. 9 CA 686, 730. Cited. 12 CA 338, 341. Cited. 21 CA 496, 497, 505. Violation is crime within purposes of Secs. 17a-648 through 17a-658. 27 CA 225—230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 241, 244, 245, 247. Cited 31 CA 797—800, 803— 805. Cited. 32 CA 1, 2. Cited. 34 CA 557—562, 564, 567. Cited. 36 CA 710—716. Cited. 40 CA 420, 422, 423. Cited. Id., 724. Cited. 45 CA 12. Cited. Id., 722. Statute not rendered unconstitutionally vague by Sec. 14-37a. 57 CA 541.

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No person under the age of eighteen years shall operate any motor vehicle upon the highways of this state, and no person shall cause or permit such operation of any motor vehicle by any such person, unless such motor vehicle has been insured for the amounts required by section 14-112. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. This section shall not apply to any motor vehicle bearing farm registration plates.
(1949 Rev., S. 2419; 1957, P.A. 334; P.A. 76-381, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 76-381 replaced provision for hundred dollar fine and/or thirty days' imprisonment with statement that violation deemed an infraction.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
Mere fact that owner's son, admittedly under 16, was operator of car does not ipso facto establish violation by owner. 18 CS 41.

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No person who is operating or in charge of any motor vehicle, when requested by any officer in uniform, by an agent authorized by the commissioner who presents appropriate credentials or, in the event of any accident in which the car he is operating or in charge of is concerned, when requested by any other person, may refuse to give his name and address or the name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle or give a false name or address, or refuse, on demand of such officer, agent or other person, to produce his motor vehicle registration certificate, operator's license and any automobile insurance identification card for the vehicle issued pursuant to section 38a-364 or to permit such officer, agent or such other person to take the operator's license, registration certificate and any such insurance identification card in hand for the purpose of examination, or refuse, on demand of such officer, agent or such other person, to sign his name in the presence of such officer, agent or such other person. No person may refuse to surrender his license to operate motor vehicles or the certificate of registration of any motor vehicle operated or owned by him or such insurance identification card or the number plates furnished by the commissioner for such motor vehicle on demand of the commissioner or fail to produce his license when requested by a court. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(1949 Rev., S. 2406; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 77; P.A. 76-381, S. 10; P.A. 79-577, S. 7, 8; P.A. 81-172, S. 13; P.A. 93-297, S. 8, 29.)
History: 1961 act removed obsolete reference to trial justice; P.A. 76-381 deleted provision for fifty dollar fine and/or thirty days' imprisonment with statement that violation deemed an infraction; P.A. 79-577 included no-fault insurance identification cards in documents which may be required; P.A. 81-172 authorized motor vehicle agents to request the production of a license, registration and no-fault insurance identification card; P.A. 93-297 deleted term "no-fault" in description of insurance identification card, effective January 1, 1994, and applicable to acts or omissions occurring on or after said date.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
Cited. 161 C. 371. Cited. 181 C. 299, 304.
Cited. 24 CA 438, 446. Cited. 30 CA 742, 750. Cited. 45 CA 303.
Operator's license is privilege granted by state, not a right, and subject to reasonable restrictions. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 385, 389, 394. Roadblock stopping by state police is valid exercise of police power. Id.

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Section 14-218 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 2415; 1949, S. 1316d; 1971, P.A. 30.)
See Sec. 14-222a.

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(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway of the state, or road of any specially chartered municipal association or any district organized under the provisions of chapter 105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads and sidewalks, or on any parking area as defined in section 14-212, or upon a private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance with this subsection, or upon any school property, at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable, having regard to the width, traffic and use of highway, road or parking area, the intersection of streets and weather conditions. The State Traffic Commission may determine speed limits which are reasonable and safe on any state highway, bridge or parkway built or maintained by the state, and differing limits may be established for different types of vehicles, and may erect or cause to be erected signs indicating such speed limits. The traffic authority of any town, city or borough may establish speed limits on streets, highways and bridges or in any parking area for ten cars or more or on any private road wholly within the municipality under its jurisdiction; provided such limit on streets, highways, bridges and parking areas for ten cars or more shall become effective only after application for approval thereof has been submitted in writing to the State Traffic Commission and a certificate of such approval has been forwarded by the commission to the traffic authority; and provided such signs giving notice of such speed limits shall have been erected as the State Traffic Commission directs, provided the erection of such signs on any private road shall be at the expense of the owner of such road. The presence of such signs adjacent to or on the highway or parking area for ten cars or more shall be prima facie evidence that they have been so placed under the direction of and with the approval of the State Traffic Commission. Approval of such speed limits may be revoked by said commission at any time if it deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety and welfare, and thereupon such speed limits shall cease to be effective and any signs that have been erected shall be removed. Any speed in excess of such limits, other than speeding as provided for in section 14-219, shall be prima facie evidence that such speed is not reasonable, but the fact that the speed of a vehicle is lower than such limits shall not relieve the operator from the duty to decrease speed when a special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
(b) The State Traffic Commission shall establish a speed limit of sixty-five miles per hour on any multiple lane, limited access highways that are suitable for a speed limit of sixty-five miles per hour, taking into consideration relevant factors including design, population of area and traffic flow.
(c) Any person who operates a motor vehicle at a greater rate of speed than is reasonable, other than speeding, as provided for in section 14-219, shall commit the infraction of traveling unreasonably fast.
(P.A. 75-577, S. 7, 126; P.A. 77-103; 77-340, S. 4; P.A. 84-429, S. 65; P.A. 98-181, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 77-103 clarified proviso re effective date of speed limits; P.A. 77-340 replaced first reference to parking areas for ten or more cars with parking areas as defined in Sec. 14-219a and specified infraction in Subsec. (b) as infraction "of traveling unreasonably fast"; P.A. 84-429 made technical changes for statutory consistency; P.A. 98-181 added new Subsec.(b) requiring the State Traffic Commission to establish a speed limit of sixty-five miles per hour on multiple lane, limited access highways determined to be suitable for said speed limit, relettering former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c).
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Cited. 181 C. 515, 516, 519. Cited. 208 C. 94, 99. Cited. 234 C. 660, 678.
Cited. 5 CA 434. Cited. 9 CA 825. Cited. 29 CA 791, 800. Cited. 30 CA 810, 815. Cited. 33 CA 44, 47. Cited. 34 CA 189—191. Cited. 46 CA 633.
Cited. 38 CS 426, 431, 434, 435, 445. Cited. 39 CS 313, 314.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 34 CA 189, 190. Cited. 38 CA 322, 326.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 37 CA 85, 87.

