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Connecticut Law About Driving Too Fast
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Research Guides
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles:

Connecticut Judicial Branch:

Civil Jury Instructions:

3.7 Automobile

Connecticut State Traffic Commission:

OLR Research Reports - Office of Legislative Research:

  • Driving Under the Influence and Hit and Run Laws - 2013-R-0235
    You asked us to compare Connecticut's hit and run and driving under the influence (DUI) laws with those of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. You also asked how many people were killed in Connecticut accidents involving (1) alcohol impairment and (2) hit and run drivers.

  • Motor Vehicle Violations on Private Property - 2012-R-0012
    You asked about a motor vehicle accident that occurred in a convenience store parking lot. The responsible driver did not have insurance and was operating under suspension. The police said they could not bring charges against the driver because the accident occurred on private property. You asked what law governs in that situation.

  • Red Light Camera Enforcement Cases - 2011-R-0113
    You asked about recent court cases involving red light camera enforcement and for an update of OLR Report 2010-R-0073.

  • Driver Retraining Program and License Suspension - 2010-R-0264
    You asked about a Connecticut law that requires a driver to take a state-mandated driver retraining course, but does not require license suspension, when the driver commits a specified number of moving violations. You also asked about Connecticut laws under which a license could be suspended and similar laws in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.

  • Red Light and Speed Cameras – 2010-R-0073
         You asked which states have successfully used radar or cameras to cite drivers who speed or drive through red lights (“automated traffic enforcement”). You also asked what happened to automated traffic enforcement bills recently proposed in Connecticut.

  • Pets in Cars and Distracted Driving – 2009-R-0458
    You asked whether a dog sitting in a driver's lap constitutes distracted driving under state law . . .

  • Speeding Fine Comparison for Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia – 2008-R-0027
         You asked for a comparison of the fines for speeding for Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

  • Speed Bumps and Speed Humps - 2006-R-0567
    You asked what the difference is between a speed bump and a speed hump. You also wanted to know where they can be installed—only on local roads or on state roads as well and who is responsible for damage sustained by a vehicle when going over one. 

  • Setting and Enforcing Speed Limits on Private Roads 2006-R-0646
    You asked if a municipality can establish, post signs regarding, and enforce speed limits on (1) private roads generally and (2) private roads within a special tax district in the municipality. 

  • Police Jurisdiction and Speeding - 2005-R-0398  

  • State Police Enforcement - Speeding and Reckless Driving – 2004-R-0838
    You asked for state police enforcement statistics for speeding and reckless driving from 2001 to present and information on fines for such transgressions.  

  • Speed Limits (how they are determined) - 2003-R-0673 

  • The Reckless Driving Law – 2000-R-1139
    You asked for an explanation of the Connecticut reckless driving statute.     

  • Fleeing by Vehicle from Police Pursuit - 2000-R-0489 (CGS § 14-223(b))

  

Connecticut Regulations

Selected Regulations:

Connecticut General Statutes

Selected Statutes:

Chapter 246 - Motor Vehicles

Chapter 248 - Vehicle Highway Use

  • Sec. 14-212. Definitions.
  • Sec. 14-212a. Highway construction zones and utility work zones. Fines doubled.
  • Sec. 14-212b. School zones. Fines doubled.
  • Sec. 14-218a. Traveling unreasonably fast. establishment of speed limits.
  • Sec. 14-219. Speeding.
  • Sec. 14-219c. Use of speed monitoring devices to support a conviction.
  • Sec. 14-220. Slow speed.
  • Sec. 14-222. Reckless driving.
  • Sec. 14-224. Evasion of responsibility in operation of motor vehicles. Racing. Required removal of motor vehicle from traveled portion of highway.
  • Sec. 14-232. Passing.
  • Sec. 14-240. Vehicles to be driven reasonable distance apart.
  • Sec. 14-240a. Vehicles to be driven reasonable distance apart. Intent to harass or intimidate.
  • Sec. 14-295.  Double or treble damages for personal injury or property damage resulting from certain traffic violations.

Chapter 881b - Infractions of the Law

  • Sec. 51-164n. Procedure upon summons for infraction or certain violations. Payment by mail. Procedure at trial.

  • Sec. 51-164r. Failure to pay or plead.

Chapter 882 - Superior Court

  • Sec. 51-193u. Hearing of violations and infractions by magistrate.

Recent Connecticut Case Law

  • Deegan v. Simmons, 100 Conn. App. 524 (2007)
     On appeal, the plaintiffs claim that the court improperly (1) admitted evidence concerning the speeds at which other motorists customarily drive, (2) allowed a police officer to testify as to his practice concerning the circumstances in which he would issue tickets to motorists…

  • State v. Milotte, 95 Conn. App. 616 (2006)
    Police officer lacked a reasonable and articulable suspicion of criminal activity to justify a warrantless investigatory stop of defendant’s vehicle.

    • Appeal dismissed at 281 Conn. 612 (2007)

  • Tarro v. Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, 279 Conn. 280 (2006)
    Officer had a reasonable suspicion to stop a speeder.

  • American Car Rental, Inc. v. Commissioner of Consumer Protection, 273 Conn. 296 (2005)
    A rental company's speeding fee is an illegal fine    .
 

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