Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 246 - Motor Vehicles
Section 14-36. - Motor vehicle operator's license.

(a) Motor vehicle operator's license required for operation of motor vehicle. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section and section 14-40a, no person shall operate a motor vehicle on any public highway of this state or private road on which a speed limit has been established in accordance with section 14-218a or section 14-307a until such person has obtained a motor vehicle operator's license.

(b) Adult instruction permit. Out-of-state license holders. Minimum age. (1) A person eighteen years of age or older who does not hold a motor vehicle operator's license may not operate a motor vehicle on the public highways of the state for the purpose of instruction until such person has applied for and obtained an adult instruction permit from the commissioner. Such person shall not be eligible for an adult instruction permit if such person has had a motor vehicle operator's license or privilege suspended or revoked. An applicant for an adult instruction permit shall, as a condition to receiving such permit, pass a vision screening conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles or submit to the commissioner the results of a vision examination conducted by a licensed medical professional, as defined in section 14-46b. Such medical professional shall certify that the applicant meets the vision standards established in regulations adopted pursuant to section 14-45a. An adult instruction permit shall entitle the holder, while such holder has the permit in his or her immediate possession, to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways, provided such holder is under the instruction of, and accompanied by, a person who holds an instructor's license issued under the provisions of section 14-73 or a person twenty years of age or older who has been licensed to operate, for at least four years preceding the instruction, a motor vehicle of the same class as the motor vehicle being operated and who has not had his or her motor vehicle operator's license suspended by the commissioner during the four-year period preceding the instruction. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a motor vehicle operator's license to any person holding an adult instruction permit who has held such permit for less than ninety days unless such person (A) is a member of the armed forces on active duty outside the state, or (B) has previously held a motor vehicle operator's license. (2) A person holding a valid out-of-state motor vehicle operator's license may operate a motor vehicle for a period of sixty days following such person's establishment of residence in Connecticut, if the motor vehicle is of the same class as that for which his or her out-of-state motor vehicle operator's license was issued. (3) No person may cause or permit the operation of a motor vehicle by a person under sixteen years of age.
(c) Youth instruction permit. (1) A person who is sixteen or seventeen years of age and who has not had a motor vehicle operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state suspended or revoked may apply to the commissioner for a youth instruction permit. The commissioner may issue a youth instruction permit to an applicant after the applicant has (A) passed a test as to knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road, (B) paid the fee required by subsection (v) of section 14-49, (C) passed a vision screening conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles or submitted to the commissioner the results of a vision examination conducted by a licensed medical professional, as defined in section 14-46b, that certifies that the applicant meets the vision standards established in regulations adopted pursuant to section 14-45a and (D) filed a certificate, in such form as the commissioner prescribes, requesting or consenting to the issuance of the youth instruction permit and the motor vehicle operator's license, signed by (i) one or both parents or foster parents of the applicant, as the commissioner requires, (ii) the legal guardian of the applicant, (iii) the applicant's spouse, if the spouse is eighteen years of age or older, or (iv) if the applicant has no qualified spouse and such applicant's parent or foster parent or legal guardian is deceased, incapable, domiciled outside of this state or otherwise unavailable or unable to sign or file the certificate, the applicant's stepparent, grandparent, or uncle or aunt by blood or marriage, provided such person is eighteen years of age or older. The commissioner may, for the more efficient administration of the commissioner's duties, appoint any drivers' school licensed in accordance with the provisions of section 14-69 or any secondary school providing instruction in motor vehicle operation and highway safety in accordance with section 14-36e to issue a youth instruction permit, subject to such standards and requirements as the commissioner may prescribe in regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. Each youth instruction permit shall expire two years from the date of issuance or on the date the holder of the permit is issued a motor vehicle operator's license, whichever is earlier. Any holder of a youth instruction permit who attains eighteen years of age may retain such permit until the expiration of such permit. (2) The youth instruction permit shall entitle the holder, while such holder has the permit in his or her immediate possession, to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways, provided such holder is under the instruction of, and accompanied by, a person who holds an instructor's license issued under the provisions of section 14-73 or a person twenty years of age or older who has been licensed to operate, for at least four years preceding the instruction, a motor vehicle of the same class as the motor vehicle being operated and who has not had his or her motor vehicle operator's license suspended by the commissioner during the four-year period preceding the instruction. (3) Unless the holder of the permit is under the instruction of and accompanied by a person who holds an instructor's license issued under the provisions of section 14-73, no passenger in addition to the person providing instruction shall be transported unless such passenger is a parent or legal guardian of the holder of the permit. (4) The holder of a youth instruction permit who (A) is an active member of a certified ambulance service, as defined in section 19a-175, (B) has commenced an emergency vehicle operator's course that conforms to the national standard curriculum developed by the United States Department of Transportation, and (C) has had state and national criminal history records checks conducted by the certified ambulance service or by the municipality in which such ambulance service is provided, shall be exempt from the provisions of subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection only when such holder is driving to or from the location of the ambulance for purposes of responding to an emergency call. (5) The commissioner may revoke any youth instruction permit used in violation of the limitations imposed by subdivision (2) or (3) of this subsection.
