Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-44

Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 14-44 - License endorsement for operators of commercial motor vehicles used for passenger transportation, school buses, student transportation vehicles, taxicabs, motor vehicles in livery service and motor or service buses. Requirements. Hearing. Appeal. Report re persons whose license or endorsement has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked. Penalty

(a)

(1) No person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle used for passenger transportation on any public highway of this state until such person has obtained a commercial driver's license with a public passenger endorsement, as defined in section 14-1, from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, except a nonresident who holds such license with such endorsement issued by another state.

(2) No person shall operate a school bus until such person has obtained a commercial driver's license with a school bus endorsement, except that a person who holds such a license without such endorsements may operate a school bus without passengers for the purpose of road testing or moving the vehicle.

(3) No person shall operate a student transportation vehicle, as defined in section 14-212, taxicab, motor vehicle in livery service, motor bus or service bus until such person has obtained an operator's license of the proper classification bearing an appropriate public passenger endorsement from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, issued in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 14-36a, except that a person who holds an operator's license without such endorsement may operate any such vehicle without passengers for the purpose of road testing or moving the vehicle.

(b)

(1) No operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement shall be issued or renewed in accordance with the provisions of this section or section 14-36a, until the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or the commissioner's authorized representative, is satisfied that the applicant is a proper person to receive such an operator's license bearing an endorsement, holds a valid motor vehicle operator's license, or, if necessary for the class of vehicle operated, a commercial driver's license and is at least eighteen years of age. Each applicant for an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement or the renewal of such a license shall furnish the commissioner, or the commissioner's authorized representative, with satisfactory evidence, under oath, to prove that such person has no criminal record and has not been convicted of a violation of section 14-227a or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n within five years of the date of application and that no reason exists for a refusal to grant or renew such an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement. Each applicant for such an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement shall submit with the application proof satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant has passed a physical examination administered not more than ninety days prior to the date of application and meets the physical qualification standards set forth in 49 CFR 391, as amended from time to time. Each applicant for renewal of such license shall present evidence that such applicant is in compliance with the physical qualification standards established in 49 CFR 391, as amended from time to time. Each applicant for such an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement shall be fingerprinted before the license bearing a public passenger endorsement is issued.

(2) The Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Departments of Aging and Disability Services, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Social Services, shall develop, and thereafter revise as needed, a video presentation providing instruction and best practices concerning ways to appropriately interact with disabled persons who may be receiving services from the departments. In developing such video presentation, the departments may use materials and one or more video presentations developed by a governmental entity, independent contractor or any other party. The departments shall post such video presentation and any other training resources concerning ways to appropriately interact with persons with an intellectual disability or other developmental disabilities in a conspicuous location on their respective Internet web sites. On and after January 1, 2024, prior to issuing or renewing an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall require the applicant for such license to watch such video presentation.

(c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue, withhold, renew, suspend, cancel or revoke any public passenger endorsement required to operate a motor vehicle that transports passengers, as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-36a. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, in making his or her decision, consider the age, accident and criminal record, moral character and physical condition of any such applicant or public passenger endorsement holder and such other matters as the commissioner may determine. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may require any such applicant or public passenger endorsement holder to furnish the statements of two or more reputable citizens, which may be required to be under oath, vouching for the good character or other qualifications of the applicant or public passenger endorsement holder.

(d) Upon the arrest of any person who holds an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement, as defined in section 14-1, and who is charged with a felony or violation of section 53a-73a, the arresting officer or department, within forty-eight hours, shall cause a report of such arrest to be made to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The report shall be made on a form approved by said commissioner containing such information as the commissioner prescribes. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(e)

(1) Prior to issuing an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall require each applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks, conducted in accordance with section 29-17a. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall complete such state and national criminal history records checks required pursuant to this section within sixty days of receiving such a request for a check of such records. If notice of a state or national criminal history record is received, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, subject to the provisions of section 46a-80, refuse to issue an operator's license bearing such public passenger endorsement and, in such case, shall immediately notify the applicant, in writing, of such refusal. Each applicant for a public passenger endorsement to operate a school bus or student transportation vehicle shall submit to a check of the state child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k. If notification that the applicant is listed as a perpetrator of abuse on the state child abuse and neglect registry is received, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may refuse to issue an operator's license bearing such public passenger endorsement and, in such case, shall immediately notify the applicant, in writing, of such refusal. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a temporary operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement for operation of a school bus or student transportation vehicle.

(2) The fingerprints of an applicant for a public passenger endorsement to operate a school bus may be captured electronically or by other means in accordance with section 29-17a.

