Bill Text: CT HB05170 | 2012 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Streamlining Traffic Safety Evaluations.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-06-15 - Signed by the Governor [HB05170 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2012-HB05170-Chaptered.html
Substitute House Bill No. 5170
AN ACT STREAMLINING TRAFFIC SAFETY EVALUATIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 14-298 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
There shall be within the Department of Transportation [a State Traffic Commission] 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. [Said Traffic Commission shall consist of the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or his or her designee, shall be a member of the commission when the commission discusses and votes on any matter relating to an economic development project. ] For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, said [commission] 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 [commission] 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, as defined in section 14-1, and bicycles, as defined in section 14-286, as amended by this act, 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 Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration and such regulations shall apply to the use of such listed highways. Said [commission] 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 [commission] 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 [commission] office, if it is not otherwise precluded from so acting, may impose such prohibition. Said [commission] 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 [commission] office as set forth in section 14-297, as amended by this act. 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 [commission] 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, as amended by this act.
Sec. 2. Section 7-136i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
Notwithstanding any provision of title 13b or 14, in all matters in which a formal petition, application or request for a permit is required to be submitted to the Commissioner of Transportation or the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, and such petition, application or request is submitted by a municipality, the commissioner or [commission] office shall, within available appropriations, not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner or [commission] office receives such petition, application or request, make a preliminary review of the petition, application or request for the sole purpose of determining whether such petition, application or request is acceptable for filing. The commissioner or [commission] office shall notify the municipality of the results of such preliminary review. Nothing in this section shall preclude the commissioner or [commission] office from requesting additional information from the municipality subsequent to such notification.
Sec. 3. Section 10a-79 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges shall appoint a committee at each regional community-technical college to establish traffic and parking regulations for passenger vehicles at such college. Such traffic committee, subject to the approval of said board and of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of passenger vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway subject to the care, custody and control of said board of trustees; (6) order signs to be erected and maintained designating such prohibitions or restrictions; and (7) impose a fine upon any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction. All fines so imposed at each regional community-technical college, less an amount not to exceed the cost of enforcing traffic and parking regulations, shall be deposited in the institutional operating account of such college for scholarships and library services or acquisitions. The Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges shall establish at each regional community-technical college a committee which shall hear appeals of penalties assessed for parking or traffic violations. The membership of both the committee to establish traffic and parking regulations and the committee to hear traffic violation appeals shall include student and faculty representation.
Sec. 4. Section 10a-92 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System shall appoint a committee at each campus to establish traffic and parking regulations for passenger vehicles on such campus. Such traffic committee, subject to the approval of said board and of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of passenger vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway subject to the care, custody and control of said board of trustees; (6) order signs to be erected and maintained designating such prohibitions or restrictions; and (7) impose a fine upon any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. All fines so imposed at each state university, less an amount not to exceed the cost of enforcing traffic and parking regulations, shall be deposited in the institutional operating account of such state university for scholarships and library services or acquisitions. The Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System shall establish at each campus a committee which shall hear appeals of penalties assessed for parking or traffic violations. The membership of both the committee to establish traffic and parking regulations and the committee to hear traffic violation appeals shall include student and faculty representation.
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 10a-139 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The trustees of The University of Connecticut, subject to the approval of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds controlled by The University of Connecticut; and (6) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be fined. Violation of any provision of this subsection shall be an infraction.
Sec. 6. Subsection (f) of section 13a-26 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(f) The provisions of this part restricting the use and accommodation of motor vehicle traffic on parkways to noncommercial vehicles shall not apply to use of the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways by (1) taxicabs, as defined in section 13b-95, (2) vanpool vehicles, as defined in section 14-1, or (3) service buses or two-axle, four-wheeled type II, registered school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of nine thousand six hundred pounds or less, which are owned by or under contract to a public, private or religious school or public school district and which are engaged in the transportation of school children to and from school or school activities, provided such service buses conform to the regulations establishing the maximum weight, length, height or width of vehicles permitted to use such parkways and such school buses are no more than ninety-eight inches high, eighty-four inches wide and two hundred three inches long. The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 establishing the maximum allowable length and height for any vanpool vehicle using said Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways and, not later than July 1, 1984, publish in the Connecticut Law Journal a notice of intent to adopt proposed regulations, as defined in section 4-166, reducing the maximum weight, length, height or width of, or limiting the registration classes of, motor vehicles permitted to use such parkways, in order to fully carry out the prohibition on the operation of commercial motor vehicles on such parkways.
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 13a-119 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) Whenever, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Transportation the same is necessary, said commissioner shall on any state highway, and may on any town highway, erect and maintain suitable warning and directional signs for the guidance of persons traveling thereon and may erect and maintain traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings on state highways, as approved by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration. All of such signs and devices shall conform to the specifications of the manual of uniform traffic control devices as approved and revised by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration.
Sec. 8. Section 13a-120 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The traffic authority of any city, town or borough shall erect and maintain suitable warning signs on highways under the jurisdiction of such traffic authority, legible from a distance of one hundred feet and located at a reasonable distance in each direction from schoolhouses or at a reasonable distance from the ends of hard surfaced highways, which signs shall designate the proximity of such schoolhouses or the ends of such hard surfaced highways; and such traffic authority shall erect and maintain similar warning signs in respect to bridges, dangerous curves and intersecting highways. All new and replacement signs, signals or markings erected in accordance with the requirements of this section shall conform to the specifications of the manual on uniform traffic control devices as approved and revised by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration.