(d) Operator's license requirements for persons sixteen or seventeen years of age. (1) No motor vehicle operator's license shall be issued to any applicant who is sixteen or seventeen years of age unless the applicant has held a youth instruction permit and has satisfied the requirements specified in this subsection. The applicant shall (A) submit to the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner shall direct, a certificate of the successful completion (i) in a public secondary school, a technical education and career school or a private secondary school of a full course of study in motor vehicle operation prepared as provided in section 14-36e, (ii) of training of similar nature provided by a licensed drivers' school approved by the commissioner, or (iii) of home training in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection, including, in each case, or by a combination of such types of training, successful completion of: Not less than forty clock hours of behind-the-wheel, on-the-road instruction for applicants to whom a youth instruction permit is issued on or after August 1, 2008; (B) submit to the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner shall direct, a certificate of the successful completion of a course of not less than eight hours relative to safe driving practices, including a minimum of four hours on the nature and the medical, biological and physiological effects of alcohol and drugs and their impact on the operator of a motor vehicle, the dangers associated with the operation of a motor vehicle after the consumption of alcohol or drugs by the operator, the problems of alcohol and drug abuse and the penalties for alcohol and drug-related motor vehicle violations; and (C) pass an examination which may include a comprehensive test as to knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road in addition to the test required under subsection (c) of this section and shall include an on-the-road skills test as prescribed by the commissioner. At the time of application and examination for a motor vehicle operator's license, an applicant sixteen or seventeen years of age shall have held a youth instruction permit for not less than one hundred eighty days, except that an applicant who presents a certificate under subparagraph (A)(i) or subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision shall have held a youth instruction permit for not less than one hundred twenty days and an applicant who is undergoing training and instruction by the driver training unit for persons with disabilities in accordance with the provisions of section 14-11b shall have held such permit for the period of time required by said unit. The commissioner shall approve the content of the safe driving instruction at drivers' schools, high schools and other secondary schools. Subject to such standards and requirements as the commissioner may impose, the commissioner may authorize any drivers' school, licensed in good standing in accordance with the provisions of section 14-69, or secondary school driver education program authorized pursuant to the provisions of section 14-36e, to administer the comprehensive test as to knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road, required pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, as part of the safe driving practices course required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, and to certify to the commissioner, under oath, the results of each such test administered. Such hours of instruction required by this subdivision shall be included as part of or in addition to any existing instruction programs. Any fee charged for the course required under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars. Any applicant sixteen or seventeen years of age who, while a resident of another state, completed the course required in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, but did not complete the safe driving course required in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, shall complete the safe driving course. The commissioner may waive any requirement in this subdivision, except for that in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, in the case of an applicant sixteen or seventeen years of age who holds a valid motor vehicle operator's license issued by any other state, provided the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant has received training and instruction of a similar nature.
(2) The commissioner may accept as evidence of sufficient training under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection home training as evidenced by a written statement submitted to the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner directs. Such statement shall be signed by the spouse of a married minor applicant, or by a parent, grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian of an applicant, and state that the applicant has obtained a youth instruction permit and has successfully completed a driving course taught by the person signing the statement, that the signer has had an operator's license for at least four years preceding the date of the statement, and that the signer has not had such license suspended by the commissioner for at least four years preceding the date of the statement. If the applicant has no spouse, parent, grandparent, foster parent or guardian so qualified and available to give the instruction, such statement may be signed by the applicant's stepparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, by blood or marriage, provided the person signing the statement is qualified.