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(a) No person shall operate any motor vehicle (1) upon any highway, road or any parking area for ten cars or more, at such a rate of speed as to endanger the life of any occupant of such motor vehicle, but not the life of any other person than such an occupant; or (2) at a rate of speed greater than fifty-five miles per hour upon any highway other than a highway specified in subsection (b) of section 14- 218a for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with the provisions of said subsection; or (3) at a rate of speed greater than sixty-five miles per hour upon any highway specified in subsection (b) of section 14-218a for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with the provisions of said subsection.
(b) Any person who operates a motor vehicle (1) on a multiple lane, limited access highway other than a highway specified in subsection (b) of section 14-218a for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with the provisions of said subsection at a rate of speed greater than fifty-five miles per hour but not greater than seventy miles per hour or (2) on a multiple lane, limited access highway specified in subsection (b) of section 14-218a for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with the provisions of said subsection at a rate of speed greater than sixty-five miles per hour but not greater than seventy miles per hour or (3) on any other highway at a rate of speed greater than fifty-five miles per hour but not greater than sixty miles per hour, shall commit an infraction, provided any such person operating a truck, as defined in section 14-260n, shall have committed a violation and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one hundred fifty dollars.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section or who operates a motor vehicle (1) on a multiple lane, limited access highway at a rate of speed greater than seventy miles per hour but not greater than eighty-five miles per hour or (2) on any other highway at a rate of speed greater than sixty miles per hour but not greater than eighty-five miles per hour shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one hundred fifty dollars, provided any such person operating a truck, as defined in section 14-260n, shall be fined not less than one hundred fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars.
(d) No person shall be subject to prosecution for a violation of both subsection (a) of this section and subsection (a) of section 14-222 because of the same offense.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, any person who violates subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (b) of this section while operating a truck, as defined in section 14-260n, or subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section while operating a motor vehicle or a truck, as defined in section 14-260n, shall follow the procedures set forth in section 51-164n.
(1949 Rev., S. 2407; 1961, P.A. 379, S. 2; 517, S. 15; 1963, P.A. 289; 595; February, 1965, P.A. 92; 1969, P.A. 450, S. 1, 2; 670, S. 1, 2; P.A. 73-253, S. 1; P.A. 75-577, S. 6, 126; P.A. 79-609, S. 1; P.A. 80-276, S. 1, 6; P.A. 84-372, S. 5, 9; P.A. 90-213, S. 7; P.A. 98-181, S. 2.)
History: 1961 acts amended Subsec. (a) to add parking areas for ten cars or more and deleted exception for Merritt Parkway from first sentence of Subsec. (b); 1963 acts established maximum speed limits in Subsec. (a)(2) and added roads of specially chartered municipal associations; 1965 act added district roads to Subsec. (a); 1969 acts amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to add provisions re private roads and to establish speed limits applicable to commercial vehicles; P.A. 73-253 prohibited operation of vehicle at greater than reasonable speed on school property; P.A. 75-577 deleted provisions of Subsec. (a) re operation at greater than reasonable speed, deleted Subsec. (b) re determination of speed limits and relettered former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (b); P.A. 79-609 reduced speed limit from seventy to fifty-five miles per hour with limit being generally applicable, special limit provisions were deleted; P.A. 80-276 inserted new Subsec. (b) re offenses deemed infractions and expanded Subsec. (c) re speeding offenses and replaced one hundred dollar maximum fine with one hundred dollar minimum fine and one hundred fifty dollar maximum fine; P.A. 84-372 established higher penalties for person operating a truck; P.A. 90-213 amended Subdivs. (1) and (2) of Subsec. (c) to establish a maximum speed of eighty-five miles per hour and added Subsec. (e) to require a person who violates Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a), Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (b) while operating a truck, or Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (c) while operating a motor vehicle or truck to follow the procedures set forth in Sec. 51-164n; P.A. 98-181 amended Subsec. (a) to exclude from Subdiv. (2) a highway for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with Sec. 14-218a(b) and to add Subdiv. (3) prohibiting operation at a rate of speed greater than sixty-five miles per hour on a highway for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with Sec. 14-218a(b), amended Subsec. (b) to exclude from Subdiv. (1) a highway for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with Sec. 14-218a(b) and to add Subdiv. (2) prohibiting operation on a multiple lane, limited access highway for which a speed limit has been established in accordance with Sec. 14-218a(b) at a rate of speed greater than sixty-five miles per hour but not greater than seventy miles per hour, renumbering former Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3), and amended Subsec. (e) to include a violation of Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (b) while operating a truck.
See Sec. 14-107 re liability of owner, operator or lessee of vehicle.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
See Sec. 14-219c re use of radar to support conviction.
See Sec. 14-222 re penalty for operation at rate of speed greater than eighty-five miles per hour.
The effect of exceeding former statutory speed limits. 81 C. 500; 90 C. 707; 98 C. 490; 99 C. 727; 106 C. 386. Former statute applied. 102 C. 44. Excessive speed and failure to look ahead. 105 C. 693. Duty of driver to keep reasonable lookout. 108 C. 508, 546, 560. Permissible rate of speed depends on existing conditions. 108 C. 706. Endangering life of occupant of vehicle being driven should be distinguished from endangering life of another, which is a violation of section 14-222. 124 C. 270. Where jury was cautioned that plaintiff was limited to negligence specified in complaint, it was not prejudicial to read inapplicable portion of statute. 125 C. 512. Cited. 125 C. 448; 139 C. 719; 140 C. 274. Trier to decide whether the speed was actually unreasonable under all the circumstances. 146 C. 470. If plaintiff's speed was unreasonable, it cannot be said that as a matter of law, under the circumstances of the case, the excess speed was a proximate cause of the collision. Id. Violation constitutes negligence per se. 147 C. 644. Cited. 148 C. 456. Prima facie evidence discussed. 148 C. 481. Cited. 149 C. 385. Court may take judicial notice that radar is an accurate speed-measuring principle. 153 C. 365, 371. Cited. 154 C. 100, 102. Cited. 170 C. 495, 509. Cited. 202 C. 629, 638. Cited. 208 C. 94, 99. Cited. 209 C. 98, 124.
