Sec. 14-298. Office of the State Traffic Administration.
Sec. 14-299. Traffic control signals. Right turn on red.
Sec. 14-300a. Pedestrian street markings near housing projects for elderly persons.
Sec. 14-297. Definitions. 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”, “class 1 electric bicycle”, “class 2 electric bicycle”, “class 3 electric bicycle”, “driver”, “electric bicycle”, “electric scooter”, “head lamp”, “highway”, “limited access highway”, “motor vehicle”, “number plate”, “operator”, “person”, “rotary” or “roundabout”, “shoulder”, “stop”, “tank vehicle”, “truck” and “vehicle”;
(2) “Crosswalk” means that portion of a highway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections, or any portion of a highway distinctly indicated, by lines or other markings on the surface, as a crossing for pedestrians, except such prolonged or connecting lines from an alley across a street;
(3) “Intersection” has the same meaning as provided in section 14-212;
(4) “Official traffic control devices” means all signs, signals, markings and devices consistent with the provisions of this chapter and placed or erected, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic, by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction;
(5) “Parking” means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, on a highway, except it shall not include the temporary standing of a vehicle for the purpose of and while engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or loading or unloading merchandise or while in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals;
(6) “Traffic” means pedestrians, vehicles and other conveyances while using any highway for the purpose of travel;
(7) “Traffic authority” means (A) the board of police commissioners of any city, town or borough, (B) the city or town manager, the chief of police, the superintendent of police or any legally elected or appointed official or board having similar powers and duties of any city, town or borough that has no board of police commissioners but has a regularly appointed police force, (C) the board of selectmen of any town in which there is no city or borough with a regularly appointed police force, or (D) a traffic authority established pursuant to section 7-149d, except that, with respect to state highways and bridges, “traffic authority” means the Office of the State Traffic Administration, provided nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit or detract from the jurisdiction or authority of the Office of the State Traffic Administration to adopt regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings as provided in section 14-298, and the requirement that no installation of any traffic control signal light shall be made by any city, town or borough until the installation has been approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration as provided in section 14-299;
(8) “Traffic control sign” means any sign bearing a message with respect to the stopping or to the rate of speed of vehicles; and
(9) “Traffic control signal” means any device, whether operated manually, electrically or mechanically, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
(1949 Rev., S. 2516; P.A. 84-429, S. 42; P.A. 90-263, S. 53, 74; P.A. 05-210, S. 27; P.A. 12-132, S. 28; P.A. 18-165, S. 16; P.A. 19-162, S. 16; P.A. 21-61, S. 2; 21-95, S. 2; P.A. 24-40, S. 8; P.A. 25-159, S. 55.)
History: P.A. 84-429 substantially revised section, dividing section into Subsecs., applying definitions in Sec. 14-1 to terms added in Subdiv. (1), rephrasing provisions and making other technical changes; P.A. 90-263 amended Subdiv. (1) to delete “public service motor vehicle”; P.A. 05-210 amended Subdiv. (1) by substituting “rotary” or “roundabout” for “rotary traffic island”, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 12-132 amended Subdiv. (6) by replacing “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 18-165 amended Subdiv. (1) by adding “class 1 electric bicycle”, “class 2 electric bicycle”, “class 3 electric bicycle” and “electric bicycle”; P.A. 19-162 amended Subdiv. (1) by adding “electric foot scooter” and making technical changes; P.A. 21-61 amended Subdiv. (1) by removing “intersection”, added new Subdiv. (3) redefining “intersection” and redesignated existing Subdivs. (3) to (8) as Subdivs. (4) to (9); P.A. 21-195 amended Subdiv. (1) to add “tank vehicle”; P.A. 24-40 amended Subdiv. (7) to redefine “traffic authority”, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-159 amended Subdiv. (1) by replacing “electric foot scooter” with “electric scooter”.
