(a) The commissioner shall not register any motor bus, taxicab, school bus, motor vehicle in livery service, student transportation vehicle or service bus and no person may operate or cause to be operated upon any public highway any such motor vehicle until the owner or lessee thereof has procured insurance or a bond satisfactory to the commissioner that shall indemnify the insured against any legal liability for personal injury, the death of any person or property damage, which injury, death or damage may result from or have been caused by the use or operation of such motor vehicle described in the contract of insurance or such bond. Such insurance or bond shall not be required from (1) a municipality which the commissioner finds has maintained sufficient financial responsibility to meet legal liability for personal injury, death or damage resulting from or caused by the use or operation of a service bus owned or operated by such municipality, or (2) the owner or lessee of such class of motor vehicle who holds a certificate of public necessity and convenience from the Department of Transportation if such owner or lessee has procured from the department a certificate that the department has found that such owner or lessee is of sufficient financial responsibility to meet legal liability for personal injury, death or property damage resulting from or caused by the use or operation of such motor vehicle. The Department of Transportation may issue such certificate upon presentation of evidence of financial responsibility that is satisfactory to it.
(b) The amount of insurance or of such bond that each such vehicle owner or lessee shall carry as insurance or indemnity against claims for personal injury or death and legal liability resulting from damage to the property of passengers or others for any one accident shall be not less than (1) a single limit of liability of (A) one hundred thousand dollars, if such vehicle is designed or used to transport seven passengers or less, or (B) seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, if such vehicle is designed or used to transport eight to fourteen passengers without compensation; (2) the minimum amounts established in 49 CFR Part 387, as amended from time to time, if such vehicle is designed or used to transport eight passengers or more for compensation, or fifteen passengers or more without compensation; (3) one million five hundred thousand dollars, if such vehicle is operated in livery service under the provisions of sections 13b-101 to 13b-109, inclusive, and designed or used to transport fourteen passengers or less; and (4) five million dollars, if such vehicle is operated in livery service under the provisions of sections 13b-101 to 13b-109, inclusive, and designed or used to transport fifteen passengers or more.
(c) (1) Any person or company issuing any such insurance or indemnity bond shall file with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles a certificate in such form as the commissioner prescribes, and no such insurance or bond shall lapse, expire or be cancelled while the registration is in force until the commissioner has been given at least ten days' written notice of an intention to cancel and until the commissioner has accepted other insurance or another indemnity bond and has notified the person or company seeking to cancel such insurance or bond that such other insurance or bond has been accepted or until the registration of such motor vehicle described in such insurance policy or bond has been suspended or cancelled.
(2) No person or company issuing any such insurance or indemnity bond shall issue an insurance policy or indemnity bond for a motor vehicle specified in subsection (a) of this section for limits less than those specified in subsection (b) of this section. Upon initial registration or renewal of any such motor vehicle, the commissioner may presume that an insurance policy or indemnity bond meets the minimum amounts specified in said subsection (b) for such vehicle.
(d) Any person injured in person or property by any such motor vehicle may apply to the commissioner for the name and description of the insurer of the vehicle causing such injury or the name of the surety upon any indemnity bond of any such owner or the name of the holder of a certificate of financial responsibility.
(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 2371; 1955, S. 1293d; November, 1955, S. N164; 1971, P.A. 487, S. 1; P.A. 75-486, S. 39, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 32, 348; P.A. 81-90; P.A. 82-460, S. 5; P.A. 85-613, S. 122, 154; P.A. 89-222, S. 5; P.A. 90-263, S. 4, 74; P.A. 93-341, S. 7; P.A. 96-180, S. 39, 166; P.A. 99-181, S. 11; P.A. 06-130, S. 13; P.A. 17-79, S. 1; P.A. 21-106, S. 8.)