Sec. 9. Section 13b-17 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The commissioner may issue rules and regulations for the efficient conduct of the business of the department. The commissioner may delegate (1) to the Deputy Commissioner of Transportation any of [his] the commissioner's duties and responsibilities; (2) to the [deputy commissioner] bureau chief for an operating bureau any of [his] the commissioner's duties and responsibilities which relate to the functions to be performed by that bureau; (3) to the Connecticut Public Transportation Commission any of [his] the commissioner's duties and responsibilities which relate to the functions to be performed by the commission; and (4) to other officers, employees and agents of the department any of [his] the commissioner's duties and responsibilities that the commissioner deems appropriate, to be exercised under [his] the commissioner's supervision and direction.
(b) The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing reasonable fees for any application submitted to the Department of Transportation or the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration for (1) a state highway right-of-way encroachment permit, or (2) a certificate of operation for an open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic pursuant to [sections] section 14-311, as amended by this act; [and 14-311a; ] provided the fees so established shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five per cent of the estimated administrative costs related to such applications. The commissioner may exempt municipalities from any fees imposed pursuant to this subsection.
Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 13b-20 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(b) The executive director of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration may certify copies of any document or record pertaining to the operation of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, and any certified document or record of said [commission] office, attested as a true copy by said executive director, shall be competent evidence in any court of this state of the facts contained in such document or record.
Sec. 11. Subsection (f) of section 13b-42 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(f) The commissioner may (1) prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles, (2) determine speed limits with the approval of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, (3) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic, (4) designate the location of crosswalks, on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds of any airport owned or held under lease by the state, and (5) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be subject to a fine of not more than [twenty-five dollars, and on and after July 1, 1985, not more than thirty-eight dollars, on and after July 1, 1989, not more than fifty-six dollars, on and after July 1, 1991, not more than seventy dollars, and on and after July 1, 1993, not more than] eighty-eight dollars.
Sec. 12. Section 13b-292 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) For the purposes of this section, private crossing means any private way, private drive or any facility other than a public highway for the use of pedestrians, motor vehicles or other types of conveyances, which crosses at grade any railroad track. No private crossing shall be established, except that the Commissioner of Transportation may authorize the establishment of a private crossing if it is deemed necessary for the economic welfare of the community but only after imposing specific requirements for the protection of persons using the crossing. The cost of [meeting such] the protection requirements shall be borne by the party requesting such private crossing or the town, city or borough in which such crossing is located may, in its discretion, assume all or part of such cost. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a private crossing used by a railroad company in connection with its operation or for access to its facilities.
(b) Each town, city or borough shall erect and maintain traffic control devices within the limits of the railroad right-of-way at each private crossing, or each town, city or borough shall require the person, association or corporation that owns or has the right to use such crossing to erect and maintain such traffic control devices at each private crossing. Such order shall specify the time within which such protective measures shall be installed. Upon failure of a person, association or corporation to comply with an order issued pursuant to this subsection, the required installation shall be made by the authority issuing such order and the expense of such installation shall be a lien on premises owned by such person, association or corporation. If under the provisions of subsection (d) of this section the Commissioner of Transportation [and the State Traffic Commission order] orders the erection of traffic control devices at a private crossing and the town, city or borough within which such crossing is located fails to erect or have erected such devices within [one hundred eighty days of] the period prescribed in such order, the Commissioner of Transportation [and the State Traffic Commission] shall order the railroad to erect such devices and the expense of such erection shall be a lien on premises owned by the person, association or corporation that owns or has the right to use such crossing. If the Commissioner of Transportation [and the State Traffic Commission prescribe] prescribes traffic control measures in addition to traffic control devices, the town, city or borough shall invoke the provisions of this subsection for the purpose of complying with such order, and the cost of such compliance [, if one thousand dollars or less,] shall be borne [one-half by the town, city or borough and one-half] by the property owner. [and, if over one thousand dollars, shall be borne one-sixth by the town, city or borough, one-sixth by the state, one-third by the property owner, and one-third by the railroad. ]
(c) The town, city or borough within which any private way leads to a private crossing from a town, city or borough highway, and the Commissioner of Transportation, in the case of any private way which leads to a private crossing from a state highway, shall erect and maintain at the entrance to such private way a suitable sign warning of the railroad grade crossing.
(d) The [State Traffic Commission and the] Commissioner of Transportation shall [prescribe] give notice of the commissioner's intent to (1) prescribe or order traffic control devices or traffic control measures under subsection (a) or (b) of this section; (2) afford any person an opportunity to present evidence on the impact; (3) render findings of fact; and (4) issue a decision before prescribing the nature of traffic control devices and traffic control measures to be erected at each private crossing and at approaches to such private crossings. The commissioner's decision shall not constitute a final decision in a contested case and shall not be subject to appeal under section 4-183.
(e) The Commissioner of Transportation shall make all necessary orders for the closing of any private crossing if the commissioner finds that the necessity for such crossing has ceased or that such private crossing constitutes a hazard to public safety. The commissioner shall (1) give notice of intent to issue such orders; (2) afford any person an opportunity to present evidence on the impact of such orders; (3) render findings of fact; and (4) issue a decision before making all necessary orders for the permanent closing of any private crossing if the commissioner finds that the necessity for such crossing has ceased or that such private crossing constitutes a hazard to public safety. The commissioner's decision shall not constitute a final decision in a contested case and shall not be subject to appeal under section 4-183. The commissioner may order the consolidation into one crossing of two or more private crossings located in close proximity to each other.