Cited. 27 CA 346, 348. Cited. 29 CA 791, 800.
Right of Merritt Parkway Commission to fix speed limits under former statute discussed. 7 CS 165. Cited. 16 CS 398. Prima facie presumption that driving at rate of speed exceeding posted speed limit is not reasonable. Proof of favorable conditions is effective neither to rebut, as a matter of law, state's prima facie case nor to constitute, as a matter of law, a defense to a prosecution under this section. 22 CS 464. Cited. 23 CS 303, 342. Passing at speed in excess of posted speed limit and returning to right-hand lane are among circumstances for trier to consider in determining reasonableness of speed. 23 CS 437. Court may take judicial notice of regulations of state traffic commission. Id. Radar can show speed, and it is for the trier to believe or disbelieve testimony with regard to the accuracy of the radar. 24 CS 13. Cited. 24 CS 91, 124, 160, 167, 345. Plea of guilty and absence of affidavit of explanation can result in inference that speeding was proximate cause of accident. 25 CS 380. Cited. 26 CS 513. Officer's testimony that speedometer had recently been tested satisfies requirement in speeding prosecutions of some showing of instrument's accuracy prior to admissibility. 37 CS 601, 602. Cited. 39 CS 313, 318.
Speed recorded on radar unit admissible in evidence if accuracy of unit is established and car identified. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 68. Defendant has right, prior to trial, to inspect radar equipment. Id., 369. Not abuse of discretion to refuse postponement of trial when request made during trial. Id. Speeding violation may be established by circumstantial evidence. Id., 439. Where facts conflict with witnesses' estimates of speed, the facts control. Id. It is for the trier to decide under all the circumstances, some of which may be favorable to the driver, whether the speed was greater than was reasonable at the time. Id., 644. Testimony of state trooper as to speed of defendant's vehicle during "clocking" period is admissible although no foundation has been laid to establish accuracy of device by which trooper reached his conclusion. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 566, 568. Speedometer reading is only prima facie evidence. Trier of facts shall determine its credibility. Id. Operation of police radar requires no technical knowledge of radar science. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 575, 577. Individual graphic record containing alleged speed of defendant is admissible without producing graphic record covering entire period of operation. Id. Prima facie evidence of defendant's speed of seventy miles an hour as unreasonable is rebuttable but casts on defendant burden of going forward with the evidence his speed was reasonable under the conditions. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 93. Court will judicially notice that radar instrument measures speed accurately. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 109. Expressed intent of legislature was to distinguish between the types of highways described in statute. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 374. Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 461 (fn); 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 499 (fn). It is not double jeopardy to prosecute offender for two successive speeding offenses in different towns in same hour of one day. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 102. This statute does not go much beyond the common law rule and the jury must decide whether defendant's speed was negligent under the circumstances. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 671. Where there was no evidence of the testing of the speedometer of the state trooper within a reasonable time before the clocking of the defendant's car, evidence of the clocked speed was inadmissible. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 190. Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 333. Defense of entrapment must establish the criminal design arose solely in the mind of the police. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 379. In a trial for violation of this section, the court may not direct the jury to find a verdict of guilty even where there was a stipulation of all facts. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 223. Failure of officer issuing summons to defendant to correctly identify him in court or trial did not affect the establishment of the identity of the driver where defendant had entered a general appearance and appeared for trial. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 697. Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 618. No clocked measurements are necessary to establish prima facie evidence of speed in excess of the maximum limits. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 334. Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 161, 162, id., 560, 599.
Subsec. (a):
Each of the two sentences in this subsection states a separate interdict. 144 C. 399. Violation of this subsection would be negligence per se. 165 C. 635. Subdiv. (1) cited. 176 C. 451, 452, 457, 458.
Cited. 34 CA 201, 203.
Subdiv. (2) cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 580; 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 516. In crime of speeding which is malum prohibitum the intent to do the prohibited act is only intent necessary for conviction and motive of defendant is of no consequence. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 573.
Subsec. (b):
Degree of excess speed over posted limit is factor to be considered by trier in determining whether, under all circumstances, a motor vehicle has been operated at greater than reasonable speed. 144 C. 399. Violation of posted speed limit not negligence per se. 165 C. 635, 639.
History discussed; state traffic commission has authority to post speed limits on Merritt Parkway and it is proper to admit evidence of posted speed. 23 CS 468.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 14 CA 816. Cited. 17 CA 416, 417. Cited. 19 CA 432, 433. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 432, 434.
Cited. 34 CA 201, 203. Cited. 46 CA 633.
Cited. 41 CS 356, 357.