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Sec. 14-298. Office of the State Traffic Administration. There shall be within the Department of Transportation the Office of the State Traffic Administration, which shall constitute a successor to the State Traffic Commission, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, said office shall adopt and cause to be printed for publication regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings consistent with the provisions of this chapter for use upon the public highways. The Commissioner of Transportation shall make known to the General Assembly the availability of such regulations and any requesting member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage media of such regulations by said commissioner. Taking into consideration the public safety and convenience with respect to the width and character of the highways and roads affected, the density of traffic thereon and the character of such traffic, said office shall also adopt regulations, in cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities, governing the use of state highways and roads on state-owned properties, and the operation of vehicles, including, but not limited to, motor vehicles, bicycles, as defined in section 14-286, electric bicycles and electric scooters thereon. A list of limited-access highways shall be published with such regulations and said list shall be revised and published once each year. The Commissioner of Transportation shall make known to the General Assembly the availability of such regulations and list and any requesting member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage media of such regulations and list by the commissioner. A list of limited-access highways opened to traffic by the Commissioner of Transportation in the interim period between publications shall be maintained in the Office of the State Traffic Administration and such regulations shall apply to the use of such listed highways. Said office shall also make regulations, in cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities, respecting the use by through truck traffic of streets and highways within the limits of, and under the jurisdiction of, any city, town or borough of this state for the protection and safety of the public. If said office determines that the prohibition of through truck traffic on any street or highway is necessary because of an immediate and imminent threat to the public health and safety and the local traffic authority is precluded for any reason from acting on such prohibition, the office, if it is not otherwise precluded from so acting, may impose such prohibition. Said office may place and maintain traffic control signals, signs, markings and other safety devices, which it deems to be in the interests of public safety, upon such highways as come within the jurisdiction of said office as set forth in section 14-297. The traffic authority of any city, town or borough may place and maintain traffic control signals, signs, markings and other safety devices upon the highways under its jurisdiction, and all such signals, devices, signs and markings shall conform to the regulations established by said office in accordance with this chapter, and such traffic authority shall, with respect to traffic control signals, conform to the provisions of section 14-299.
(1949 Rev., S. 2517; 1957, P.A. 331, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 685, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 151; P.A. 77-375, S. 6; 77-614, S. 558, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 11, 136; P.A. 84-429, S. 67; P.A. 88-242, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-222, S. 6; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 11-1, S. 7; P.A. 12-132, S. 1; P.A. 18-165, S. 17; P.A. 19-162, S. 17; P.A. 25-159, S. 56.)
History: 1967 act added provisions re regulations governing use of state highways and roads on state-owned properties and re list of limited access highways; 1969 act replaced highway commissioner with commissioner of transportation; P.A. 77-375 added reference to role of local traffic authorities in adoption of regulations and specifically referred to regulations re operation of vehicles “not limited to motor vehicles” and of bicycles; P.A. 77-614 placed state traffic commission in department of transportation and changed membership to include commissioner of public safety rather than commissioner of motor vehicles, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 restored membership of commissioner of motor vehicles and deleted reference to no longer existing commissioner of state police; P.A. 84-429 made technical changes for statutory consistency; P.A. 88-242 added provisions authorizing the state traffic commission to prohibit through truck traffic in certain cases involving an immediate and imminent threat to public health and safety; P.A. 98-222 added a requirement that the commissioner notify the General Assembly that the regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals and the list of limited-access highways are available upon request in a written format or as electronic storage; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 11-1 added provision making Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or his or her designee, a member of commission when commission discusses and votes on any matter re an economic development project, and made technical changes, effective October 27, 2011; P.A. 12-132 replaced provisions re State Traffic Commission with provisions re Office of the State Traffic Administration, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 18-165 added “and electric bicycles” re operation of vehicles on state highways and roads on state-owned properties and made technical changes; P.A. 19-162 deleted reference to Sec. 14-1 and added “and electric foot scooters” re operation of vehicles on state highways and roads on state-owned properties; P.A. 25-159 replaced reference to electric foot scooters with reference to electric scooters.
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Sec. 14-299. Traffic control signals. Right turn on red. (a) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, no installation of or revision to any traffic control signal light shall be made by any town, city or borough until the same has been approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration. Such approval shall be based on necessity for, location of and type of such signal light and shall be applied for on a form supplied by the Office of the State Traffic Administration and shall be submitted to said office by the traffic authority having jurisdiction. Approval of any such signal light may be revoked by the Office of the State Traffic Administration at any time if said office deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety, and thereupon such signal lights shall be removed by the traffic authority having jurisdiction.