(f) The provisions of section 13b-281 shall apply to private crossings.
(g) Representatives of towns, cities, boroughs, railroads and state agencies may enter private ways, drives or other facilities to the extent required to perform their duties pursuant to this section.
(h) Any person who fails to comply with traffic control measures or traffic control devices installed pursuant to this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
Sec. 13. Section 13b-345 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The Commissioner of Transportation shall investigate conditions surrounding all railroad crossings with public highways at grade and determine at which of such crossings public safety reasonably requires that any person traveling upon the highway shall come to a stop or proceed with caution before passing over the tracks at such crossing. The commissioner may require the railroad company at each of such crossings so determined to erect and maintain on the highway and within the limits of its right-of-way a "stop", "caution" or other sign of a type approved by the commissioner, and may require the company at any grade crossing to erect and maintain stop, caution, warning or other signs of a type approved by the commissioner, but where the tracks cross at grade on state highways, the [State Traffic Commission] commissioner shall prescribe the nature of traffic control devices and traffic control measures to be installed at such grade crossings. When traffic control measures are to be installed on state highways, they shall be furnished and installed by the Commissioner of Transportation.
(b) The commissioner shall require each railroad company operating trains at or above twenty-five miles per hour, at all of its crossings at grade with gates or signals, to erect and maintain, within the limits of its right-of-way, a sign advising the public to call the 911 emergency telecommunications number upon the malfunctioning of any grade crossing gates or signals. Such sign shall be of a type approved by the commissioner. [or the State Traffic Commission. ]
(c) The commissioner shall require each railroad company to maintain logs, subject to the inspection of the department, listing all reports of the malfunctioning of its grade crossing gates or signals. Each log shall contain information concerning all investigations and actions taken by the company to repair the malfunctioning gates or signals. Each company shall report to the municipality all actions taken to repair any malfunctioning gates or signals within the municipality.
(d) Each railroad company, upon receiving a report of the malfunctioning of one of its crossing gates or signals, shall immediately investigate such report and repair any malfunction. Such inspection shall not be completed from a moving train.
Sec. 14. Section 14-212b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(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] Office of the State Traffic Administration 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] said office, 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, as amended by this act, or 14-219, for any such violation committed in a school zone designated in a conspicuous manner by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration or local traffic authority.
(d) The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration with regard to a state highway or the local traffic authority with regard to a local highway shall [post] cause to be posted a sign approved by [said commission] the Office of the State Traffic Administration (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".
Sec. 15. Section 14-218a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(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] Office of the State Traffic Administration 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] Office of the State Traffic Administration and a certificate of such approval has been forwarded by the [commission] office to the traffic authority; and provided such signs giving notice of such speed limits shall have been erected as the [State Traffic Commission] Office of State Traffic Administration 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] Office of the State Traffic Administration. Approval of such speed limits may be revoked by [said commission] the Office of State Traffic Administration at any time if [it] said office 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] Office of State Traffic Administration 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.
Sec. 16. Section 14-230a of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
On any divided limited access highway which provides more than two lanes for traffic proceeding in the same direction, no operator of any motor vehicle with a commercial registration, motor bus, vehicle with trailer or school bus shall drive in the extreme left lane where the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration so designates, except on the direction of a police officer or except when access to or egress from such highway is provided on the left, in which latter case such operator shall drive in such left lane only for such period as is reasonably necessary to enter or leave such highway safely. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined eighty-eight dollars.
Sec. 17. Section 14-234 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The [State Traffic Commission is authorized to] Office of State Traffic Administration may determine those portions of any state highway where overtaking and passing or driving to the left of the highway would be especially hazardous and may by appropriate signs or markings on the highway indicate the beginning and end of such zones. A local traffic authority, as defined in section 14-297, as amended by this act, may, in accordance with standards approved by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of State Traffic Administration, determine and designate such no-passing zones on highways under its jurisdiction. When such signs or markings are in place and clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person, each driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions thereof. Violation of the provisions of this section shall be an infraction.
Sec. 18. Section 14-236 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
When any highway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, (1) a vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has ascertained that such movement can be made with safety, and (2) the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration may erect, on state highways, and local traffic authorities, in accordance with standards approved by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may erect on highways under their jurisdiction, signs directing slow-moving traffic to use a designated lane or, with signs, signals or markings, may designate those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the center of the highway, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of each such sign, signal or marking. Violation of subdivision (1) of this section shall be an infraction.
Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 14-239 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration may designate any state highway and local traffic authorities may designate streets and highways under their jurisdiction for one-way traffic and shall erect signs, devices or markings conforming to [State Traffic Commission] the standards of the Office of the State Traffic Administration giving notice thereof. Upon any highway so designated a vehicle shall be driven only in the direction indicated.
Sec. 20. Subsection (e) of section 14-241 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(e) On any state highway the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, and, on highways under their jurisdiction, local traffic authorities, may cause rotaries or roundabouts, signs or other devices conforming to the manual on uniform traffic control devices to be placed within or adjacent to intersections and thereby direct that a different course from that specified in this section be traveled by vehicles turning at an intersection, and when rotaries or roundabouts, signs or other devices are so placed, no driver shall turn a vehicle otherwise than as directed thereby.