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Section 14-219a is repealed.
(1961, P.A. 379, S. 1; P.A. 77-340, S. 5; P.A. 84-429, S. 78.)
See Sec. 14-212 for definition of "parking area".

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Nothing in section 14-218a, subsection (a) of section 14-222 or subsection (a) of section 14-227a shall be construed to impose any liability upon any municipality as a result of its establishing a speed limit upon any private road within its jurisdiction as provided by section 14-218a.
(1969, P.A. 450, S. 5; P.A. 77-340, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 77-340 replaced references to Sec. 14-219 with references to Sec. 14-218a.

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A prima facie presumption of accuracy sufficient to support a conviction under section 14-219 will be accorded to a radar, speed monitoring laser, vascar device or any other speed monitoring device approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety only upon testimony by a competent police officer that: (1) The police officer operating the radar, laser, vascar device or other device has adequate training and experience in its operation; (2) the radar, laser, vascar device or other device was in proper working condition at the time of the arrest, established by proof that suggested methods of testing the proper functioning of the device were followed; (3) the radar, laser, vascar device or other device was used in an area where road conditions provide a minimum possibility of distortion; (4) if moving radar was used, the speed of the patrol car was verified; and (5) the radar, laser, vascar device or other device was expertly tested within a reasonable time following the arrest, and such testing was done by means which do not rely on the internal calibrations of such radar, laser, vascar device or other device.
(P.A. 79-609, S. 3; P.A. 92-141, S. 2, 3; P.A. 94-189, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 92-141 added references to lasers, vascar devices or other speed monitoring devices approved by the commissioner of public safety; P.A. 94-189 amended Subdiv. (4), eliminating the reference to "laser, vascar device or other device" since only when moving radar is used is the speed of the patrol car a factor.
Statute does not set out a test for admissibility of laser readings; purpose of statute is to provide a presumption of accuracy for laser readings when state satisfies the five conditions contained in the statute. 70 CA 223.
Statute refers to the accuracy of radar readings and does not purport to create any prima facie presumptions with respect to the accuracy of a patrol car's speedometer. 37 CS 601, 603. Court held to be reasonable in time test for accuracy conducted three weeks after the arrest. 39 CS 313, 318.

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(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed lower than forty miles per hour on any limited access divided highway and no person shall operate a motor vehicle on any other highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except, in either case, when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in an emergency, or in compliance with the law or the direction of an officer. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) maintenance vehicles or equipment of the state or any municipal highway department, or to such vehicles or equipment of a contractor under contract with any such department while engaged in maintenance operations; (2) any motor vehicle with a commercial registration which while traveling on any limited access divided highway is unable to maintain the minimum speed limit of forty miles per hour due to the gradient, or to any such vehicle which while traveling on any other highway is being driven at such a slow speed as to obstruct or endanger following traffic, provided the operator thereof employs flashing lights on such motor vehicle.
(b) The operator of any motor vehicle having a gross weight of more than twenty- five thousand pounds shall also employ flashing lights when the vehicle is traveling on a limited access divided highway and maintaining a speed higher than forty miles per hour but lower than the speed of the traffic on the highway due to the gradient.
(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(1957, P.A. 136; 1967, P.A. 875; 1971, P.A. 618, S. 1; P.A. 75-577, S. 68, 126; P.A. 84-278; P.A. 90-263, S. 66, 74.)
History: 1967 act set minimum speed of forty on limited access divided highways; 1971 act excluded from provisions commercial vehicles unable to maintain speed on grades and vehicles using flashing lights; P.A. 75-577 added statement that violation of provisions is an infraction; P.A. 84-278 divided section into Subsecs. and added new language in Subsec. (b), requiring operators of certain commercial motor vehicles to use flashing lights while traveling faster than forty miles per hour but slower than the speed of traffic due to the gradient; P.A. 90-263 amended Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (a) to substitute phrase "motor vehicle with a commercial registration" for "commercial motor vehicle" and to delete other references to "commercial" motor vehicle.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.
Requirement that there be a written request to charge on legal principle involved in a statute (Practice Book, section 250) is especially applicable to this section. 154 C. 381, 386.
Cited. 30 CA 742, 749.

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No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle which travels at a normal rate of speed of not more than fifteen miles per hour, when transporting persons for hire or when transporting three or more persons for pleasure purposes, whether or not for hire, unless he has obtained a permit from the traffic authority of each city, town and borough in which the vehicle is to be operated. Such permit shall include reasonable restrictions and may require the temporary installation and use of such additional lighting equipment as such traffic authority deems to be essential for the safety of the persons being transported from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise or whenever smoke or weather conditions render it impossible to see at least two hundred feet ahead of such vehicle. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(1953, S. 1379d; P.A. 75-577, S. 69, 126; P.A. 85-174, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 75-577 added statement that violation of provisions is an infraction; P.A. 85-174 eliminated the limitation on the permit to one round trip per day and provided that the permit shall include reasonable restrictions.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.