(b) When traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed and to stop by the use of signals exhibiting colored lights or lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian-control signals carrying word legends or symbols. Such lights or arrows shall apply to drivers of vehicles, pedestrians and operators of bicycles, except when such pedestrians are directed by pedestrian-control signals pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and such operators are directed by bicycle-control signals pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. Such lights or arrows shall indicate the following:
(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular traffic facing a green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or marking at such place prohibits either such turn or straight through movement, except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and vehicles within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time such signal was exhibited; pedestrians facing the green signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, may proceed across the highway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) Yellow: Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter, when vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the intersection unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
(3) Red alone: Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and remain standing until the next indication is shown; provided, on or after July 1, 1979, vehicular traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest the right hand curb or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration has been erected in the appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn onto a two-way street or onto another one-way street on which all the traffic is moving to such vehicle's right after such vehicle has stopped as required in this subdivision and yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, shall not enter the roadway.
(4) Green arrow: Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time, but such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully within the intersection.
(c) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words “Walk” or “Don't Walk” or the image of a walking person symbolizing “Walk” or an upraised hand symbolizing “Don't Walk” are in place, pedestrians shall comply with such signals. Such signals shall indicate as follows: (1) “Walk” or walking person symbol: Pedestrians facing such signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; and (2) “Don't Walk” or upraised hand symbol: No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the flashing “Don't Walk” or flashing upraised hand symbol signal is showing.
(d) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line when marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(2) Flashing yellow: When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, vehicular traffic facing such signal may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
(e) Whenever bicycle-control signals with three lens signal heads exhibiting green, yellow or red bicycle stenciled lenses are in place, the operators of bicycles shall comply with such signals. Such signals shall indicate as follows:
(1) Green bicycle: Bicycle traffic facing a green bicycle signal may proceed in the same manner as if facing a green signal alone as described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Yellow bicycle: Bicycle traffic facing a yellow bicycle signal is thereby warned in the same manner as if facing a steady yellow signal as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section.
(3) Red bicycle: Bicycle traffic facing a red bicycle signal shall stop in the same manner as if facing a steady red signal alone as described in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section, provided bicycle traffic may cautiously enter the intersection as described in said subdivision.
(4) Flashing red bicycle: When a red bicycle signal is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, bicycle traffic shall stop in the same manner as if facing a red lens illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes as described in subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of this section.
(5) Flashing yellow bicycle: When a yellow bicycle signal is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, bicycle traffic may proceed as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section.
(f) Lenses of the following colors only shall be used and shall be arranged vertically in the signal face or, when necessary, horizontally, and shall conform to the following positions: When arranged vertically, red shall be located at the top, yellow shall be located directly below red and the remaining indications below the yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, circular green, vertical arrow, left-turn arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed; when arranged horizontally, red shall be located at the left, yellow shall be located directly to the right of red and the remaining indications to the right of yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, left-turn arrow, circular green, vertical arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed.
(g) When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green arrow signal is shown, but shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red X signal is shown.
(h) If a traffic control signal, approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
(i) As used in this subsection, “light rail transit signal” has the same meaning as described in the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time, and includes bus rapid transit signals. Whenever a light rail transit signal with multiple lenses exhibiting horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines is in place, the operators of light rail transit and bus rapid transit shall comply with such signals. Such signals shall indicate as follows:
(1) White vertical line or diagonal line: Light rail transit and bus rapid transit facing a white vertical or diagonal signal may proceed straight, left or right.
(2) White horizontal line: Light rail transit and bus rapid transit facing a white horizontal signal shall stop.
(3) Flashing white vertical line or diagonal line: Light rail transit and bus rapid transit facing a flashing white vertical or diagonal signal shall prepare to stop.
(1949 Rev., S. 2518; 1967, P.A. 428; P.A. 75-297; P.A. 78-309, S. 1; P.A. 12-132, S. 29; P.A. 23-135, S. 1; P.A. 24-40, S. 6; P.A. 25-65, S. 3.)