History: 1971 act raised insurance or bond minimum from $25,000 to $50,000 for one person and raised insurance for property damage from $5,000 to $10,000; P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 gave division departmental status and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 81-90 amended Subsec. (a), exempting self-insured municipalities from the insurance or bond requirement for operation of public service motor vehicles or service buses; and amended Subsec. (b), allowing a single limit of liability in lieu of the double limit for each public service motor vehicle, and exempting self-insured municipalities from provisions; P.A. 82-460 amended Subsec. (c) to add reference to suspension of registration and to delete requirement that commissioner take number plates of vehicles with suspended or cancelled registrations; P.A. 85-613 made technical changes, substituting references to transportation department for references to department of public utility control in Subsecs. (a) and (b); P.A. 89-222 added new Subsec. (f) re increasing the insurance for motor vehicles in livery service; P.A. 90-263 substituted motor bus, taxicab and motor vehicle in livery service for public service motor vehicle; P.A. 93-341 applied Subsec. (a) provisions to school buses; P.A. 96-180 made technical changes in Subsec. (b) to conform Subdiv., Subpara. and clause designations with customary statutory usage, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 99-181 amended Subsec. (f) by increasing the required insurance or indemnity from not less than $600,000 to $1,500,000 for vehicles with a seating capacity of fourteen passengers or less and $5,000,000 for vehicles with a seating capacity of fifteen passengers or more; P.A. 06-130 amended Subsec. (a) to add student transportation vehicles and make a technical change, effective June 2, 2006; P.A. 17-79 amended Subsec. (c) by designating existing provisions re filing certificate with commissioner as Subdiv. (1) and making technical changes, and adding Subdiv. (2) re issuance of insurance policy or indemnity bond for a vehicle and presumption that policy or bond meets minimum amounts specified for the vehicle; P.A. 21-106 substantially amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re legal liability resulting from property damage and substantially revising provisions re minimum monetary limits for certain vehicles, deleted former Subsec. (f) re insurance or indemnity for motor vehicles in livery service and made technical and conforming changes.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 14 - Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway by Vehicles. Gasoline
Section 14-1a. - “Authorized emergency vehicle” defined.
Section 14-2. - Appointment of Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
Section 14-3. - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 14-4. - Findings and rulings of commissioner.
Section 14-4a. - Conduct of hearings and rendering of decisions.
Section 14-5. - Branch offices.
Section 14-5a. - Ansonia branch office.
Section 14-5b. - Discontinuation of branch offices.
Section 14-6. - Coordination of enforcement activities.
Section 14-7. - Deputy commissioners.
Section 14-8. - Police authority of commissioner and inspectors.
Section 14-9. - Oath of office.
Section 14-11. - Employment of legal assistance.
Section 14-11b. - Driver training program for persons with disabilities.
Section 14-11c. - Motor Carrier Advisory Council. Members. Duties.
Section 14-11d. - Annual safety inspection program for fire department apparatus.
Section 14-11j. - Blue envelopes for persons with autism spectrum disorder.
Section 14-15d. - Electronic issuance of registration or certificate of title.
Section 14-21aa. - Connecticut Lakes, Rivers and Ponds Preservation account.
Section 14-21z. - Save Our Lakes commemorative number plates. Fees.
Section 14-36. - Motor vehicle operator's license.
Section 14-36e. (Formerly Sec. 10-24). - Course in motor vehicle operation and highway safety.
Section 14-36f. (Formerly Sec. 10-24d). - Regulations concerning driver education programs.
Section 14-41. - Expiration and renewal of operators' licenses and identity cards. Fees. Notice.
Section 14-44i. - Fees for commercial driver's license and tests. Waiver.
Section 14-49. - Fees for miscellaneous registration and other fees.
Section 14-52a. - Grounds for refusal to grant or renew a dealer or repairer license.
Section 14-67g. (Formerly Sec. 21-15). - Definitions.
Section 14-67h. - “Major component parts” defined.
Section 14-67i. (Formerly Sec. 21-16). - Certificate of approval of location required. Exemption.
Section 14-67k. (Formerly Sec. 21-17). - Hearing on application. Fee.