Sec. 21. Subsection (a) of section 14-248b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The traffic authority, as defined in section 14-297, as amended by this act, shall have power to designate, by appropriate devices or markers or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such crossing paths and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute an especial danger to guided cattle or other livestock crossing the highway including, but not limited to, specially marked crossing paths in the vicinity of farms which shall have distinctive markings, in accordance with the regulations of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, to denote use of such crossing paths by guided cattle or other livestock.
Sec. 22. Subsection (g) of section 14-253a of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(g) The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or local traffic authority, on any highway or street under its control, shall establish parking spaces in parking areas for twenty or more cars in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying a special license plate or a placard issued pursuant to this section. Parking spaces in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying such special plate or placard shall be established in private parking areas for two hundred or more cars according to the following schedule:
Total Number |
Number of Special | |
Of Parking Lot Spaces |
Parking Spaces Required | |
0 – 200 |
Exempt | |
201 - 1000 |
1. 0% | |
1001 - 2000 |
10 plus 0. 8% of spaces | |
over 1000 | ||
2001 - 3000 |
18 plus 0. 6% of spaces | |
over 2000 | ||
3001 - 4000 |
24 plus 0. 4% of spaces | |
over 3000 | ||
4001 or more |
28 plus 0. 2% of spaces | |
over 4000 |
All such spaces shall be designated as reserved for exclusive use by persons who are blind and persons with disabilities and identified by the use of signs in accordance with subsection (h) of this section. Such parking spaces shall be adjacent to curb cuts or other unobstructed methods permitting sidewalk access to a person who is blind or a person with disabilities and shall be fifteen feet wide, including three feet of cross hatch, or be parallel to a sidewalk. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply (1) in the event the State Building Code imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of the private parking area in which special parking spaces are required or as to the number of special parking spaces required, or (2) in the event a municipal ordinance imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of existing private parking areas in which special parking spaces are required or as to the number of special parking spaces required.
Sec. 23. Section 14-284 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The restriction of any highway to use by passenger motor vehicles shall not prohibit the use thereof by motor vehicles in livery service as defined in chapter 244b, provided such vehicles comply with the regulations of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, pursuant to subsection (f) of section 13a-26, as amended by this act, for the length, height and width requirements of vehicles authorized to operate on the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways.
Sec. 24. Section 14-286 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) Each person operating a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or across any roadway upon and along a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal within a reasonable distance before overtaking and passing a pedestrian. Each person operating a bicycle or a motor-driven cycle upon a roadway shall within a reasonable distance give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or another bicycle operator. No person shall operate a bicycle upon or along a sidewalk or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk if such operation is prohibited by any ordinance of any city, town or borough or by any regulation of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration issued or adopted pursuant to the provisions of section 14-298, as amended by this act.
(b) No person shall ride a motor-driven cycle unless that person holds a valid motor vehicle operator's license. No person shall operate a motor-driven cycle on any sidewalk, limited access highway or turnpike.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue to a person who does not hold a valid operator's license a special permit that authorizes such person to ride a motor-driven cycle if (A) such person presents to the commissioner a certificate by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state that such person is physically disabled, as defined in section 1-1f, other than blind, and that, in the physician's opinion, such person is capable of riding a motor-driven cycle, and (B) such person demonstrates to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles that he is able to ride a bicycle on level terrain, and a motor-driven cycle. (2) Such permit may contain limitations that the commissioner deems advisable for the safety of such person and for the public safety, including, but not limited to, the maximum speed of the motor such person may use. No person who holds a valid special permit under this subsection shall operate a motor-driven cycle in violation of any limitations imposed in the permit. Any person to whom a special permit is issued shall carry the permit at all times while operating the motor-driven cycle. Each permit issued under this subsection shall expire one year from the date of issuance.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of any statute or regulation to the contrary, the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 determining the conditions and circumstances under which bicycle traffic may be permitted on those bridges in the state on limited access highways which it designates to be safe for bicycle traffic. Bicycle traffic shall not be prohibited on any such bridges under such conditions and circumstances.
(e) As used in this section: (1) "Sidewalk" means any sidewalk laid out as such by any town, city or borough, and any walk which is reserved by custom for the use of pedestrians, or which has been specially prepared for their use. "Sidewalk" does not include crosswalks and does not include footpaths on portions of public highways outside thickly settled parts of towns, cities and boroughs, which are worn only by travel and are not improved by such towns, cities or boroughs or by abutters; (2) "bicycle" includes all vehicles propelled by the person riding the same by foot or hand power; and (3) "motor-driven cycle" means any motorcycle, motor scooter or bicycle with an attached motor with a seat height of not less than twenty-six inches and a motor that produces five brake horsepower or less.
(f) A person shall operate a motor-driven cycle on any public highway, the speed limit of which is greater than the maximum speed of the motor-driven cycle, only in the right hand lane available for traffic or upon a usable shoulder on the right side of the highway, except when preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into or from a private road or driveway.
(g) Any person who pleads not guilty of a violation of any provision of this section shall be prosecuted within fifteen days of such plea.
(h) No person may operate a high-mileage vehicle as defined in section 14-1 on any sidewalk, limited access highway or turnpike.
(i) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
Sec. 25. Section 14-286a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) Every person riding a bicycle, as defined by section 14-286, as amended by this act, upon the traveled portion of a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any vehicle subject to the requirements of the statutes relating to motor vehicles, except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application and except that each town, city or borough and the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration within its jurisdiction as provided in section 14-298, as amended by this act, shall have authority to regulate bicycles as provided in section 14-289, as amended by this act, and said section 14-298, and except as provided by section 14-286c, as amended by this act. No parent of any child and no guardian of any ward shall authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any provision of the general statutes or ordinances enacted under section 14-289, as amended by this act, relating to bicycles.