(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, "certificate or permit holder" means any person, association, limited liability company or corporation that holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a taxicab, as described in section 13b-97 or holds a permit to operate a motor vehicle in livery service, as described in section 13b-103. Any certificate or permit holder who seeks to employ a person who has applied for a public passenger endorsement to operate a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section may permit such person to operate a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service prior to the approval by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of the application for such endorsement, but in no event for a period longer than ninety days after the date of application for such endorsement, provided such certificate or permit holder determines such person meets the requirements to operate a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service set forth in regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (f) of this section. In making such determination, such certificate or permit holder shall (A) conduct, or have a consumer reporting agency regulated under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act conduct, a local, state and national criminal history records check, including a search of state and national sexual offender registry databases, and (B) review such person's driving history record maintained by the commissioner and dated not more than seven days prior to the date of such review. A person who is approved by a certificate or permit holder under this subdivision shall carry and present, upon request, a copy of such person's application to the commissioner and criminal history records check when such person is operating a taxicab or motor vehicle in livery service.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the commissioner shall not issue an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement to transport passengers who are students, and shall suspend any such public passenger endorsement that has been issued, to any person who has been convicted of a serious criminal offense, as determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or convicted of any provision of federal law or the law of any other state, the violation of which involves conduct that is substantially similar to a violation determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to be a serious criminal offense, if any part of the sentence of such conviction has not been completed, or has been completed during the preceding five years. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(g) Any applicant who is refused an operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement or the renewal of such a license, or whose operator's license bearing a public passenger endorsement or the renewal of such a license is withdrawn or revoked on account of a criminal record, shall be entitled to a hearing if requested in writing within twenty days. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of chapter 54 and the applicant may appeal from the final decision rendered therein in accordance with section 4-183.

(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14-10, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall furnish to any board of education or to any public or private organization that is actively engaged in providing public transportation, including the transportation of school children, a report containing the names and motor vehicle operator license numbers of each person who has been issued an operator's license with one or more public passenger endorsements, authorizing such person to transport passengers in accordance with the provisions of section 14-36a, but whose license or any such public passenger endorsement has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section, or any other provision of this title. The report shall be issued and updated periodically in accordance with a schedule to be established by the commissioner. Such report may be transmitted or otherwise made available to authorized recipients by electronic means.

(i) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-44

(1949 Rev., S. 2384; 1963, P.A. 336; 372; 1969, P.A. 110, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 612, S. 4; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 17; P.A. 74-152; P.A. 75-213, S. 10, 53; 75-577, S. 22, 126; P.A. 76-382, S. 2; P.A. 83-340, S. 2, 4; P.A. 84-254, S. 31, 62; 84-429, S. 25; P.A. 85-148, S. 2; P.A. 87-329, S. 7; 87-585, S. 1; P.A. 89-320, S. 1, 2, 12; P.A. 90-112, S. 12, 14; 90-263, S. 10, 74; P.A. 91-272 , S. 1 , 8 ; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 , S. 62 , 70 ; P.A. 93-341 , S. 13 -15, 38; P.A. 01-175 , S. 9 , 32 ; P.A. 02-70 , S. 83 ; P.A. 03-278 , S. 37 ; P.A. 04-217 , S. 4 ; P.A. 05-218 , S. 6 ; P.A. 06-130 , S. 10 ; P.A. 07-167 , S. 47 ; 07-224 , S. 1 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 , S. 20 ; P.A. 09-187 , S. 11 ; P.A. 10-32 , S. 49 ; 10-110 , S. 35 , 57 ; P.A. 11-213 , S. 18 ; P.A. 12-81 , S. 49 ; P.A. 14-130 , S. 9 , 29 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 , S. 200 ; P.A. 16-39 , S. 9 ; 16-55 , S. 14 ; 16-126 , S. 10 ; P.A. 17-68 , S. 15 ; 17-140 , S. 12 ; P.A. 18-164 , S. 26 .)

Amended by P.A. 23-0137,S. 25 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 19-0119, SS.  5 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, 6 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session eff. 7/1/2019.

Amended by P.A. 18-0164, S. 26 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2018 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2018.

Amended by P.A. 17-0140, S. 12 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 1/1/2018.

Amended by P.A. 17-0068, S. 15 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 16-0126, S. 10 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2016.

Amended by P.A. 16-0039, S. 9 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2016.

Amended by P.A. 16-0055, S. 14 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 5/31/2016.

Amended by P.A. 15-0005, S. 200 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Special Session, eff. 7/6/2015.

Amended by P.A. 14-0130, S. 29 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2014.

Amended by P.A. 14-0130, S. 9 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 6/6/2014.

Amended by P.A. 12-0081, S. 49 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2012.

Amended by P.A. 11-0213, S. 18 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2011.

Amended by P.A. 10-0110, S. 35 of the February 2010 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2011.

Amended by P.A. 10-0110, S. 57 of the February 2010 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2010.

Amended by P.A. 10-0032, S. 49 of the February 2010 Regular Session, eff. 5/10/2010.

Amended by P.A. 09-0187, S. 11 of the the 2009 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2009.

Cited. 148 C. 456 .