History: 1967 act restated provisions of Subsecs. (b) to (d) and added Subsecs. (e) and (f); P.A. 75-297 added provisions in Subsec. (b)(3) re right turns on red; P.A. 78-309 revised and amplified Subsec. (b)(3) and changed emphasis by allowing right turn on red unless sign prohibits it, whereas previously turn allowed only where sign permitted it; P.A. 12-132 amended Subsecs. (a) and (f) by replacing references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration and amended Subsec. (b)(3) by deleting provisions re review and erection of signs by June 30, 1979, and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (a) to add “or revision to”, amended Subsec. (b) to add provisions re symbols on pedestrian-control signals in Subdivs. (1) and (5) and delete “lawfully” re pedestrians within crosswalk in Subdivs. (1), (3) and (4), and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-40 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re operators of bicycles and bicycle-control signals and add references to Subsecs. (c) and (e), designated existing Subsec. (b)(5) as Subsec. (c) and amended same to add Subdiv. designators (1) and (2), redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d), added new Subsec. (e) re bicycle-control signals, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (f), redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) and (f) as Subsecs. (g) and (h) and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-65 added Subsec. (i) re light rail transit signal, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 14-300. Crosswalks. Pedestrian-control signals. Regulation of pedestrians and motor vehicles at crosswalks. Pedestrians who are blind or have service animals. (a) The traffic authority may designate, by appropriate official traffic control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway, in accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic Administration, and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk facing vehicular traffic.
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals bearing the words “Walk” or “Don't Walk” or the image of a walking person symbolizing “Walk” or an upraised hand symbolizing “Don't Walk” are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the highway against a red or “Stop” signal and shall not cross at any place not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting across the highway or on any such crosswalk shall have the right-of-way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within such crosswalk. For the purposes of this subsection, a pedestrian is “crossing the roadway within such crosswalk” when the pedestrian (1) is within any portion of the crosswalk, (2) steps to the curb at the entrance to the crosswalk and indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by raising his or her hand and arm toward oncoming traffic, or (3) indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by moving any part of his or her body or an extension thereof, including, but not limited to, a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, stroller, carriage, cart or leashed or harnessed dog, into the crosswalk at the entrance to the crosswalk. No operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such sidewalk.
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection (a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, or a pedestrian being guided by a service animal, shall reduce speed or stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian. No person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white, tipped with red. For the purposes of this subsection, “service animal” has the same meaning as provided in section 22-345.
(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time for the safe crossing of pedestrians.
(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall be fined not more than seven hundred fifty dollars.
(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per se shall not apply.
(1949 Rev., S. 2519; 1955, S. 1403d; 1967, P.A. 639; P.A. 78-309, S. 2; P.A. 94-189, S. 33, 34; P.A. 00-196, S. 13; P.A. 07-167, S. 26; P.A. 08-150, S. 32; P.A. 10-159, S. 9; P.A. 12-132, S. 30; P.A. 16-54, S. 1; P.A. 21-28, S. 1; P.A. 23-135, S. 2; P.A. 24-18, S. 4; P.A. 25-65, S. 15.)
History: 1967 act made special reference to specially marked crosswalks near schools in Subsec. (a); P.A. 78-309 added Subsecs. (c) and (d); P.A. 94-189 amended Subsec. (c) by changing “yield” to “grant”, making the section also applicable to a pedestrian who “steps to the curb at the entrance to a crosswalk” and deleting the requirement that such pedestrian should be “approaching at such a rate of speed or has approached so near to that half of the roadway upon which such operator is traveling so as to be in reasonable danger of being struck by the vehicle of such operator”, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 00-196 made a technical change; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “steps to the curb” with “steps off the curb or into the crosswalk”, making infraction applicable to “The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section”, rather than “A violation of this subsection”, and specifying a fine of $90, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (c) to delete penalty provision, reflecting its reenactment as new Subsec. (e), added new Subsec. (d) requiring motor vehicle operator to yield right-of-way to pedestrian who is blind carrying a white cane or white cane tipped with red or being guided by a guide dog and prohibiting a person who is not blind from carrying or using a cane or walking stick white in color or white, tipped in red, added new Subsec. (e) re penalty, formerly part of Subsec. (c), and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as new Subsec. (f) and amended same to add reference to new Subsec. (d); P.A. 10-159 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute “official traffic control devices” for “devices” and make technical changes, made technical changes in Subsec. (c), inserted new Subsec. (e) requiring crosswalks designated on or after October 1, 2010, to have necessary markings, signage or control signals to provide sufficient time for safe crossing of pedestrians and redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) and (f) as Subsecs. (f) and (g); P.A. 12-132 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 16-54 amended Subsec. (f) by replacing provision re violator deemed to have committed infraction and fined $90 with provision re violator fined not more than $500; P.A. 21-28 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing provision re pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk with definition of “crossing the roadway within such crosswalk”; P.A. 23-135 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “shall have power to” with “may” and amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re image of walking person or upraised hand on pedestrian-control signals and delete “on a ‘Walk' signal” and “on a green or ‘Go' signal” re pedestrian starting across highway or crosswalk, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-18 amended Subsec. (d) to replace “guide dog” with “service animal” and define “service animal”, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-64 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provisions re specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools and amended Subsec. (f) to increase fine from $500 to $750.