(b) Every person operating a bicycle solely by hand or foot power upon and along any sidewalk or across any roadway upon and along any crosswalk shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians walking in such areas as provided by the general statutes, except as provided otherwise by any ordinance of any city, town or borough or any regulation of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, issued or adopted pursuant to the provisions of section 14-289, as amended by this act.
Sec. 26. Subsection (a) of section 14-286c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) Each person riding a bicycle upon the traveled portion of a highway and intending to make a left turn after proceeding pursuant to the provisions of section 14-244 or subsection (b) of this section, may in lieu of the procedure prescribed by section 14-241, as amended by this act, approach as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the highway, proceed across the intersecting roadway and make such turn as close as practicable to the curb or edge of the highway on the far side of the intersection, provided such procedure is not prohibited by any regulation issued by any town, city, borough or the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration.
Sec. 27. Section 14-289 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
Each town, city and borough shall have authority to make any ordinance not inconsistent with section 14-286, as amended by this act, or 14-288 or any regulation of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration issued pursuant to section 14-298, as amended by this act, respecting governing and controlling the use of bicycles within such town, city or borough, with appropriate penalties for violation thereof, which ordinances may include provisions requiring annual licensing of bicycles and providing for registration of any sale of, or change of ownership in, a bicycle.
Sec. 28. Subdivision (6) of section 14-297 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(6) "Traffic authority" means the board of police commissioners of any city, town or borough, or the city or town manager, the chief of police, the superintendent of police or any legally elected or appointed official or board, or any official having similar powers and duties, of any city, town or borough that has no board of police commissioners but has a regularly appointed force, or the board of selectmen of any town in which there is no city or borough with a regularly appointed police force, except that, with respect to state highways and bridges, "traffic authority" means the [State Traffic Commission] 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 [State Traffic Commission] 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, as amended by this act, 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 [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration as provided in section 14-299, as amended by this act;
Sec. 29. Section 14-299 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, no installation of any traffic control signal light shall be made by any town, city or borough until the same has been approved by the [State Traffic Commission] 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 [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration and shall be submitted to said [commission] office by the traffic authority having jurisdiction. Approval of any such signal light may be revoked by [said commission] the Office of the State Traffic Administration at any time if [it] 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, said lights shall apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians and shall indicate the following:
(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular traffic facing a green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or marking at such place prohibits either such turn or straight through movement, except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully 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 lawfully 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. [The Commissioner of Transportation, in the case of state highways and the traffic authority, as defined in section 14-297, in the case of highways maintained by towns, cities or boroughs, shall review all traffic control signalized intersections on highways within their respective jurisdictions to determine those intersections where signs should be erected to prohibit right turns on a steady red signal as hereinbefore described and cause to have erected such signs by June 30, 1979. For purposes of uniformity, each municipality shall report the results of its reviews to the State Traffic Commission and shall not erect or cause to be erected signs prohibiting right turns on a steady red signal until such signs have been approved by the State Traffic Commission. ]
(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 lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully within the intersection.
(5) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" are in place such signals shall indicate as follows: "Walk": Pedestrians facing such signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; "Don't Walk": No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the "Don't Walk" signal is showing.
(c) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line when marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(2) When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles facing such signal may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
(d) Lenses of the following colors only shall be used and shall be arranged vertically in the signal face or, when necessary, horizontally, and shall conform to the following positions: When arranged vertically, red shall be located at the top, yellow shall be located directly below red and the remaining indications below the yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, circular green, vertical arrow, left-turn arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed; when arranged horizontally, red shall be located at the left, yellow shall be located directly to the right of red and the remaining indications to the right of yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, left-turn arrow, circular green, vertical arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed.
(e) When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green arrow signal is shown, but shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red X signal is shown.
(f) If a traffic control signal, approved by the [State Traffic Commission] 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.
Sec. 30. Subsection (a) of section 14-300 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The traffic authority shall have power to designate, by appropriate official traffic control devices, as defined in section 14-297, as amended by this act, or markers, or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in accordance with the regulations of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk facing vehicular traffic.
Sec. 31. Section 14-300a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration and each municipal traffic authority shall, on highways under their respective jurisdictions and subject to the provisions of section 14-298, as amended by this act, provide special pedestrian street or sidewalk markings at intersections and streets in proximity to projects designated for or containing a high proportion of elderly persons.
Sec. 32. Section 14-301 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration may designate any state highway or part thereof or any bridge upon any such highway as a through way, and may, after notice, revoke any such designation. The traffic authority of any town, city or borough may designate any highway or part thereof under the control of such town, city or borough as a through way, and may, after notice, revoke any such designation.
(b) No designation of a through way shall become effective as to regulation of traffic at any intersection thereon until [said commission] the Office of the State Traffic Administration or such other traffic authority has caused signs to be erected at such intersections. Each such sign shall bear the word "stop", which shall be self-illuminated at night or so placed as to be illuminated by street lights or by headlights of approaching motor vehicles, and each such sign shall be located as near as practicable to the traveled portion of the highway at the entrance to which the stop is to be made, or at the nearest line of the crosswalk thereat, and shall be clearly visible for a distance of one hundred feet along the street intersecting the through way.