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(a) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public highway of the state, or any road of any specially chartered municipal association or of any district organized under the provisions of chapter 105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads and sidewalks, or in any parking area for ten cars or more or upon any private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance with the provisions of section 14-218a or upon any school property recklessly, having regard to the width, traffic and use of such highway, road, school property or parking area, the intersection of streets and the weather conditions. The operation of a motor vehicle upon any such highway, road or parking area for ten cars or more at such a rate of speed as to endanger the life of any person other than the operator of such motor vehicle, or the operation, downgrade, upon any highway, of any motor vehicle with a commercial registration with the clutch or gears disengaged, or the operation knowingly of a motor vehicle with defective mechanism, shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section. The operation of a motor vehicle upon any such highway, road or parking area for ten cars or more at a rate of speed greater than eighty-five miles per hour shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section.
(b) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or be both fined and imprisoned for the first offense and for each subsequent offense shall be fined not more than six hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned.
(1949 Rev., S. 2408; 1961, P.A. 379, S. 3; 1963, P.A. 290; February, 1965, P.A. 224; 1969, P.A. 450, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 31; P.A. 73-253, S. 2; P.A. 77-340, S. 7; P.A. 81-268, S. 1; P.A. 90-213, S. 8; 90-263, S. 67, 74.)
History: 1961 act amended Subsec. (a) to include parking areas for ten or more cars; 1963 act amended Subsec. (a) to include roads of specially chartered municipal associations; 1965 act added district roads to Subsec. (a); 1969 act prohibited operating vehicle recklessly on private roads with established speed limits; 1971 act replaced "occupant" with "operator" in Subsec. (a) provision re endangerment; P.A. 73-253 prohibited operating vehicle recklessly on school property; P.A. 77-340 replaced reference to Sec. 14-219 in Subsec. (a) with reference to Sec. 14-218a; P.A. 81-268 amended Subsec. (b) by establishing a minimum fine of one hundred dollars and increasing the maximum fine from one hundred to three hundred dollars for first offenses, and increasing the maximum fine for subsequent offenses from two hundred to six hundred dollars; P.A. 90-213 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision that operation of a motor vehicle at a rate of speed greater than eighty-five miles per hour constitutes a violation of the section; P.A. 90-263 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute phrase "motor vehicle with a commercial registration" for "commercial motor vehicle".
See Sec. 14-107 re liability of owner, operator or lessee of vehicle.
See Sec. 14-111(b), (k) re suspension or revocation of operator's license.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
See Sec. 14-112(a) re proof of financial responsibility.
See Sec. 14-219b re limitation of municipal liability.
Criminal homicide by reckless driving. 82 C. 671; 83 C. 437; 108 C. 212. Former statute applied. 93 C. 254. Driving down icy hill in high gear. 105 C. 669. Violation does not entitle injured person to recover treble damages. 93 C. 249. Doing any act prohibited by motor vehicle laws is negligence of itself, and is actionable when proximate cause of injury. 98 C. 495; 99 C. 727. Reckless driving does not lie in speed alone, but in that and other circumstances which together show reckless disregard of consequences. 108 C. 214. Operating recklessly is operating without regard for safety of others. 123 C. 212. Negligence as a prerequisite for finding statute was violated. 117 C. 616, 617. Contributory negligence, while not a defense to action for reckless misconduct, is a defense to action for negligence consisting in part of violation of this statute. 116 C. 475; 123 C. 211, 212. Cited. 119 C. 314. Where complaint had no allegation of reckless driving, court properly omitted reading portion of statute referring to it. 123 C. 177. Where jury was cautioned that plaintiff was limited to negligence specified in complaint, it was not prejudicial to read inapplicable portion of statute. 125 C. 512. If speed in passing vehicle was not such as to endanger any of its occupants, it did not constitute reckless driving. 124 C. 270. Violation of this statute not necessarily established by fact only that defendant was driving under influence of liquor; or only that car was going at high rate of speed. 132 C. 227. Excessive speed passing trolley car may be reckless driving. 132 C. 248. Cited. 139 C. 719; 149 C. 385. The allegations of plaintiff's complaint that defendant was negligent because of actions including violations of this statute were not sufficient to permit recovery upon the ground of reckless and wanton misconduct by the defendant. 159 C. 91. Cited. 162 C. 565. Plaintiff's waiver of representation by counsel at hearing where his license was suspended for contributing to accidental death precludes later claim of denial of procedural due process. 168 C. 94. Police officer's failure to enforce this statute discussed. 187 C. 147, 148, 149, 152, 154, 162 (Diss. Op.). Cited. 202 C. 629, 638. Cited. 203 C. 305, 315. Cited. 208 C. 94, 99. Cited. 226 C. 191, 195. Cited. 230 C. 427, 428. Cited. 240 C. 489.
Cited. 9 CA 686, 730. Cited. 12 CA 306—308. Cited. 14 CA 347, 348, 355. Cited. 27 CA 225, 227, 238. Cited. Id., 377, 379. Cited. 32 CA 1, 2. Cited. 33 CA 49, 50. Cited. 36 CA 710, 714. Cited. 38 CA 8, 10; judgment reversed, see 236 C. 18 et seq. Cited. Id., 85, 86. Cited. 41 CA 664, 668. Evidence is sufficient to prove defendant operated motor vehicle recklessly or at such a rate of speed as to endanger the life of another when state proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that defendant ignored posted warning signs, drove well in excess of the posted speed limit and operated vehicle in such a reckless manner as to endanger the lives of the passengers. 51 CA 463.
Operating recklessly within the meaning of this section requires a conscious choice of action either with knowledge of the serious danger to others involved in it or with knowledge of facts which would disclose this danger to a reasonable man. There must be something more than a failure to use reasonable care, something more than gross negligence. 22 CS 391. Neither speed nor driving under the influence of liquor would alone be sufficient for a conviction for reckless driving, but such circumstances in conjunction with other circumstances can be taken into consideration in determining whether a defendant showed a reckless disregard of consequences. 22 CS 400. Nature of reckless misconduct discussed. 24 CS 108. Cited. 24 CS 156, 157; 26 CS 184. The misconduct of the plaintiff was simple negligence and not the exacerbated type which is reckless misconduct. 31 CS 325. Cited. 37 CS 661, 662. Cited. 38 CS 549.
Evidence of injuries received in auto accident relevant in proving offense. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 446. Reckless driving does not lie in speed alone but in speed and other circumstances which, together, show a reckless disregard of circumstances. Id., 501, 502. Cited. Id., 634. To establish violation of first sentence of statute reckless or wanton misconduct must be shown. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 25. Guilt might be established under second sentence of statute by evidence which would prove only that life was endangered. Id., 26, 27. Where only evidence relative to defendant's operational conduct is an estimate of his speed at a point 600 feet before accident occurred, evidence held insufficient to warrant conclusion of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id., 28. Cited. Id., 294, 295. Presumption raised by section 14-107 that proof of registration number of motor vehicle shall be prima facie evidence that owner was operator thereof is not violative of due process since there is a rational and reasonable connection between the facts proved and the ultimate fact presumed. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 462, 463. Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 380; 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 499 (fn); id., 541. Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 298.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 198 C. 43, 45. Cited. 236 C. 18, 20.
Cited. 38 CA 85, 86. Cited. 40 CA 643, 645.
Defendant who, following another car, bumped it from the rear more than once could reasonably be found guilty of reckless driving under this section. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 509, 510.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 9 CA 686, 730.

