AN ACT CONCERNING THE ISSUANCE OF ENHANCED RECOGNITION NUMBER PLATES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subdivision (74) of section 14-1 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes, as amended by section 37 of public act 10-110 and section 61 of public act 11-213, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2013):

(74) "Registration number" means the identifying number, symbol or letters, or [both] combination of such number, symbol or letters, assigned by the commissioner to a motor vehicle;

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section and section 3 of this act:

(1) "Enhanced recognition number plate" means a general distinguishing number plate on which is displayed a registration number which contains a commonly recognized symbol that is randomly assigned, which symbol may include, but need not be limited to, a star, diamond or triangle;

(2) "Number plate" has the meaning provided in section 14-1 of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and

(3) "Registration number" has the meaning provided in section 14-1 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.

(b) Not later than November 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall design an enhanced recognition number plate, after consultation with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, to improve the ability of children and other individuals to recall and describe to a law enforcement agency pursuant to an investigation the registration number displayed on a number plate observed by the child or individual. The commissioner shall issue such enhanced recognition number plates pursuant to section 3 of this act.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2013) (a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue enhanced recognition number plates for new registrations and renewal registrations issued on and after January 2, 2013, in accordance with a schedule established by the commissioner in such quantities as the commissioner deems feasible within the funds and personnel available. The commissioner shall issue such enhanced recognition number plates for passenger, combination and commercial registrations and other registrations for which general distinguishing number plates are issued. Each enhanced recognition number plate shall bear the words "Constitution State" and "Connecticut". The commissioner shall issue two enhanced recognition number plates for each registration. No enhanced recognition number plates shall be required for any registration for which special number plates are issued.

(b) No additional charge shall be made for the issuance of such new or replacement enhanced recognition number plates pursuant to this section.

(c) The owner or lessee of each registered motor vehicle who is issued two enhanced recognition number plates by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall display such plates on such motor vehicle as provided in section 14-18 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. A violation of this subsection shall be an infraction.

Sec. 4. Section 14-18 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2013):

(a) (1) Each motor vehicle for which one number plate has been issued shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a conspicuous place at the rear of such vehicle the number plate. The commissioner may issue a sticker denoting the expiration date of the registration. Such sticker shall be displayed in such place on the vehicle as the commissioner may direct. Such sticker may contain the corresponding letters and numbers of the registration and number plate issued by the commissioner.

(2) Each motor vehicle for which two number plates have been issued shall, while in use or operation upon any public highway, display in a conspicuous place at the front and the rear of such vehicle the number plates. The commissioner may issue a sticker denoting the expiration date of the registration. Such sticker shall be displayed in such place on the vehicle as the commissioner may direct. Such sticker may contain the corresponding letters, [and] numbers and symbols of the number plate issued by the commissioner.

(b) Repealed by 1969, P.A. 247, S. 1.

(c) Official number plates when displayed upon motor vehicles shall be entirely unobscured and the [numerals and] letters, numbers and symbols thereon shall be plainly legible at all times. Such number plates shall be horizontal, and shall be fastened so as not to swing and, during the time when a motor vehicle is required to display lights, the rear number plate shall be so illuminated as to be legible at a distance of fifty feet. Nothing may be affixed to a motor vehicle or to the official number plates displayed on such vehicle that obscures or impairs the visibility of any information on such number plates. Not more than one number plate shall be displayed on the front or rear of any motor vehicle in operation upon the public highways of the state; provided any motor vehicle may, upon permission of the commissioner, display more than one number plate in front or rear, subject to such conditions as the commissioner prescribes. If any number plate supplied by the commissioner is lost, or if the registered number thereon becomes mutilated or illegible, the owner of or the person in control of the motor vehicle for which such number plate was furnished shall immediately place a temporary number plate bearing said registration number upon such motor vehicle, which temporary number plate shall conform to the regular number plate and shall be displayed as nearly as possible as herein provided for such regular number plate; and such owner shall, within forty-eight hours after such loss or mutilation of the number plate, give notice thereof to the commissioner and apply for a new number plate. The commissioner may issue a permit to operate with such temporary plate and shall supply new number plates upon payment of the fee therefor as provided in section 14-50a. Upon receipt of such new number plates and new certificate, the remaining old number plate, if any, and certificate shall be surrendered to the commissioner.

(d) All number plates shall be the property of the state and no title therein shall pass to any person registering a motor vehicle under the provisions of this chapter. The owner of any registered motor vehicle which is not reregistered at the end of a registration period shall, within ten days, return the number plates thereof to the commissioner. Any person who sells a motor vehicle pursuant to section 14-150 or 49-61 shall, within ten days of such sale, return to the commissioner any number plates displayed on the vehicle or which come into such person's possession in connection with such sale. When the commissioner issues a new type of number plate for use by all persons registering motor vehicles, the obsolete number plates shall become the property of the registrant upon the expiration date.

(e) The commissioner may issue a number plate inscribed with the legend "SAMPLE". Such number plate shall not be displayed on any motor vehicle or used as official registration marker plates. The commissioner may impose a fee for the issuance of such number plate. Such fee shall be sufficient to cover the cost of manufacturing and issuing such number plate.

(f) No person shall wilfully damage or destroy any number plate.

(g) Violation of any provision of subsection (a), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of this section shall be an infraction.

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

Section 4 was added for consistency with the general statutes.