(c) The driver of a vehicle shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at such clearly marked stop line or lines as may be established by the traffic authority having jurisdiction or, in the absence of such line or lines, shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at the entrance to a through highway and shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles not so obliged to stop which are within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(d) Nothing herein contained shall prevent said [commission] office or such traffic authority from erecting such stop signs on all corners of any intersection within its jurisdiction, and thereafter the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, relating to the stopping of motor vehicles and the right-of-way within such intersection, shall apply to the operation of motor vehicles on each of the intersecting streets.
(e) The driver of a vehicle shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at a railroad crossing erected and maintained on the highway by requirement of the Commissioner of Transportation or the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration.
Sec. 33. Section 14-302 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, may designate intersections at which signs bearing the words "Yield" may be erected. The driver of a vehicle approaching a "Yield" sign shall, in obedience to such sign, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions, and shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection, provided, if such driver is involved in a collision, such collision shall be deemed prima facie evidence of such driver's failure to yield the right-of-way.
Sec. 34. Section 14-307 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The traffic authority of any city, town or borough shall have power to prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles and to erect and maintain signs in each block designating the time or terms of such prohibition or restriction on any highway or thoroughfare coming under the jurisdiction of such city, town or borough and such traffic authority may remove from state highways, except limited access highways, within the territorial limits of such city, town or borough any vehicles parked in violation of any regulation of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration established in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and of any rule, regulation, order or ordinance of any such city, town or borough relative to or in connection with parking on such highway. Such removal shall be undertaken in accordance with the procedures employed by the city, town or borough in the removal of vehicles from any highway or thoroughfare coming under the jurisdiction of such city, town or borough. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish procedures for the removal of such vehicles by such traffic authority and for the storage of such vehicles. The regulations shall, at a minimum, (1) require that such traffic authority provide written notice by certified mail to the owner of any vehicle removed, (2) provide any such owner with an opportunity for a hearing before a hearing officer appointed by the chief executive officer of each city, town or borough and specify procedures for the holding of such hearing, (3) provide that the owner or keeper of any garage or other place where any such vehicle is stored shall have a lien on the vehicle for his storage charges and (4) specify procedures for the sale at public auction of any vehicle placed in storage which is not claimed within a specified period of time by the owner thereof.
(b) The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration shall have power to prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles on any portion of any state highway or on any bridge on any such highway and to erect and maintain signs designating the terms of such prohibition or restriction.
(c) No person shall park any vehicle in any place where parking is prohibited or park any vehicle for a longer period than that indicated as lawful by any sign erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except: (1) A person operating an armored car vehicle may, while in the performance of such person's duties, park for a period not to exceed ten minutes in a place where parking is prohibited, provided such vehicle does not obstruct or impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, or (2) a vehicle displaying a special license plate or a removable windshield placard issued pursuant to section 14-253a, as amended by this act, or by authorities of other states or countries for the purpose of identifying vehicles permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities which limit or impair their ability to walk or blind persons, may park in an area where parking is legally permissible, for an unlimited period of time without penalty, notwithstanding the period of time indicated as lawful by any (A) parking meter, or (B) sign erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Sec. 35. Section 14-309 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
No traffic safety measure or traffic control device, sign or marking shall be installed or maintained on any state highway or on any bridge on any such highway or within the right-of-way of any such highway or bridge by the traffic authority of any town, city or borough, except by consent and written approval of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration. No rule, regulation, order or ordinance of any town, city or borough relative to or in connection with such safety measure or traffic control device, sign or marking on any such highway or bridge, or within the right-of-way of any such highway or bridge, shall take effect until approved in writing by said [commission] office or be effective after such approval has been revoked. Approval of any such traffic control measure may be revoked by said [commission] office at any time, if it deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety.
Sec. 36. Section 14-311 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) No person, firm, corporation, state agency, or municipal agency or combination thereof shall build, expand, establish or operate any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic that substantially affect state highway traffic within this state, as determined by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, until such person, firm, corporation, or agency has procured from [the State Traffic Commission] said office a certificate that the operation thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that any development, including any development to be built in phases, without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not be required to obtain such certificate if such development is a residential-only development and is not part of a mixed-use development that contains office, retail or other such nonresidential uses, provided if any future development increases the total number of residential units to more than one hundred, and such total substantially affects state highway traffic within the state as determined by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, a certificate shall be procured from said [commission] office.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to build, expand, establish or operate such a development until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the [commission] office. If the [commission] office determines that any person, firm, corporation, or state or municipal agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate from [the commission] said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the person, firm, corporation or agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development, or (B) comply with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such person, firm, corporation or agency fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with an order of the [commission] office within such time as specified by the commission, the [commission] office may make an application to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or operation of such development. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to occupy homes on such lots until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the [commission] office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions have been satisfied.
(c) [The State Traffic Commission shall issue its decision on an application for a certificate under subsection (a) of this section not later than one hundred twenty days after it is filed, except that, if the commission needs additional information from the applicant, it shall notify the applicant in writing as to what information is required and (1) the commission may toll the running of such one-hundred-twenty-day period by the number of days between and including the date such notice is received by the applicant and the date the additional information is received by the commission, and (2) if the commission receives the additional information during the last ten days of the one-hundred-twenty-day period and needs additional time to review and analyze such information, it may extend such period by not more than fifteen days. The State Traffic Commission may also, at its discretion, postpone action on any application submitted pursuant to this section or section 14-311a until such time as it is shown that an application has been approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency. ] The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency.