(3) If the commissioner requires a written test of any applicant under this section, the test shall be given in English or Spanish at the option of the applicant, provided the commissioner shall require that the applicant shall have sufficient understanding of English for the interpretation of traffic control signs.
(4) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the purposes of this subsection concerning the requirements for behind-the-wheel, on-the-road instruction, the content of safe driving instruction at drivers' schools, high schools and other secondary schools, and the administration and certification of required testing.
(e) Requirements for issuance of operator's license. (1) No motor vehicle operator's license shall be issued until (A) the applicant signs and submits to the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner directs, an application under oath, or made subject to penalties for false statement in accordance with section 53a-157b, and (B) the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is sixteen years of age or older and is a suitable person to receive the license.
(2) Except any applicant described in section 14-36m, an applicant for a new motor vehicle operator's license shall submit with the application a copy of such applicant's birth certificate or other prima facie evidence, as determined by the commissioner, of date of birth and evidence of identity.
(3) Before granting a license to any applicant who has not previously held a Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license, or whose Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license expired more than two years prior to the application date, the commissioner shall require the applicant to demonstrate personally to the commissioner, a deputy, a motor vehicle inspector or an agent of the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner directs, that the applicant is a proper person to operate motor vehicles of the class for which such applicant has applied, has sufficient knowledge of the mechanism of the motor vehicles to ensure their safe operation by him or her and has satisfactory knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road. The knowledge test of an applicant for a class D motor vehicle operator's license may be administered in such form as the commissioner deems appropriate, including audio, electronic or written testing. Such knowledge test shall be administered in English, Spanish or any language spoken at home by at least one per cent of the state's population, according to statistics prepared by the United States Census Bureau, based on the most recent decennial census. Each such knowledge test shall include a question concerning highway work zone safety and the responsibilities of an operator of a motor vehicle under section 14-212d. Each such knowledge test shall include not less than one question concerning distracted driving, the use of mobile telephones and electronic devices by motor vehicle operators or the responsibilities of motor vehicle operators under section 14-296aa. If any such applicant has held a license from a state, territory or possession of the United States where a similar examination is required, the commissioner may waive part or all of the examination. If any such applicant is (A) a veteran who applies not later than two years after the date of discharge from the military and who, prior to such discharge, held a military operator's license for motor vehicles of the same class as that for which such applicant has applied, or (B) a member of the armed forces or the National Guard who currently holds a military operator's license for motor vehicles of the same class as that for which such applicant has applied, the commissioner shall waive all of the examination, except in the case of a commercial motor vehicle license, the commissioner shall waive the driving skills test for such applicant and may, in such commissioner's discretion, waive the knowledge test for such application, provided such applicant meets the conditions set forth in 49 CFR 383.77, as amended from time to time. For the purposes of this subsection, “veteran” and “armed forces” have the same meanings as provided in section 27-103. When the commissioner is satisfied as to the ability and competency of any applicant, the commissioner may issue to such applicant a license, either unlimited or containing such limitations as the commissioner deems advisable, and specifying the class of motor vehicles which the licensee is eligible to operate.
(4) If any applicant or operator license holder has any health problem which might affect such person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, the commissioner may require the applicant or license holder to demonstrate personally or otherwise establish that, notwithstanding such problem, such applicant or license holder is a proper person to operate a motor vehicle, and the commissioner may further require a certificate of such applicant's condition, signed by a medical authority designated by the commissioner, which certificate shall in all cases be treated as confidential by the commissioner. A license, containing such limitation as the commissioner deems advisable, may be issued or renewed in any case, but nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the commissioner from refusing a license, either limited or unlimited, to any person or suspending a license of a person whom the commissioner determines to be incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. Consistent with budgetary allotments, each motor vehicle operator's license issued to or renewed by a person who is deaf or hard of hearing shall, upon the request of such person, indicate such impairment. Such person shall submit a certificate stating such impairment, in such form as the commissioner may require and signed by a licensed health care practitioner.