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Sec. 14-300a. Pedestrian street markings near housing projects for elderly persons. Section 14-300a is repealed, effective July 1, 2025.
(1967, P.A. 358; P.A. 12-132, S. 31; P.A. 25-65, S. 66.)
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Sec. 14-300i. Vehicle operator to exercise reasonable care when near vulnerable user on a public way. (a) As used in this section, (1) “vulnerable user” means: (A) A pedestrian; (B) a highway worker; (C) a person riding or driving an animal; (D) a person riding a bicycle, an electric bicycle or an electric scooter; (E) a person using a skateboard, roller skates or in-line skates; (F) a person operating or riding on an agricultural tractor; (G) a person using a wheelchair or motorized chair; (H) a person who is blind and such person's service animal; and (I) a person operating (i) a commercial motor vehicle equipped with a garbage compactor, a detachable container or a curbside recycling body, (ii) a tank vehicle, (iii) a vehicle authorized by the United States government to carry mail, or (iv) a vehicle authorized by an express delivery carrier service, (2) “public way” includes any state or other public highway, road, street, avenue, alley, driveway, parkway or place, under the control of the state or any political subdivision of the state, dedicated, appropriated or opened to public travel or other use, (3) “substantial bodily harm” means bodily injury that involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, causes a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part or organ, or causes a fracture of any bodily part, (4) “serious physical injury” has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-3, and (5) “service animal” has the same meaning as provided in section 22-345.
(b) Any person operating a motor vehicle on a public way who fails to exercise reasonable care and causes substantial bodily harm to, or the serious physical injury or death, of a vulnerable user of a public way, provided such vulnerable user has shown reasonable care in such user's use of the public way, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.
(P.A. 14-31, S. 1; P.A. 17-202, S. 45; P.A. 18-165, S. 18; P.A. 19-162, S. 18; P.A. 21-195, S. 1; P.A. 22-44, S. 29; P.A. 24-18, S. 5; P.A. 25-159, S. 57.)
History: P.A. 17-202 amended Subsec. (a)(1)(H) to replace “blind person” with “person who is blind”; P.A. 18-165 amended Subsec. (a)(1)(D) to add “or an electric bicycle”; P.A. 19-162 amended Subsec. (a)(1)(D) to add reference to electric foot scooter, further amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdivs. (3) and (4) defining “substantial bodily harm” and “serious physical injury”, and amended Subsec. (b) to add reference to substantial bodily harm and made technical changes; P.A. 21-195 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding new Subpara. (I) re operation of vehicle with garbage compactor, detachable container or curbside recycling body, tank vehicle, vehicle carrying mail or vehicle by express delivery carrier; P.A. 22-44 amended Subsec. (a)(1)(iv) to replace “operated” with “authorized” and add “service”, effective July 1, 2022; P.A. 24-18, amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (5) defining “service animal” and make a technical change, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-159 amended Subsec. (a)(1)(D) to replace reference to electric foot scooter with reference to electric scooter.
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Sec. 14-300j. Opening or leaving open a motor vehicle door so as to cause physical contact with moving traffic. (a) For the purposes of this section, “moving traffic” includes, but is not limited to, a motor vehicle, bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter using a highway for the purpose of travel and a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter on a sidewalk, shoulder or bikeway for the purpose of travel, and “bikeway” has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 13a-153f.
(b) No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause physical contact with moving traffic with such door, provided moving traffic is traveling at a reasonable rate of speed and with due regard for the safety of all persons and property.