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, the width and character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the extent that such improvements address impacts to highway safety created by the addition of the applicant's proposed development or activity. If the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the person building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to said person to construct or install the changes required by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration.
(e) Any person aggrieved by any decision of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration hereunder may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such provisions relate to expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic in operation on July 1, 1967.
(f) Before submitting an application for any development generating large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the Office of the State Traffic Administration, the individual or entity submitting such application shall attend a mandatory meeting with the Office of the State Traffic Administration and other staff from the Department of Transportation. At such meeting, such individual or entity shall present the applicant's proposed development to such department staff and receive feedback, including, but not limited to, information as to what needs to be submitted for an application to be considered complete.
Sec. 37. Section 14-311b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, in cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities, may, in any parking area for twenty or more vehicles or for any commercial establishment having an exit or entrance on or abutting or adjoining any state highway, establish traffic controls by signal or device, for access to and egress from and for traffic within such parking area or commercial establishment. The traffic authority of any city, town or borough may establish similar controls for parking areas for twenty or more vehicles or for any commercial establishment having an exit or entrance on or abutting or adjoining any highway under their jurisdiction. The owner or operator of any parking area or commercial establishment where such traffic controls have been established, pursuant to this section, shall erect and maintain the necessary uniform traffic control signals or devices, which shall conform to the specifications of the manual of uniform traffic control devices established under this chapter and as approved and revised by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, provided no traffic control signal or device shall be installed, operated or maintained until a permit for such installation, operation or maintenance has been procured from the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration.
Sec. 38. Section 14-311c of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) No group of persons, firms, corporations, state agencies or municipal agencies or combination thereof shall build, expand, establish or operate any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic on any group of individual parcels of land which are separately owned but are utilized together for a single development purpose, whether or not such parcels are separated by any state, local or private roadway that substantially affect state highway traffic within this state, as determined by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, until such group has procured from the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration a certificate that the operation thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that any development, including any development to be built in phases without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not be required to obtain such a certificate if such development is a residential-only development and not part of a mixed-use development containing office, retail or other such nonresidential uses, provided if any future development increases the total number of residential units to more than one hundred, and this total substantially affects state highway traffic within the state as determined by the [office of the State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, a certificate shall be procured from said [commission] office.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any such group or member thereof to build, expand, establish or operate such a development until the group or member provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the [commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration. If the [commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that any group or member has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate from [the commission] said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the group or member to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development, or (B) to comply with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such group or member fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with [an] such order [of the commission] within such time as specified by the [commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, [the commission] said office or the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located may make an application to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or the operation of such development. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any such group or member thereof or person to occupy homes on such lots until such group, member or person provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by [the commission] said office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions have been satisfied.
(c) [The State Traffic Commission shall issue its decision on an application for a certificate under subsection (a) of this section not later than one hundred twenty days after it is filed, except that, if the commission needs additional information from the applicant, it shall notify the applicant in writing as to what information is required and (1) the commission may toll the running of such one-hundred-twenty-day period by the number of days between and including the date such notice is received by the applicant and the date the additional information is received by the commission, and (2) if the commission receives the additional information during the last ten days of the one-hundred-twenty-day period and needs additional time to review and analyze such information, it may extend such period by not more than fifteen days. The State Traffic Commission may also, at its discretion, postpone action on any application submitted pursuant to this section or section 14-311a until such time as it is shown that an application has been approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency. ] The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency.
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, the width and character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the extent that such improvements address impacts to highway safety created by the addition of the applicant's proposed development or activity. If the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the group building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to said group to construct or install the changes required by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, in consultation with the local traffic authority.
(e) Any group aggrieved by any decision of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration hereunder may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such provisions relate to expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic which has received all necessary permits, variances, exceptions and approvals from the municipal zoning commission, planning commission, combined planning and zoning commission and zoning board of appeals in which such development is located prior to or on July 1, 1985, or to any such development which is in operation on that date.
Sec. 39. Section 14-311d of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
Notwithstanding any provision of title 13b or this title, in all matters in which a formal petition, application or request for a permit is required to be submitted to the Commissioner of Transportation or the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, and such petition, application or request is in connection with an economic development project, the commissioner or [commission] office shall, not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner or [commission] office receives a completed petition, application or request, make a final determination whether to approve such completed petition, application or request. The commissioner or [commission] office shall notify the petitioner, applicant or requestor of such final determination. In the event that the commissioner or [commission] office fails to make a final determination not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner or [commission] office received such completed petition, application or request, such completed petition, application or request shall be deemed approved.
Sec. 40. Section 14-314 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any order made pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both, and shall be subject to the provisions of section 14-111. Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any traffic control signal, sign, marking or other device placed and maintained upon the highway, or with any regulation adopted pursuant to any provision of this chapter, by the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration or the traffic authority of any city, town or borough shall be deemed to have committed an infraction, if no other penalty is provided by law. Traveling at a greater rate of speed than is reasonable as provided in section 14-218a, as amended by this act, shall not be deemed to be a failure to comply with the provisions of this section but shall be deemed to be the commission of an infraction within the provisions of said section 14-218a.
Sec. 41. Section 14-314c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, shall, upon receipt of an application on behalf of any person under the age of eighteen who is deaf, as certified by a physician, erect one or more signs in the person's neighborhood to warn motor vehicle operators of the presence of the deaf person.
(b) The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this section.