(5) The issuance of a motor vehicle operator's license to any applicant who is the holder of a license issued by another state shall be subject to the provisions of sections 14-111c and 14-111k.
(f) Limited license. No person issued a limited license shall operate (1) a motor vehicle in violation of the limitations imposed by such license, or (2) any motor vehicle other than the motor vehicle for which such person's right to operate is limited.
(g) Ignition interlock device. The commissioner may place a restriction on the motor vehicle operator's license of any person or on any special operator's permit issued to any person in accordance with the provisions of section 14-37a that restricts the holder of such license or permit to the operation of a motor vehicle that is equipped with an approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j, for such time as the commissioner shall prescribe, if such person has: (1) Been convicted for a first or second time of a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227a, and has served not less than forty-five days of the prescribed period of suspension for such conviction, in accordance with the provisions of subsections (g) and (i) of section 14-227a; (2) been ordered by the Superior Court not to operate any motor vehicle unless it is equipped with an approved ignition interlock device, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-227j; (3) been granted a reversal or reduction of such person's license suspension or revocation, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 14-111; (4) been issued a motor vehicle operator's license upon the surrender of an operator's license issued by another state and such previously held license contains a restriction to the operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device; (5) been convicted of a violation of section 53a-56b or 53a-60d; (6) been permitted by the commissioner to be issued or to retain an operator's license subject to reporting requirements concerning such person's physical condition, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e) of this section and sections 14-45a to 14-46g, inclusive; (7) had such person's operator's license suspended under subsection (i) of section 14-227b and has served not less than forty-five days of the prescribed period of such suspension; (8) been convicted for a first or second time of a violation of subsection (a) of section 14-227m and has served not less than forty-five days of the prescribed period of suspension for such conviction, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 14-227m and subsection (i) of section 14-227a; or (9) been convicted of a violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n and has served not less than forty-five days of the prescribed period of suspension for such conviction, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 14-227n and subsection (i) of section 14-227a.
(h) Driving history record check. Before issuing a motor vehicle operator's license in accordance with this section or section 14-44c, the commissioner shall request information from the National Driver Registry and the Commercial Driver License Information System, in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR section 383.73. Each driving history record shall contain a notation of the date on which such inquiry was made.
(i) Penalties. (1) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, for a first offense, be deemed to have committed an infraction and be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or more than ninety dollars and, for any subsequent offense, shall be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars or more than three hundred fifty dollars or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
(2) In addition to the penalty prescribed under subdivision (1) of this subsection, any person who violates any provision of this section who (A) has, prior to the commission of the present violation, committed a violation of this section or subsection (a) of section 14-215, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or sentenced to perform not more than one hundred hours of community service, or (B) has, prior to the commission of the present violation, committed two or more violations of this section or subsection (a) of section 14-215, or any combination thereof, shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year, ninety days of which may not be suspended or reduced in any manner.
(j) Regulations. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 2377; 1949, S. 1295d; 1953, S. 1296d; 1957, P.A. 117; 411; 437, S. 2; 599, S. 3; September, 1957, P.A. 23, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 309, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 481, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 150; 550, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 361, S. 3; 1967, P.A. 458, S. 3; 614, S. 1; 807, S. 3; 832, S. 4; 1969, P.A. 55, S. 1; 445, S. 1; 807, S. 1, 2; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 13; P.A. 73-507; 73-605, S. 1; P.A. 74-33; 74-36, S. 1; P.A. 76-263, S. 3, 9; P.A. 77-256, S. 1, 4; P.A. 79-7; P.A. 81-172, S. 17; P.A. 82-223, S. 9; P.A. 83-452; 83-491; 83-577, S. 15; P.A. 84-429, S. 15; 84-546, S. 40, 173; P.A. 86-90, S. 1; P.A. 89-242, S. 1, 7; P.A. 90-265, S. 1, 8; P.A. 91-13, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-341, S. 9; P.A. 95-181, S. 2; P.A. 96-244, S. 35, 63; 96-248, S. 1, 4; P.A. 97-1, S. 1, 4; 97-236, S. 24, 27; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 73, 88; P.A. 02-70, S. 52, 66; P.A. 03-171, S. 1; 03-265, S. 20; P.A. 04-217, S. 2; 04-257, S. 22; P.A. 05-54, S. 1; 05-215, S. 3; 05-218, S. 20; P.A. 06-130, S. 2; 06-196, S. 281; P.A. 07-167, S. 20, 22; P.A. 08-32, S. 2, 3; 08-150, S. 57; P.A. 09-187, S. 2, 51; P.A. 11-48, S. 53; 11-51, S. 218; 11-213, S. 12, 13, 58; P.A. 12-81, S. 37; 12-116, S. 87; P.A. 13-89, S. 2; 13-92, S. 3; 13-271, S. 50, 56; 13-277, S. 22; P.A. 14-122, S. 20; 14-130, S. 4; 14-131, S. 2, 3; 14-228, S. 1; P.A. 16-126, S. 7; P.A. 17-79, S. 2; 17-202, S. 43; 17-237, S. 93; P.A. 21-28, S. 8; 21-79, S. 22; 21-106, S. 9.)