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Any person who, in consequence of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle, causes the death of another person shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both.
(P.A. 81-26, S. 1.)
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Cited. 202 C. 629, 638, 639. Cited. 222 C. 444, 449. Cited. 226 C. 191, 198.
Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle is a lesser included offense of misconduct with a motor vehicle (Sec. 53a- 57). 9 CA 686—689, 694, 695, 697, 698, 711, 712, 714, 716, 724, 726, 729, 731. Cited. 11 CA 122, 133, 134. Cited. Id., 473, 476. Cited. 22 CA 108, 111. Cited. 27 CA 225, 233. Cited. 28 CA 283, 284. Cited. 38 CA 322, 324.

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(a) Whenever the operator of any motor vehicle fails promptly to bring his motor vehicle to a full stop upon the signal of any officer in uniform or prominently displaying the badge of his office, or disobeys the direction of such officer with relation to the operation of his motor vehicle, he shall be deemed to have committed an infraction and be fined thirty-five dollars for a first offense and shall be fined not less than thirty-five dollars nor more than fifty dollars for any subsequent offense.
(b) No person operating a motor vehicle, when signalled to stop by an officer in a police vehicle using an audible signal device or flashing or revolving lights, shall increase the speed of the motor vehicle in an attempt to escape or elude such police officer. Any person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, except that, if such violation causes the death or serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, of another person, such person shall be guilty of a class D felony, and shall have such person's motor vehicle operator's license suspended for one year for the first offense, except that the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, after a hearing, as provided for in subsection (k) of section 14-111, and upon a showing of compelling mitigating circumstances, reinstate such person's license before the expiration of such one-year period. For any subsequent offense such person shall be guilty of a class D felony, except that if any prior offense by such person under this subsection caused, and such subsequent offense causes, the death or serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, of another person, such person shall be guilty of a class D felony for which one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and shall have such person's motor vehicle operator's license suspended for not less than eighteen months nor more than two years, except that said commissioner may, after a hearing, as provided for in subsection (k) of section 14-111, and upon a showing of compelling mitigating circumstances, reinstate such person's license before such period.
(1949 Rev., S. 2409; P.A. 78-372, S. 3, 7; P.A. 82-189; 82-223, S. 15; P.A. 83-577, S. 21; P.A. 96-99; P.A. 99-171, S. 4, 5.)
History: P.A. 78-372 added Subsec. (b) re attempts to elude police vehicles; P.A. 82-189 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting the reference to intentional disregard and endangerment and increasing the minimum penalties from a minimum fine of one to five hundred dollars and a minimum license suspension from two months to one year for a first offense and a minimum fine from five hundred to one thousand dollars and a minimum license suspension from six to eighteen months for a subsequent offense; P.A. 82-223 amended Subsec. (a) by specifying that the commission of a first offense constituted an infraction, changing the fine from not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars to twenty-five dollars for a first offense, and increasing the minimum fine for a subsequent offense from ten to twenty-five dollars; P.A. 83-577 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing the fine for a first offense from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars and the minimum fine for a subsequent offense from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars; P.A. 96-99 amended Subsec. (b) by increasing the maximum fine from one thousand to two thousand dollars and establishing a term of imprisonment of not more than one year for a first offense and by establishing a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five years for a subsequent offense; P.A. 99-171 amended Subsec. (b) by making a violation of this section a class A misdemeanor and deleting specific fine limits and prison terms, by increasing the penalty for violation of this section when such violation causes death or serious injury, by providing for an additional penalty when there is more than one violation of this section causing death or serious injury, and by making technical changes, effective January 1, 2000.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 385.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 202 C. 629, 631. Cited. 222 C. 444, 448.
Cited. 33 CA 49, 50. Cited. 40 CA 762—764, 767.