Sec. 42. Section 14-314d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, may, within available appropriations, designate locations at which signs bearing the words "STATE LAW REQUIRES USE OF SIGNAL LIGHTS WHEN CHANGING LANES" may be erected.
Sec. 43. Section 17a-24 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The superintendent of any institution in the Department of Children and Families, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Children and Families and the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit, restrict or regulate the parking of vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds of the respective institutions; and (6) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Security officers or institutional patrolmen appointed to act as state policemen on state institution grounds under the provisions of section 29-18, may arrest or issue summons for violation of such regulations, restrictions or prohibitions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be fined not more than five dollars, and the court or traffic or parking authority having jurisdiction of traffic or parking violations in the town in which the institution is located shall have jurisdiction of violations of this section.
Sec. 44. Section 17a-465 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The superintendent or director of any state-operated facility within the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit, restrict or regulate the parking of vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds of the respective facilities; and (6) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Agency police appointed to act as state policemen on the grounds of state-operated facilities under the provisions of section 29-18 may arrest or issue summons for violation of such restrictions or prohibitions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars, and the court or traffic or parking authority having jurisdiction of traffic or parking violations in the town in which such facility is located shall have jurisdiction over violations of this section.
Sec. 45. Section 19a-33 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The superintendent or director of any state-operated facility within the Department of Public Health, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Public Health and the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit, restrict or regulate the parking of vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds of the respective facilities; and (6) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Security officers or institutional patrolmen appointed to act as state policemen on state institution grounds under the provisions of section 29-18 may arrest or issue summons for violation of such restrictions or prohibitions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars, and the court or traffic or parking authority having jurisdiction of traffic or parking violations in the town in which such facility is located shall have jurisdiction over violations of this section.
Sec. 46. Subsection (b) of section 27-107 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(b) The Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs, subject to the approval of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, may: (1) Prohibit, limit, restrict or regulate the parking of vehicles; (2) determine speed limits; (3) install stop signs; (4) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic; (5) designate the location of crosswalks on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds of the Veterans' Home; and (6) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. Security officers or institutional patrolmen appointed to act as state policemen under the provisions of section 29-18 may arrest or issue a summons for violation of such restrictions or prohibitions. Any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars, and the court or traffic or parking authority having jurisdiction of traffic or parking violations in the town of Rocky Hill shall have jurisdiction over violations of this section.
Sec. 47. Subsection (e) of section 15-120nn of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(e) The authority may (1) prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles, (2) determine speed limits with the approval of the [State Traffic Commission] Office of the State Traffic Administration, (3) restrict roads or portions thereof to one-way traffic, (4) designate the location of crosswalks, on any portion of any road or highway upon the grounds of any airport owned or held under lease by the state, and (5) erect and maintain signs designating such prohibitions or restrictions. The authority may provide by procedure for a fine for any person who fails to comply with any such prohibition or restriction.
Sec. 48. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2012) The supervisory agent for each nonpublic school that receives transportation services provided by the local or regional board of education in which such nonpublic school is located shall develop and implement a policy for notifying parents or guardians of students when there may be an age range of ten years or more among students who ride the same school bus.
Sec. 49. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 14-262 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(1) A vehicle, combination of vehicle and trailer or commercial vehicle combination, including each such vehicle's load, which is wider than one hundred two inches or its approximate metric equivalent of two and six-tenths meters or one hundred two and thirty-six-hundredths inches, including its load, but not including the following safety devices: Reasonably sized rear view mirrors, turn signals, steps and handholds for entry and egress, spray and splash suppressant devices, load-induced tire bulge and any other state-approved safety device which the Commissioner of Transportation determines is necessary for the safe and efficient operation of such a vehicle or combination, provided no such state-approved safety device protrudes more than three inches from each side of the vehicle or provided no such device has by its design or use the capability to carry cargo. Such permit shall not be required in the case of (A) farm equipment, (B) a vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer loaded with hay or straw, (C) a school bus equipped with a folding stop sign or exterior mirror, as approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, which results in a combined width of bus and sign or bus and mirror in excess of that established by this subsection, (D) a trailer designed and used exclusively for transporting boats when the gross weight of such boats does not exceed four thousand pounds, [or] (E) a recreation vehicle with appurtenances, including safety devices and retracted shade awnings, no greater than six inches on each side for a maximum allowance of twelve inches, or (F) a vehicle with an attached snow plow, provided the snow plow may not exceed one hundred forty-four inches in width; and
Sec. 50. (NEW) (Effective from passage) On or before December 1, 2012, the Department of Transportation shall, in consultation with Metro North Railroad, provide automated renewal of monthly student passes.
Sec. 51. Subsection (e) of section 14-270 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes, as amended by section 51 of public act 12-81, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(e) (1) The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 prescribing standards for issuance of permits for vehicles with divisible or indivisible loads not conforming to the provisions of section 14-267a.
(2) In adopting regulations pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall allow for the issuing of a wrecker towing or transporting emergency permit, provided such movement of a wrecked or disabled vehicle by a wrecker with a permit issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be in accordance with any limitations as to highway or bridge use and maximum rate of speed as specified by the commissioner. [For each wrecker towing or transporting emergency permit, the owner or lessee of a wrecker shall pay an annual fee of (A) one hundred twenty-five dollars for a wrecker with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand pounds or less, and (B) two hundred fifty dollars for a wrecker with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of more than twenty-six thousand pounds. ]
Sec. 52. Section 14-311a of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective July 1, 2012)