History: 1959 act added to Subsec. (a) provision for waiver of certificate requirement for persons eighteen to twenty-one in hardship cases; 1961 act added provisions re home training certificates to Subsec. (a); 1963 acts added provisions for 60-day operation under out-of-state license and for request by spouse of minor applicant for issuance of license to such applicant and for signing of home training certificate by such spouse to Subsec. (a); 1965 act added references to schools in driver training course provisions in Subsec. (a); 1967 acts clarified provisions by referring to licenses for operation of different classes of vehicles, deleted references to certificates of behind-the-wheel training from secondary or vocational schools, added provision re filing birth certificate copy with application for license and added Subsec. (e) re definition of motor vehicle; 1969 acts required instructor accompanying learning driver to be at least twenty-one and to have held license for at least 2 years, allowed certificate of request, consent or instruction to be signed by stepparent, uncle or aunt under certain conditions, added provision re written examination in English or Spanish and allowed waiver of part or all of licensure examination for persons holding license from territory or possession of U.S.; 1972 act amended provisions to reflect change in age of majority from 21 to 18; P.A. 73-507 specified that behind-the-wheel instruction by drivers' training school be “given on the roads and highways of this state”; P.A. 73-605 allowed brother or sister to sign instruction certificate and added requirement that brother, sister, stepparent, uncle or aunt sign certificate when spouse, parent or guardian is not available to give instruction; P.A. 74-33 added special provision for waiver of examination when applicant recently serving in armed forces and holding military license for class of vehicles he is applying for license to drive; P.A. 74-36 allowed foster parents to sign certificates of request, consent or instruction; P.A. 76-263 made provisions of Subsec. (b) generally applicable to applicants who have not held Connecticut license during the preceding 4, rather than 2, years; P.A. 77-256 repealed change in applicability provision of Subsec. (b) enacted in 1976 act; P.A. 79-7 substituted “on the road” instruction for instruction “given on the roads and highways of this state” and allowed grandparents to sign instruction certificate; P.A. 81-172 required an operator's license for driving on a private road with established speed limit; P.A. 82-223 amended Subsec. (d) by specifying that the commission of a first offense constituted an infraction and establishing a minimum fine therefor of $25; P.A. 83-452 amended Subsec. (a), eliminating the 30-day limitation on the right of a student driver to operate a motor vehicle while under instruction; P.A. 83-491 amended Subsec. (b), providing that a license issued to or renewed by a deaf or hearing impaired person on or after October 1, 1983, shall indicate such impairment upon that person's request; P.A. 83-577 amended Subsec. (d) by increasing the minimum fine for a first offense from $25 to $35; P.A. 84-429 relettered Subsecs., rephrased provisions, transferred provision re license recall in Subsec. (d) to Sec. 14-38(a), a provision re classifications in Subsec. (f) to Sec. 14-36a(c) and made other technical changes; P.A. 84-546 made technical change, overridden in part by P.A. 84-429; P.A. 86-90 amended Subsec. (d)(2) to require signer of home training certificate to hold operator's license for a minimum of 4 years, to eliminate reference to age of such signer and to provide that such certificate be on file for 30 days before applicant may take examination; P.A. 89-242 amended Subsec. (d)(2) to require applicants between 16 and 18 years old to present proof of successful completion of a course relative to safe driving and alcohol and drug education and to authorize the motor vehicle commissioner to adopt regulations concerning the content of safe driving instruction at drivers' schools; P.A. 90-265 amended Subsec. (e) to replace reference to applicant who “suffers from any physical defect or from any disease” with reference to applicant or operator license holder who has any health problem, and to authorize commissioner to suspend license of person determined to be incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle; P.A. 91-13 amended Subsec. (e) to require each part of license examination to be conducted on same day at same location; P.A. 93-341 amended Subsec. (b)(2) to reduce from 60 to 30 the number of days during which a person holding a valid out-of-state motor vehicle operator's license could operate a motor vehicle following establishment of residence in Connecticut, if the motor vehicle was of the same class as that for which his out-of-state motor vehicle operator's license was issued; P.A. 95-181 amended Subsec. (g) by