Bill Text: CT SB00295 | 2012 | General Assembly | Introduced

Connecticut Senate Bill 295 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Transportation Of Siblings As Passengers By Drivers Under The Age Of Eighteen.

Sponsorship: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-01 - Public Hearing 03/06 [SB00295 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2012-SB00295-Introduced.html


General Assembly		*Raised Bill No. 295*
*February Session, 2012*		LCO No. 1655
		01655_______KID
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Children
Introduced by:
(KID)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRANSPORTATION OF SIBLINGS AS PASSENGERS BY DRIVERS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN.

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

Section 1. Section 14-36g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2012):

(a) Each person who holds a motor vehicle operator's license issued on and after August 1, 2008, and who is sixteen or seventeen years of age shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, for the period of six months after the date of issuance of such license, such person shall not transport more than (A) such person's parents or legal [guardian] guardians, at least one of whom holds a motor vehicle operator's license, [or] and such person's siblings, (B) one passenger who is a driving instructor licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, or (C) a person twenty years of age or older who has been licensed to operate, for at least four years preceding the time of being transported, 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 such four-year period;

(2) For the period of six months after the date of issuance of such license, such person shall not transport such person's siblings without such person's parent or legal guardian present in the vehicle unless (A) such person is transporting such person's siblings to and from school or extracurricular activities between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., or (B) there is a medical necessity for such travel.

[(2)] (3) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, for the period beginning six months after the date of issuance of such license and ending one year after the date of issuance of such license, such person shall not transport any passenger other than as permitted under subdivision (1) of this subsection and any additional member or members of such person's immediate family;

[(3)] (4) No such person shall operate any motor vehicle for which a public passenger transportation permit is required in accordance with the provisions of section 14-44 or a vanpool vehicle, as defined in section 14-1;

[(4)] (5) No such person shall transport more passengers in a motor vehicle than the number of seat safety belts permanently installed in such motor vehicle;

[(5)] (6) No such person issued a motorcycle endorsement shall transport any passenger on a motorcycle for a period of six months after the date of issuance; and

[(6)] (7) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no such person shall operate a motor vehicle on any highway, as defined in section 14-1, at or after 11:00 p.m. until and including 5:00 a.m. of the following day unless (A) such person is traveling for his or her employment or school or religious activities, or (B) there is a medical necessity for such travel.

(b) A person who holds a motor vehicle operator's license and who is sixteen or seventeen years of age shall not be subject to the restrictions on the number or type of passengers specified in subdivision (1), [or] (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this section, or to the restrictions specified in subdivision (6) of said subsection (a), if such person is: An active member of a volunteer fire company or department, a volunteer ambulance service or company or an emergency medical service organization and such person is responding to an emergency or is carrying out such person's duties as such active member; or an assigned driver in a Safe Ride program sponsored by the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of America or other national public service organization.

(c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. Such regulations may provide exceptions to the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section for a single parent under the age of eighteen for the purposes of transporting the child of such parent to day care, child care and education facilities, medical appointments, and for such other purposes as may be determined by the commissioner.

(d) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to have committed an infraction. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the motor vehicle operator's license of any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section for a period of thirty days for a first violation, and for a period of six months or until such person attains the age of eighteen years, whichever is longer, for a second violation.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the provisions of this section in effect July 31, 2008, shall be applicable to any person who is sixteen or seventeen years of age and who has been issued a motor vehicle operator's license prior to August 1, 2008.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2012	14-36g

Statement of Purpose:

To alter the graduated driver's license system to allow a person who is sixteen or seventeen years of age, after being issued a motor vehicle operator's license, to transport both such person's parents and siblings in the vehicle at the same time and to allow a person to transport such person's siblings without a parent present in the vehicle to and from school and extracurricular activities between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]