Section 14-12h - Maintenance and compilation of record of all suspended registrations. Availability. Stop and detain procedures. Removal of plates. Seizure, impoundment and forfeiture of vehicle(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall compile and maintain a record of all registrations suspended in accordance with the provisions of sections 14-12c and 14-12g. The commissioner shall update the information contained in such record not less than once per week and shall make available to all law enforcement agencies in this state a list of all registration number plates for vehicles whose registration has been suspended. Such list shall contain the number plate numbers, letters or number and letter combinations and the address at which the vehicle was registered. The commissioner may make available the entire list or a portion thereof and may utilize one or more formats for presenting the information contained therein to facilitate its use.(b)(1) If any police officer observes a motor vehicle being operated upon the public highway, and such motor vehicle is displaying registration number plates identified as suspended on the list made available by the commissioner, such police officer may (A) stop or detain such vehicle and its occupants, (B) issue to the operator a complaint for operating an unregistered motor vehicle, or expired registration if the vehicle is not being operated, in violation of section 14-12, and (C) remove the registration number plates from the vehicle and return them to any branch office of the Department of Motor Vehicles. If any police officer, motor vehicle inspector or constable observes a motor vehicle parked in any parking area, as defined in section 14-212, and such motor vehicle is displaying registration number plates identified as suspended on the list made available by the commissioner, such police officer, motor vehicle inspector or constable is authorized to remove the registration number plates from the vehicle and to return them to any branch office of the Department of Motor Vehicles. If a number plate is identified as suspended on the list provided by the commissioner and such identification is in error, the state shall indemnify any police officer, motor vehicle inspector or constable for any claim for damages made against that individual as a result of such individual's good faith reliance on the accuracy of the list provided by the commissioner regarding the confiscation of number plates.(2) If any police officer observes a motor vehicle being operated upon the public highway or parked in any parking area, as defined in section 14-212, displaying registration number plates identified on the list made available by the commissioner as being suspended, such police officer may seize and impound the vehicle. If a police officer seizes and impounds a vehicle pursuant to this subdivision, such officer shall give notice to the commissioner in such form as the commissioner may require. The police officer shall give such notice not later than three days after seizing and impounding the vehicle.(c) Any motor vehicle that has been impounded in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section shall not be released to the owner or person otherwise entitled to possession of the vehicle unless such owner or person presents a valid registration and a current automobile insurance identification card. Any such impounded motor vehicle that is not reclaimed by the owner of such motor vehicle within forty-five days after impounding shall be subject to forfeiture to the state.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-12h
( P.A. 93-298, S. 4, 11; P.A. 97-226, S. 1; P.A. 98-215, S. 2; P.A. 99-232, S. 2; P.A. 00-99, S. 45, 154; P.A. 01-195, S. 18, 181; P.A. 05-282, S. 3; P.A. 06-196, S. 280; P.A. 07-167, S. 15; P.A. 10-7, S. 6.)
Amended by P.A. 10-0007, S. 6 of the February 2010 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2010. See Sec. 38a-343a re requirement that insurance companies notify the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of the cancellation of private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance policies.