Section 14-67o. (Formerly Sec. 21-20). - Revocation of license upon sale or transfer of business.
Section 14-67p. (Formerly Sec. 21-21). - Suspension or revocation for violation.
Section 14-67r. (Formerly Sec. 21-22a). - Fencing.
Section 14-67s. (Formerly Sec. 21-23). - Ordinances creating restricted districts.
Section 14-67t. (Formerly Sec. 21-24). - Publication of ordinances.
Section 14-67u. (Formerly Sec. 21-25). - Appeal.
Section 14-67v. (Formerly Sec. 21-26). - Penalty. Injunction to restrain violation.
Section 14-69. - License to conduct a drivers' school. Penalty.
Section 14-70. - Grounds for denial of application.
Section 14-71. - Schedule of rates to be filed.
Section 14-72. - Suspension, revocation or refusal to renew school license.
Section 14-73. - Instructor's license. Master instructor's license. Regulations.
Section 14-75. - Revocation or suspension of license after renewal.
Section 14-76. - Hearing for reinstatement or renewal. Appeal.
Section 14-77. - Records of licensee.
Section 14-80. - Mechanical equipment.
Section 14-80a. - Maximum noise levels. Regulations.
Section 14-80i. - Brake equipment and handlebars of motorcycles.
Section 14-81. - Brake equipment of trailers.
Section 14-81a. - Hydraulic brake fluid.
Section 14-81b. - Restrictions on used brake drums and brake discs.
Section 14-82. - Free-wheeling devices.
Section 14-96a. - Lighted lamps and illuminating devices required, when.
Section 14-96bb. - Operation of motor vehicles without required lighting devices.
Section 14-96c. - Tail lamps. Illumination of rear registration plate.
Section 14-96cc. - Regulation of hazardous lighting equipment.
Section 14-96e. - Stop lamps. Turn signals.
Section 14-96f. - Special requirements for buses, trucks, trailers, truck tractors.
Section 14-96g. - Colors of lamps and reflectors. Reflective sheeting on certain vehicles.
Section 14-96h. - Mounting of reflectors and clearance lamps.
Section 14-96i. - Visibility of reflectors and clearance, identification and side marker lamps.
Section 14-96j. - Vehicles operated in combination.
Section 14-96k. - Projecting loads. Carrying of animals.
Section 14-96l. - Sufficiency of head and rear lights. Parked vehicles.
Section 14-96m. - Farm tractors and equipment.
Section 14-96n. - General lighting requirements.
Section 14-96o. - Spot lamps. Fog lamps. Auxiliary passing lamps. Auxiliary driving lamps.
Section 14-96p. - Color of lights. Flashing lights. Intensity of lights.
Section 14-96q. - Permits for colored or flashing lights. Exceptions. Fee.
Section 14-96r. - Color of stop lamps. Turn signal lamps.
Section 14-96s. - Fender, backup and identification lamps. Penalties.
Section 14-96t. - Multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
Section 14-96u. - Use of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
Section 14-96x. - Head lamp of motorcycle.
Section 14-96y. - Number of head lamps. Number in combination with other lamps.
Section 14-96z. - Intensity of certain lamps. Location of red light.
Section 14-97b. - Lift equipment on motor buses.
Section 14-98a. - Tires to be in safe operating condition.
Section 14-99. - Mirror. Motor vehicles with commercial registration to allow others to pass.
Section 14-99f. - Windshield. Obstruction of view.
Section 14-100. - Safety glass. Use of plastics.
Section 14-100a. - Seat safety belts. Child restraint systems. Wheelchair transportation devices.
Section 14-100b. - Air pollution control devices required on certain passenger motor vehicles.
Section 14-101. - Turn signals.
Section 14-102. - View in and exits from motor vehicles used to transport passengers for hire.
Section 14-102a. - Inspection of student transportation vehicles.
Section 14-103. - Inspection of motor vehicles.
Section 14-103b. - High-mileage vehicles, regulations re safety and performance standards.