increasing the minimum fine for a first offense from $35 to $75 and the maximum fine from $50 to $90, adding a minimum fine of $250 for any subsequent offense and increasing the maximum fine from $100 to $350 for any such offense; P.A. 96-244 amended Subsec. (d) to transfer authority for the content of safe driving instruction at high schools and other secondary schools from the Commissioner of Education to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 96-248 amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate provisions authorizing person 16 years of age or older to operate a motor vehicle without license and requiring instructor to have full control of motor vehicle and to authorize issuance of a learner's permit on or after January 1, 1997, to persons 16 or 17 years of age, amended Subsec. (c) to require applicant for a new motor vehicle operator's license to file evidence of identity with application, amended Subsec. (d) to increase number of hours of behind-the-wheel, on-the-road instruction from six to eight, to substitute “on-the-road skills test” for “examination”, to increase length of time within which home training certificate shall be on file with commissioner from 30 to 90 days and to insert references to “obtained a learner's permit” where applicable and amended Subsec. (e) to eliminate requirement that each part of operator's license examination be conducted on same day at same location, effective January 1, 1997; P.A. 97-1 restated the provisions of Subsecs. (b) to (e), inclusive, amended Subsec. (b) to restore language allowing persons 18 years of age or older to operate motor vehicles without an operator's license if they meet two requirements, transferred provisions re learner's permit from Subsec. (b) to (c), amended Subsec. (d) for consistency with provisions requiring a learner's permit and to eliminate home training certificates, amended Subsec. (g) to eliminate reference to Subsec. “(a), (b), (c), (d) or (f)” and added new Subsec. (i), authorizing commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section, effective January 30, 1997; P.A. 97-236 amended Subsec. (c)(2) to restate provision re operation on a multiple-lane limited access highway and added exception thereto for permit holders under the instruction of a person who holds an instructor's license, effective June 24, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 amended Subsec. (c)(2) to add exemption and qualifications for ambulance service members, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (d)(1) to increase the fee that may be charged for course on safe driving practices from $25 to $40, effective July 1, 2002, and added Subsec. (e)(5) providing that issuance of a motor vehicle operator's license to an applicant who holds a license from another state shall be subject to provisions of Secs. 14-111c and 14-111k, effective January 1, 2003; P.A. 03-171 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting restrictions on holder of learner's permit to operate motor vehicle on multiple-lane limited access highways, amended Subsec. (d) to increase from five to eight the number of hours of safe driving instruction a 16 or 17-year-old applicant must complete before being issued motor vehicle operator's license, to increase from two to four the number of hours of instruction re the effects of alcohol and drugs on the operation of a motor vehicle that must be included as part of the eight hours of safe driving instruction, to change $40 fee for safe driving instruction to fee prescribed by commissioner by regulation, and to permit 16 or 17-year-old applicant who, while resident of another state, completed all but alcohol and drug portion of safe driving instruction to complete that portion at a fee prescribed by the commissioner by regulation, deleted former Subsec. (h) re definition and redesignated existing Subsec. (i) as Subsec. (h), making technical changes therein, and made technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f), effective October 1, 2003, but not applicable to persons 16 or 17 years of age who applied for a learner's permit on or before that date; P.A. 03-265 amended Subsec. (d)(1) by making identical changes to those made by P.A. 03-171 and adding requirement that signer of statement evidencing home training not have had license suspended by commissioner for at least 4 years preceding date of statement, effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 04-217 added new Subsec. (g) requiring information request from National Driver Registry and Commercial Driver License Information System prior to issuance of motor vehicle operator's license, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (g) and (h) as new Subsecs. (h) and (i), effective January 1, 2005; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes in Subsec. (g), effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 05-54 amended Subsec. (d)(1) by adding