(c) No person shall leave the door of a motor vehicle open for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers and in such a manner as to cause physical contact with moving traffic with such door.
(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have committed an infraction.
(P.A. 21-28, S. 4; P.A. 25-159, S. 58.)
History: P.A. 25-159 amended Subsec. (a) to replace references to electric foot scooter with references to electric scooter.
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Sec. 14-307c. Municipal use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices. Agreements re design, installation, operation or maintenance. Ordinance. Requirements. Citations. Defenses. (a) Any municipality may authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices at locations within school zones, pedestrian safety zones and other places in such municipality, provided (1) the municipality adopts an ordinance in accordance with the provisions of this section, and (2) the locations of such devices are identified in a plan approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to section 14-307e.
(b) The municipality may enter into agreements with vendors for the design, installation, operation or maintenance, or any combination thereof, of automated traffic enforcement safety devices. If a vendor designs, installs, operates or maintains an automated traffic enforcement safety device, the vendor's fee may not be contingent on the number of citations issued or fines paid pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this section.
(c) Any ordinance adopted under this section shall specify the following: (1) That an automated traffic enforcement safety device shall be operated by an automated traffic enforcement safety device operator; (2) that the owner of a motor vehicle commits a violation of the ordinance if the person operating such motor vehicle (A) exceeds the posted speed limit by ten or more miles per hour and such operation is detected by an automated traffic enforcement safety device, or (B) fails to stop such motor vehicle when facing a steady red signal on a traffic control signal and such failure is detected by an automated traffic enforcement safety device; (3) an automated traffic enforcement safety device shall be used solely for identifying violations of the ordinance; (4) for the first thirty days after a location is equipped with an operational automated traffic enforcement safety device, the owner of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of such ordinance that is detected by such device shall receive a written warning instead of a citation, as described in subsection (i) of this section; (5) payment of a fine and any associated fee imposed for a violation of the ordinance may be made by electronic means; (6) a sworn member or employee of the municipality's police department or an employee of the municipality, as designated by the traffic authority, shall review and approve the recorded images before a citation is mailed to the owner of such motor vehicle; and (7) the defenses available to the owner of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of such ordinance, which shall include, but need not be limited to, the defenses listed in subsection (j) of this section.
(d) Any ordinance adopted under this section may: (1) Establish a fine to be imposed against the owner of a motor vehicle committing a violation of such ordinance, provided the amount of such fine is not more than fifty dollars for a first violation and not more than seventy-five dollars for a second or subsequent violation that occurs within one year of the date of the owner's most recent violation, and (2) impose a reasonable fee, not to exceed fifteen dollars, for the costs associated with the electronic processing of the payment of any such fine. Any subsequent violation occurring more than one year after the owner's most recent violation shall be considered a first violation. Any funds received by a municipality from fines imposed pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this section shall be used for the purposes of improving transportation mobility, investing in transportation infrastructure improvements or paying the costs associated with the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in the municipality, including reimbursing a vendor for the expenses associated with the design, installation, operation or maintenance of such devices.
(e) Any municipality that adopts an ordinance under this section shall also adopt the following: (1) A citation hearing procedure pursuant to section 7-152c, (2) a comprehensive safety action plan to ensure that the streets located in the municipality safely and conveniently serve road users of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, transit users, bicyclists, persons using wheelchairs or other assistive devices and motor vehicle operators, and (3) a written policy that meets or exceeds the standards of the model privacy policy and protocol developed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 14-307d. Such municipality shall also be in compliance with any order made by the Office of the State Traffic Administration pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or any regulation adopted pursuant to said chapter by the office regarding a traffic control sign or traffic control signal at a location equipped or proposed to be equipped with an automatic traffic enforcement safety device.
(f) (1) Prior to the operation of an automated traffic enforcement safety device, the municipality shall (A) install at least two conspicuous signs at a reasonable distance in advance of such location, in accordance with the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time, notifying motor vehicle operators of such location, and (B) provide notification of such location to persons, firms or corporations that operate a mobile application that is used for navigation purposes or to provide real-time information on motor vehicle traffic. The Department of Transportation shall designate which such persons, firms or corporations shall be notified and provide technical guidance to such municipalities regarding how to provide such notification.