Section 14-103c. - Vehicles using liquid propane gas as fuel.
Section 14-103d. - Vehicles using any pressurized gas as fuel. Regulations. Class C misdemeanor.
Section 14-104. - Fenders and other wheel protectors.
Section 14-105. - Television screens or similar devices prohibited. Exceptions.
Section 14-106. - Air conditioning equipment.
Section 14-106b. - Properly functioning odometer required. Tampering with odometer prohibited.
Section 14-106c. - Headerboards required on commercial van-type motor vehicles.
Section 14-107. - Liability of owner, operator, lessee.
Section 14-108. - Report of accidents.
Section 14-110. - Oaths and subpoenas. False statements or reports.
Section 14-111. - Suspension or revocation of registration, license or right to operate.
Section 14-111a. - Possession of alcoholic liquors in motor vehicles by underage persons.
Section 14-111b. - Suspension of operator's license following conviction for speeding.
Section 14-111g. - Operator's retraining program.
Section 14-111h. - Definitions applicable to driver license agreement.
Section 14-111i. - Entry into driver license agreement. Regulations.
Section 14-111j. - Findings and declarations re driver license agreement.
Section 14-111l. - Driver control record. Record of convictions and administrative actions.
Section 14-111m. - Notice of failure to comply with a citation.
Section 14-111n. - Reports of comparable convictions. Suspension of operator's license.
Section 14-112. - Proof of financial responsibility.
Section 14-112a. - Online Insurance Verification System.
Section 14-115a. - Request for document from motor vehicle record.
Section 14-129. - Self-insurance.
Section 14-134. - Appeals from commissioner.
Section 14-135. - Attorney General to act when commissioner is disqualified.
Section 14-136. - First complaint.
Section 14-137a. - Point system for motor vehicle violations.
Section 14-138. - State police to assist.
Section 14-139. - Conviction to be endorsed on license.
Section 14-140a. - Automobile club bail bond certificates, when acceptable as bail.
Section 14-141. - Courts to report convictions and other dispositions to commissioner.
Section 14-142. - Proceedings against negligent court clerk.
Section 14-143. - Expenses in unsuccessful prosecutions by state police.
Section 14-144. - No fees for arrests for motor vehicle violations.
Section 14-145b. - Storage and release of motor vehicles that have been towed or rendered immovable.
Section 14-145d. - Notification to chief of police required prior to use of wheel-locking device.
Section 14-146. - Objects not to be thrown at motor vehicles.
Section 14-147. - Improper use of marker, registration or license.
Section 14-147a. - Theft or illegal possession of number plate or sticker.
Section 14-148. - Abandoned markers.
Section 14-149a. - Ownership or operation of a chop shop. Penalty.
Section 14-150a. - Removal of abandoned motor vehicles by municipalities. Notice.
Section 14-150b. - Municipal Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund.
Section 14-151. - State marshals and constables to enforce law concerning abandoned motor vehicles.
Section 14-152. - Report by law enforcement agencies of theft or recovery of motor vehicle.
Section 14-153. - Renting of motor vehicles.
Section 14-153a. - Exemption. Penalty.
Section 14-153b. - Proof of credit.
Section 14-154. - Liability of owner for damage caused by rented or leased car.
Section 14-155. - Fines and forfeitures to be paid to commissioner.
Section 14-156a. - Payment of State Police Department expenditures from Highway Fund.
Section 14-158. - Fines and forfeitures paid to commissioner to be receipts of General Fund.
Section 14-159. - Refund of money paid to commissioner.
Section 14-160. - Reservation of marker plate numbers. Additional fee for low numbers.
Section 14-161. - Impersonation of inspector or agent.
Section 14-163a. - Driving on ice.
Section 14-163b. - Motor vehicles formerly used as ambulances.
Section 14-163e. - Periodic inspection of certain vehicles or combinations.
Section 14-164. - General penalty.
Section 14-164a. (Formerly Sec. 29-143). - Motor vehicle racing.