Subpara. (A)(iii) re home training in accordance with Subdiv. (2) “or by a combination of such types of training”, changing “eight” to “twenty” re clock hours of instruction and making technical changes; P.A. 05-215 amended Subsec. (h) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) re additional penalties for persons who have one or more prior violations of this section or Sec. 14-215(a); P.A. 05-218 amended Subsec. (e)(1)(A) to delete provisions re renewals need not be under oath and re application to state such information as commissioner requires and add provision re application made subject to penalties for false statement in accordance with Sec. 53a-157b; P.A. 06-130 amended Subsec. (d)(1)(C) to limit the 120-day learner's permit period to only those applicants who produce a certificate from a secondary or vocational school program or from a licensed drivers' school approved by the commissioner, effective June 2, 2006; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (d)(2), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (c) by adding new Subdivs. (3) and (4) re limitations on transportation of passengers by learner's permit holder, redesignating existing provisions of Subdiv. (2) re exemption as Subdiv. (5), redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (6) and making conforming changes, and amended Subsec. (h)(2)(B) by changing penalty from term of imprisonment of 90 days which may not be suspended or reduced to term of imprisonment of one year, 90 days of which may not be suspended or reduced; P.A. 08-32 amended Subsec. (c) to eliminate separate three and six-month passenger restrictions by revising provisions in Subdiv. (3) and deleting former Subdiv. (4), to renumber existing Subdivs. (5) and (6) as new Subdivs. (4) and (5) and to make conforming changes, and amended Subsec. (d) in Subdiv. (1) to increase clock hours of behind-the-wheel, on-the-road instruction for persons issued a learner's permit on or after August 1, 2008, from not less than 20 to not less than 40, to make test re motor vehicle laws and road rules permissive and to clarify that such test is in addition to test required under Subsec. (c) and, in Subdiv. (4), to authorize adoption of regulations to implement requirements for behind-the-wheel, on-the-road instruction, effective August 1, 2008; P.A. 08-150 added new Subsec. (g) re ignition interlock device (Revisor's note: In 2009, existing Subsecs. (g), (h) and (i) were redesignated editorially by the Revisors as Subsecs. (h), (i) and (j), respectively, to conform section with the addition of new Subsec. (g) by P.A. 08-150; P.A. 09-187 amended Subsec. (c)(1)(D) to include grandparent, effective July 8, 2009 and amended Subsec. (d)(1) to make a technical change, make second test of laws concerning motor vehicles and rules of the road mandatory, add provision re authorization for driver's school or secondary school driver education program to administer second test and replace former provisions re fee amount prescribed by regulation with provision establishing maximum course fees, and amended Subsec. (d)(4) to make a technical change and insert “and the administration and certification of required testing”, effective October 1, 2009; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (g)(1) to make provisions applicable to person convicted for a “first” time violation of Sec. 14-227a(a)(2) and reduce minimum suspension period that must be served from “one year” to “forty-five days”, effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 11-51 made identical changes as P.A. 11-48, effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 11-213 amended Subsec. (d)(1)(C) to make inclusion of comprehensive test permissive, rather than mandatory, and amended Subsec. (e) to authorize administration of class D knowledge test in various forms and require administration in other languages, effective July 13, 2011, and amended Subsec. (g)(3) to replace reference to Sec. 14-111(k) with reference to Sec. 14-111(i), effective October 1, 2011; P.A. 12-81 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to rephrase provisions, add provision requiring person to apply for and obtain an adult instruction permit to operate motor vehicle on public highways for purpose of instruction, make person ineligible for permit if such person has had a motor vehicle operator's license suspended or revoked, replacing prior disqualifier of having a “Connecticut” motor vehicle operator's license suspended or revoked, and provide that adult instruction permit entitles holder, while holder has permit in his or her possession, to operate motor vehicle on public highways provided holder is being instructed and accompanied by person meeting specified conditions, amended Subsec. (c) to replace “learner's permit” with “youth instruction permit”, provide such permit expires on the earliest of the permit holder being issued an operator's license, the permit holder