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Sec. 14-224. Evasion of responsibility in operation of motor vehicles. Racing. Required removal of motor vehicle from traveled portion of highway. (a) Each person operating a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident which causes serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, to or results in the death of any other person shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed and shall give his name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or to any officer or witness to the death or serious physical injury of any person, and if such operator of the motor vehicle causing the death or serious physical injury of any person is unable to give his name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or to any witness or officer, for any reason or cause, such operator shall immediately report such death or serious physical injury of any person to a police officer, a constable, a state police officer or an inspector of motor vehicles or at the nearest police precinct or station, and shall state in such report the location and circumstances of the accident causing the death or serious physical injury of any person and his name, address, operator's license number and registration number.
(b) Each person operating a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident which causes physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, to any other person or injury or damage to property shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be needed and shall give his name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or to the owner of the injured or damaged property, or to any officer or witness to the physical injury to person or injury or damage to property, and if such operator of the motor vehicle causing the physical injury of any person or injury or damage to any property is unable to give his name, address and operator's license number and registration number to the person injured or the owner of the property injured or damaged, or to any witness or officer, for any reason or cause, such operator shall immediately report such physical injury of any person or injury or damage to property to a police officer, a constable, a state police officer or an inspector of motor vehicles or at the nearest police precinct or station, and shall state in such report the location and circumstances of the accident causing the physical injury of any person or the injury or damage to property and his name, address, operator's license number and registration number.
(c) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway for a wager or for any race or for the purpose of making a speed record.
(d) Each person operating a motor vehicle who is knowingly involved in an accident on a limited access highway which causes damage to property only shall immediately move or cause his motor vehicle to be moved from the traveled portion of the highway to an untraveled area which is adjacent to the accident site if it is possible to move the motor vehicle without risk of further damage to property or injury to any person.
(e) No person who acts in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section may be considered to have violated subsection (b) of this section.
(f) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or be imprisoned not less than one year nor more than ten years or be both fined and imprisoned.
(g) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars nor more than six hundred dollars or be imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned, and for any subsequent offense shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned.
(1949 Rev., S. 2410; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 8; P.A. 81-268, S. 2; P.A. 82-472, S. 45, 183; P.A. 83-135; 83-534, S. 10; P.A. 94-188, S. 9; P.A. 97-291, S. 3, 5.)
History: P.A. 81-268 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing the minimum fine from fifty to seventy-five dollars and the maximum fine from one hundred to two hundred dollars for first offenses, and increasing the maximum fine for subsequent offenses from two hundred to six hundred dollars; P.A. 82-472 made a technical correction; P.A. 83-135 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing the maximum fine from two hundred to six hundred dollars for a first offense and from six hundred to one thousand dollars for a subsequent offense; P.A. 83-534 inserted new Subsecs. (a) and (d) re evading responsibility in an accident causing serious physical injury or death and the penalty therefor, redesignated the former Subsecs. and limited the former provisions re evading responsibility to accidents causing "physical injury as defined in section 53a-3" or injury or damage to property; P.A. 94-188 inserted new Subsecs. (d) and (e) re removal of vehicle from traveled portion of highway and redesignated the former Subsecs. (d) and (e) as (f) and (g); P.A. 97-291 amended Subsec. (f) to increase the maximum fine from five to ten thousand dollars and the maximum term of imprisonment from five to ten years.
See Secs. 14-107 re liability of owner, operator or lessee of vehicle.
See Sec. 14-111(b), (h), (k) re suspension or revocation of operator's license.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
See Sec. 14-112(a) re proof of financial responsibility.
See Sec. 14-226 re required reporting of injury to dog.
Failure to stop and assist is not actionable negligence. 123 C. 609. Cited. 136 C. 264; 145 C. 709. Cited. 203 C. 305, 315. Cited. 219 C. 371, 380. Cited. 227 C. 534, 543. Cited. 240 C. 639.
Cited. 13 CA 638, 639. Cited. 26 CA 145, 146, 148. Cited. 36 CA 710, 714. Cited. 38 CA 685, 706, 708. Cited. 42 CA 460.
Charge of evading responsibility dismissed where it could not be ascertained whether pedestrian was dead or alive at time of impact. 18 CS 367. To be convicted defendant must have been knowingly involved in an accident, and accident must have involved injury to some person other than defendant or damage to property other than his. 22 CS 317. Cited. 22 CS 361, 386. Only intention necessary for violation of this section is the doing of the acts prohibited. 23 CS 284. Cited. 23 CS 413, 421. An error in judgment or lack of intention is not an excuse for failure to follow the directives of the statute. 24 CS 374. Cited. 24 CS 397. Cited. 32 CS 650.
Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 19 et seq. Even with no communication between the parties, circumstances can indicate a competitive trial of speed where a conviction of racing will lie. Id., 75. If operator knew there was an accident, it is immaterial that he believed no damage resulted. Id., 236. Cited. Id., 503; 588. An error in judgment or lack of intention is not an excuse for failure to follow the directives and mandates of the statute. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 101. Where defendant who was involved in automobile accident stopped his car but failed to give the required information it was not error to find him guilty of evading responsibility and whether he was at fault is irrelevant. Id. Cited. Id., 229. Knowledge of damage caused by accident is not an element within terms of the statute. It is enough for state to prove defendant was knowingly involved in the accident and the accident caused damage to person or property of another. Id., 304, 305. To comply with this statute defendant must, after the accident, render such assistance as is needed and give his operator's license and registration numbers, as well as his name and address, to the other driver. Id., 305, 306. Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 353; id., 461 (fn 1); 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 408. History of statute reviewed; intent is to punish evasion of responsibility whether accident occurs on private property or public highway. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 495. Statute applied where accident occurred in service station. Id. Defendant's admission he struck a living object he thought to be a dog and had not stopped established his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in absence of other evidence. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 316. When violation of this section occurred, section 14- 107 made proof of registration in defendant's name of car involved prima facie evidence that he was operator and trial court could conclude defendant's unsupported alibi did not rebut presumption statute created. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 561. Slight damage to plaintiff's car was sufficient where the elements also existed to sustain defendant's conviction for evading responsibility. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 6. Defendant properly arrested in another precinct two hours after violation of this section where local officer acted on speedy information of two witnesses. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 55.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 222 C. 672, 675. Cited. 240 C. 639.
Cited. 12 CA 294, 295. Cited. 22 CA 142, 144. Cited. 26 CA 145, 146, 149. Cited. 42 CA 460. Cited. 45 CA 303.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 154 C. 23, 26. Cited. 176 C. 451, 459. Cited. 224 C. 911. Court concluded that to establish a violation of the statute the state is not required to prove the defendant knew that the accident in which he was involved caused injury or damage to property. 227 C. 534—536, 541—545. Cited. 234 C. 301, 303.
Cited. 28 CA 708, 709, 715, 717. Cited. 45 CA 303.
Although a race involves a trial of speed, a person can be found guilty of racing but not guilty of speeding. 24 CS 59. Total strangers can race on the spur of the moment. Id.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 38 CA 685, 686.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 222 C. 672, 675.
Cited. 9 CA 686, 730. Cited. 26 CA 145, 146.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 9 CA 686, 730.
Subsec. (f):
Cited. 240 C. 639.

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Any person riding on, propelling, driving or directing any vehicle, except a motor vehicle, on a public street or highway or on any parking area for ten cars or more or on any school property, who has knowledge of having caused injury to the person or property of another and neglects, at the time of the injury, to stop and ascertain the extent of the injury and to render assistance, or refuses to give his name and address, or gives a false name or address when the same is asked for by the person injured or by any other person in his behalf or by a police officer, motor vehicle inspector or constable, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 2493; 1971, P.A. 356; P.A. 73-253, S. 3; P.A. 84-429, S. 39; P.A. 00-99, S. 51, 154.)
History: 1971 act included reference to parking areas for ten or more cars; P.A. 73-253 included reference to school property; P.A. 84-429 rephrased provisions and made other technical changes; P.A. 00-99 deleted reference to sheriff and deputy sheriff, effective December 1, 2000.
Violations not on public highway discussed. 16 CS 358.

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Section 14-225a is repealed.
(1969, P.A. 736, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-429, S. 78.)
See Sec. 14-212 for definition of "parking area".
See Secs. 14-224, 14-225 and 14-227a re operation of motor vehicles in parking areas.

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Any person who has knowledge of causing, by the operation of a motor vehicle, injury or death to a dog shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be possible, shall immediately report such injury or death to such dog's owner or such owner's representative and shall give his name, address and operator's license and registration numbers to such owner or representative or any witness or peace officer. If unable to ascertain and locate such owner or representative, such operator shall, at once, report the injury or death to a police officer, constable, state police officer or inspector of motor vehicles, to whom he shall give the location of such accident and a description of the dog. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. No operator shall be convicted under the provisions of subsection (b) of section 14-224 when such operator has caused injury or death to a dog.
(1949 Rev., S. 2411; P.A. 75-577, S. 71, 126; P.A. 88-364, S. 25, 123.)
History: P.A. 75-577 replaced provision for twenty-five dollar maximum fine with statement that violation deemed an infraction; P.A. 88-364 made technical change correcting reference to applicable subsection of Sec. 14-224 from Subsec. (a) to Subsec. (b).
See Sec. 22-351 re unlawful injury to or killing of dog.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.

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Section 14-227 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 2412; 1963, P.A. 616, S. 3.)

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Sec. 14-227a. Operation while under the influence of liquor or drug or while having an elevated blood alcohol content. (a) Operation while under the influence or while having an elevated blood alcohol content. No person shall operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both. A person commits the offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both if such person operates a motor vehicle on a public highway of this state or on any road of a district organized under the provisions of chapter 105, a purpose of which is the construction and maintenance of roads and sidewalks, or on any private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance with the provisions of section 14-218a, or in any parking area for ten or more cars or on any school property (1) while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both, or (2) while such person has an elevated blood alcohol content. For the purposes of this section, "elevated blood alcohol content" means a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight.
(b) Admissibility of chemical analysis. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, in any criminal prosecution for violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence respecting the amount of alcohol or drug in the defendant's blood or urine at the time of the alleged offense, as shown by a chemical analysis of the defendant's breath, blood or urine shall be admissible and competent provided: (1) The defendant was afforded a reasonable opportunity to telephone an attorney prior to the performance of the test and consented to the taking of the test upon which such analysis is made; (2) a true copy of the report of the test result was mailed to or personally delivered to the defendant within twenty-four hours or by the end of the next regular business day, after such result was known, whichever is later; (3) the test was performed by or at the direction of a police officer according to methods and with equipment approved by the Department of Public Safety and was performed in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (d) of this section; (4) the device used for such test was checked for accuracy in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (d) of this section; (5) an additional chemical test of the same type was performed at least thirty minutes after the initial test was performed or, if requested by the police officer for reasonable cause, an additional chemical test of a different type was performed to detect the presence of a drug or drugs other than or in addition to alcohol, provided the results of the initial test shall not be inadmissible under this subsection if reasonable efforts were made to have such additional test performed in accordance with the conditions set forth in this subsection and such additional test was not performed or was not performed within a reasonable time, or the results of such additional test are not admissible for failure to meet a condition set forth in this subsection; and (6) evidence is presented that the test was commenced within two hours of operation. In any prosecution under this section it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the results of such chemical analysis establish the ratio of alcohol in the blood of the defendant at the time of the alleged offense, except that if the results of the additional test indicate that the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such defendant is twelve-hundredths of one per cent or less of alcohol, by weight, and is higher than the results of the first test, evidence shall be presented that demonstrates that the test results and the analysis thereof accurately indicate the blood alcohol content at the time of the alleged offense.
(c) Evidence of blood alcohol content. In any prosecution for a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, reliable evidence respecting the amount of alcohol in the defendant's blood or urine at the time of the alleged offense, as shown by a chemical analysis of the defendant's blood, breath or urine, otherwise admissible under subsection (b) of this section, shall be admissible only at the request of the defendant.
(d) Testing and analysis of blood, breath and urine. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall ascertain the reliability of each method and type of device offered for chemical testing and analysis purposes of blood, of breath and of urine and certify those methods and types which said commissioner finds suitable for use in testing and analysis of blood, breath and urine, respectively, in this state. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, governing the conduct of chemical tests, the operation and use of chemical test devices, the training and certification of operators of such devices and the drawing or obtaining of blood, breath or urine samples as said commissioner finds necessary to protect the health and safety of persons who submit to chemical tests and to insure reasonable accuracy in testing results. Such regulations shall not require recertification of a police officer solely because such officer terminates such officer's employment with the law enforcement agency for which certification was originally issued and commences employment with another such agency.
(e) Evidence of refusal to submit to test. In any criminal prosecution for a violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence that the defendant refused to submit to a blood, breath or urine test requested in accordance with section 14-227b shall be admissible provided the requirements