(2) At least thirty days before the date the first automated traffic enforcement safety device becomes operational in the municipality, the municipality shall develop and implement a public awareness campaign to educate the public concerning the importance of obeying speed limits and traffic control signals and the imminent use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in the municipality at the locations identified in the plan approved by the Department of Transportation pursuant to section 14-307e.
(g) An automated traffic enforcement safety device operator shall complete training offered by the manufacturer of such device or the manufacturer's representative regarding procedures for setting up, testing and operating such device. The manufacturer or manufacturer's representative shall issue a signed certificate to the automated traffic enforcement safety device operator upon such operator's completion of the training. Such signed certificate shall be admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c.
(h) The municipality shall ensure each automated traffic enforcement safety device used by such municipality undergoes an annual calibration check performed at a calibration laboratory. The calibration laboratory shall issue a signed certificate of calibration after the annual calibration check. Such signed certificate of calibration shall be kept on file and admitted as evidence in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c.
(i) (1) Whenever an automated traffic enforcement safety device detects and produces recorded images of a motor vehicle allegedly committing a violation of an ordinance adopted under this section, a sworn member or employee of the municipality's police department or an employee of the municipality designated by the traffic authority shall review the recorded images provided by such device. If, after such review, such member or employee determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of the ordinance has occurred, such member or employee may issue a citation to the owner of the motor vehicle. The citation shall include the following: (A) The name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle; (B) the number plate of the motor vehicle; (C) the violation charged; (D) the location of the automated traffic enforcement safety device and the date and time of the violation; (E) a copy of or information on how to view, through electronic means, the recorded images described in this section; (F) a statement or electronically generated affirmation by the member or employee who reviewed the recorded images and determined that the motor vehicle violated the ordinance; (G) verification that the automated traffic enforcement safety device was operating correctly at the time of the alleged violation and the date of the most recent calibration check performed pursuant to subsection (h) of this section; (H) the amount of the fine imposed and how to pay such fine; and (I) the right to contest the violation and request a hearing pursuant to section 7-152c.
(2) In the case of an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle registered in the state, the citation shall be mailed not later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is ascertained to the address of the owner that is in the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. In the case of an alleged violation involving a motor vehicle registered in another jurisdiction, the citation shall be mailed not later than thirty days after the identity of the owner is ascertained to the address of the owner that is in the records of the official in the other jurisdiction issuing such registration. A citation shall be invalid unless mailed to an owner not later than sixty days after the alleged violation.
(3) The citation shall be sent by first class mail. A manual or automated record of mailing prepared by the municipality's police department shall be prima facie evidence of mailing and shall be admissible in any hearing conducted pursuant to section 7-152c as to the facts contained in the citation.
(4) In the case of a motor vehicle that is leased for a period of more than thirty days and identified by an automated traffic enforcement safety device as allegedly committing a violation of an ordinance adopted under this section, the lessee shall be considered the owner of such motor vehicle for the purposes of this section.
(j) The following defenses shall be available to the owner of a motor vehicle who is alleged to have committed a violation of such ordinance adopted under this section: (1) The operator was driving an emergency vehicle in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 14-283; (2) the traffic control signal was inoperative, which is observable on the recorded images; (3) the violation was necessary in order for the operator to comply with an order or direction from a law enforcement officer, which is observable on the recorded images; (4) the violation was necessary to allow the passage of an authorized emergency vehicle, which is observable on the recorded images; (5) the violation took place during a period of time in which the motor vehicle had been reported as being stolen to a law enforcement unit, as defined in section 7-294a, and had not been recovered prior to the time of the violation; or (6) the automated traffic enforcement safety device was not in compliance with the calibration check required pursuant to subsection (h) of this section.
(P.A. 23-116, S. 11; P.A. 24-40, S. 48, 49; P.A. 25-65, S. 30.)
History: P.A. 24-40 amended Subsec. (d) to add “that occurs within one year of the date of the owner's most recent violation” in Subdiv. (1) and add provision re subsequent violation occurring more than one year after most recent violation shall be considered a first violation, and amended Subsec. (i) by adding Subdiv. (4) re lessee shall be considered owner of motor vehicle, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-65 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re reimbursing vendor for expenses associated with design, installation, operation or maintenance of devices, effective July 1, 2025.
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