attaining age 18 or “two years from the date of issuance” and delete an obsolete date and amended Subsec. (d) to replace “learner's permit” with “youth instruction permit” and delete provision re minimum hours of instruction for applicants to whom learner's permit is issued before August 1, 2008, effective January 1, 2013; pursuant to P.A. 12-116, “vocational school” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “technical high school” in Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-89 amended Subsec. (e)(2) to exclude applicants described in Sec. 14-36m, effective January 1, 2015; P.A. 13-92 amended Subsec. (e)(3) to add provision requiring each knowledge test to include a question concerning highway work zone safety; P.A. 13-271 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to make ineligible for adult instruction permit any person who has had motor vehicle operator's privilege suspended or revoked and to prohibit issuance of motor vehicle operator's license to person holding adult instruction permit who has held permit for less than 90 days unless person is member of armed forces on active duty outside the state or previously held Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license, effective July 11, 2013, and amended Subsec. (d)(1) to delete provision establishing maximum fee of $125 for safe driving practices course or $150 for such course if comprehensive knowledge test is also administered and to establish maximum fee of $150 for any safe driving practices course, effective October 1, 2013; P.A. 13-277 amended Subsec. (e)(3) to add provision requiring inclusion of not less than one question on knowledge test re distracted driving or use of mobile telephones and electronic devices; P.A. 14-122 amended Subsec. (d)(1) to replace “handicapped driver training unit” with “driver training unit for persons with disabilities”; P.A. 14-130 amended Subsec. (b)(1)(B) by deleting reference to Connecticut re person having previously held an operator's license, effective June 6, 2014; P.A. 14-131 amended Subsec. (e)(3) to delete provision re waiver of examination for person honorably separated from armed forces, to add provision re waiver of examination or driving skills test for certain veterans and members of the armed forces or National Guard and to add definitions of “veteran” and “armed forces”; P.A. 14-228 amended Subsec. (g) to add Subdiv. (7) re person whose operator's license was suspended under Sec. 14-227b(i) and has served not less than 45 days of suspension and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2015; (Revisor's note: In 2015, the provisions added by P.A. 13-92, S. 3, and P.A. 13-277, S. 22, were incorporated editorially by the Revisors in the version of Subsec. (e), as amended by P.A. 13-89, S. 2, that became effective on January 1, 2015); P.A. 16-126 amended Subsec. (g) by adding Subdiv. (8) re violation of Sec. 14-227m(a) and by adding Subdiv. (9) re violation of Sec. 14-227n(a)(1) or (2); P.A. 17-79 amended Subsec. (c)(1) by deleting provision re expiration of youth instruction permit on date the holder attains age 18, adding provision re holder who attains age 18 may retain such permit until expiration, and making technical changes, effective June 27, 2017; P.A. 17-202 amended Subsec. (e)(4) by replacing “deaf or hearing impaired person” with “person who is deaf or hard of hearing”; P.A. 17-237 amended Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i) by replacing “state technical high school” with “technical education and career school”, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 21-28 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to Sec. 14-218a(a) with reference to Sec. 14-218a and adding reference to Sec. 14-307a; P.A. 21-79 amended Subsec. (e)(3) by redefining “veteran” and making technical changes; P.A. 21-106 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re vision screening or vision examination in Subdiv. (1) and replace 30 days with 60 days in Subdiv. (2), amended Subsec. (c) to designate existing provision re knowledge test and fee as new Subparas. (A) and (B), add new Subpara. (C) re vision screening or vision examination, designate existing provision re certificate as new Subpara. (D) and redesignate existing Subparas. (A) to (D) as clauses (i) to (iv), amended Subsec. (e) to add “, as determined by the commissioner,” in Subdiv. (2), and replace “who has not operated a motor vehicle during the preceding two years” with “whose Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license expired more than two years prior to the application date” and add provision re commissioner discretion to waive knowledge test in case of commercial motor vehicle license for certain veterans and members of the armed forces or National Guard in Subdiv. (3), and made technical and conforming changes in Subsecs. (c) to (e), effective July 1, 2021.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes