State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Connecticut > Title14 > Chap246 > Sec14-111Sec. 14-111. Suspension or revocation of registration, license or right to operate. (a) Powers of commissioner. Return of registration or license. No provision of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the commissioner from suspending or revoking any registration or any operator's license issued under the provisions of any statute relating to motor vehicles, or from suspending the right of any person to operate a motor vehicle in this state, or from suspending or revoking the right of any nonresident to operate, or the right to any operation of, any motor vehicle within this state, for any cause that he deems sufficient, with or without a hearing. Whenever any certificate of registration or any operator's license or both are suspended or revoked, all evidence of the same shall be delivered forthwith to the commissioner or to any person authorized by him to receive the same, and the commissioner or any person authorized by him may seize such certificate of registration or operator's license and all evidence of the same. Except as otherwise provided by law, the commissioner may cancel any such suspension or revocation and may return such certificate of registration or the operator's license either with or without an additional fee, provided no certificate of registration or operator's license which has been suspended for any definite term, except as provided in subsection (k) of this section, shall be returned until the term of suspension has been completed. Any appeal taken from the action of the commissioner shall not act as a stay of suspension or revocation except with his consent. No service of process shall be necessary in connection with any of the prescribed activities of the commissioner, but a notice forwarded by bulk certified mail to the address of the person registered as owner or operator of any motor vehicle as shown by the records of the commissioner shall be sufficient notice to such person that the certificate of registration or operator's license is revoked or under suspension.
(b) Suspension of operator's license. (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, whenever the holder of any motor vehicle operator's license has been convicted or has forfeited any bond taken or has received a suspended judgment or sentence for any of the following violations, the commissioner shall, without hearing, suspend such person's operator's license as follows: For a first violation of subsection (a) of section 14-224 or section 14-110, 14-215 or 53a-119b, for a period of not less than one year and, for a subsequent violation thereof, for a period of not less than two years; for a violation of subsection (a) of section 14-222, for a period of not less than thirty days or more than ninety days and, for a subsequent violation thereof, for a period of not less than ninety days; for a violation of subsection (b) of section 14-224, for a period of not less than ninety days; for a first violation of subsection (b) of section 14-147, for a period of not less than ninety days and, for a subsequent violation thereof, for a period of not less than five years; for a first violation of subsection (c) of section 14-147, for a period of not less than thirty days and, for a subsequent violation thereof, for a period of not less than one year.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 14-111b, whenever the holder of any motor vehicle operator's license who is less than eighteen years of age has been convicted or has forfeited any bond taken or has received a suspended judgment or sentence for any of the following violations, the commissioner shall suspend such person's operator's license as follows: For a first violation of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 14-219 or subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 14-219, for a period of sixty days and, for a second violation thereof, for a period of ninety days and, for a third or subsequent violation thereof, for a period of six months; for a first violation of subsection (a) of section 14-222, for a period of six months and, for a subsequent violation thereof, for a period of one year; for a violation of subsection (c) of section 14-224, for a period of six months and, for a subsequent violation thereof, for a period of one year; for a first violation of section 14-296aa, for a period of thirty days and, for a second violation thereof, for a period of ninety days and, for a third or subsequent violation thereof, for a period of six months.
(3) The commissioner may suspend the motor vehicle operator's license of any person (A) who was arrested for a felony, and (B) for whom there is an outstanding warrant for rearrest for failing to appear when legally called with regard to such felony. The suspension shall terminate no later than the date on which such person appears before the court with regard to such felony or such failure to appear.
(c) Suspension of license after fatal accident. Repealed by P.A. 95-260, S. 23, 24, effective June 13, 1995.
(d) Notice of revocation or suspension. Notice of the revocation or suspension of any license or registration shall be transmitted forthwith by the commissioner to the chief of police of the city or the prosecuting officers or selectmen of the town or borough in which the person whose license or registration certificate so suspended or revoked resides.
(e) Hearings. The commissioner may hold hearings in each judicial district on all matters arising within such judicial district under the provisions of this chapter. He may use any court room, when the same is not in use by the court, for the purpose of holding hearings and may require the attendance of any officer authorized to serve criminal process, and such officer shall be under the direction of the commissioner. The fees of witnesses and officers shall be the same as in criminal cases before the Superior Court and shall be paid by the Treasurer upon order of the Comptroller.
(f) Enforcement of order. The Superior Court may, by mandamus or other appropriate remedy, upon application of the commissioner, enforce any order issued by the commissioner under the provisions of this section.
(g) Failure to return registration, plates or license. In case of failure forthwith to return any certificate of registration, number plate or plates of any motor vehicle or operator's license upon order of the commissioner, no certificate of registration shall be issued for any motor vehicle licensed by the certificate not returned and no operator's license shall be issued to the negligent party within a period of one year except by an order of the commissioner.
(h) Person not holding Connecticut operator's license. When any person who does not hold a Connecticut operator's license is convicted or has his case nolled or is given a suspended judgment or sentence for a violation of any provision of section 14-36, 14-110, 14-145, subsection (b) of section 14-147, 14-215, 14-224, subsection (a) of section 14-227a or 14-229, the commissioner shall not issue to him a nonresident or resident operator's license during such period as the commissioner may determine, which period shall not be less than the period provided for suspension in subsection (b) of this section or in subsection (g) of section 14-227a. When any person is convicted or has his case nolled or is given a suspended judgment or sentence for any violation of any of the provisions of section 14-12, the commissioner shall not issue registration for any motor vehicle owned by such person until thirty days after application therefor.
(i) Perjury or false statement. Whenever any person has been prosecuted for perjury or false statement under the provisions of section 14-110 and the case has been nolled or a suspended sentence or judgment entered, and when the false statement refers to the name or age or a former suspension or former conviction of the applicant, the commissioner shall suspend or withhold such applicant's license for a period of not less than thirty days plus the period of time wherein the applicant was in possession of the void license.
(j) Bond. Before returning any registration certificate or any operator's license which has been suspended or revoked, the commissioner may require the owner of the motor vehicle or the operator to file with him a surety company bond, conditioned as he directs and taken to the state, as a condition precedent to the return of such certificate or operator's license.
(k) Reversal or reduction of term of suspension or revocation. Regulations. (1) Whenever any person has been convicted of any violation of section 14-110, 14-147, 14-215, 14-222 or 14-224 and such person's license has been suspended by the commissioner or, if such person has had his or her license suspended in accordance with the provisions of section 14-111c or 14-111n, such person may make application to the commissioner for the reversal or reduction of the term of such suspension. Such application shall be in writing and shall state specifically the reasons why such applicant believes that the applicant is entitled to such reversal or reduction. The commissioner shall consider each such application and the applicant's driver control record, as defined in section 14-111h, and may grant a hearing to the applicant in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 and section 14-4a.
(2) Any person whose license has been revoked in accordance with subparagraph (C) of subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of section 14-227a on or after October 1, 1999, may, at any time after six years from the date of such revocation, request a hearing before the commissioner, conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, and the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection for reversal or reduction of such revocation. The commissioner shall require such person to provide evidence that any reversal or reduction of such revocation shall not endanger the public safety or welfare. Such evidence shall include, but not be limited to, proof that such person has successfully completed an alcohol education and treatment program, and proof that such person has not been convicted of any offense related to alcohol, controlled substances or drugs during the preceding six years. The commissioner shall require any person, as a condition of granting such reversal or reduction, to install and maintain an approved ignition interlock device, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 14-227a. The approved ignition interlock device shall be installed and maintained from the date such reversal or reduction is granted until ten years has passed since the date of such revocation. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards to implement the provisions of this section.
(l) Ignition interlock device. Failure to comply with requirements. Any person whose motor vehicle operator's license is suspended by the commissioner and whose license is subsequently restricted to the operation of a motor vehicle that is equipped with an approved, ignition interlock device who fails to comply with the requirements for the installation and use of such device in a motor vehicle owned or operated by such person, as set forth in regulations adopted by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 14-227a, shall be subject to the resuspension of such person's operator's license for such period of time, not to exceed the period of the original suspension, as the commissioner may prescribe.
(1949 Rev., S. 2456; 1949, S. 1345d; 1951, S. 1346d; 1957, P.A. 612, S. 1, 2, 3; 1959, P.A. 220, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 128; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 15, 16, 17; 1967, P.A. 263; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 86; P.A. 73-386; P.A. 74-338, S. 53, 94; P.A. 76-42, S. 2; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127; P.A. 79-245, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-438, S. 1; 80-466, S. 18, 25; P.A. 83-534, S. 4- 6; P.A. 93-177; P.A. 95-260, S. 23, 24; P.A. 98-182, S. 13, 22; P.A. 02-70, S. 47, 48; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 114; P.A. 03-278, S. 44; P.A. 05-215, S. 2, 5; P.A. 07-167, S. 41; P.A. 08-32, S. 6; 08-150, S. 47, 62.)
History: 1959 act amended Subsec. (k) to include reference to Secs. 14-219 and 14-222 and deleted reference to a second violation of Sec. 14-222; 1961 act amended Subsec. (b) to delete provision for suspension for violation of any statute relating to motor vehicles; 1965 act deleted reference to repealed statute and substituted "subsection (a) of section 14-227a" in Subsecs. (b), (h) and (k); 1967 act clarified provisions of Subsec. (c); 1971 act included reference to prosecution for false statement in Subsec. (i); P.A. 73-386 deleted reference to "second" violation of Sec. 14-222(a) in Subsec. (b); P.A. 74-338 deleted provision allowing suspension of license when license holder has had his case nolled upon payment of any sum of money in Subsec. (b); P.A. 76-42 substituted Sec. 53a-119b for reference to repealed Sec. 14-229; P.A. 78-280 replaced county with judicial district in Subsec. (e); P.A. 79-245 replaced reference to "registered or certified" mail with "bulk certified" mail in Subsec. (a); P.A. 80-438 amended Subsec. (k) to add provision re treatment and rehabilitation programs; P.A. 80-466 amended Subsec. (g) to add reference to single license plate; P.A. 83-534 amended Subsec. (b) to delete a violation of "subsection (a) of section 14-227a" from the list of violations with specified periods of license suspension to reflect inclusion of such suspension periods in Sec. 14-227a, amended Subsec. (h) to include the period provided for suspension "in subsection (h) of section 14-227a", and amended Subsec. (k) to delete the authorization for a person convicted of a violation of "subsection (a) of section 14-227a" to apply to the commissioner for a reversal of the suspension or revocation of his license imposed as a result of such conviction and to delete provision that authorized the commissioner to require such person to participate in a treatment or rehabilitation program as a condition to the return of his license; P.A. 93-177 amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re the inadmissibility in a civil or criminal proceeding of the fact of a license suspension when the operator waives his right to a hearing and consents to the license suspension for a period of not less than one year; P.A. 95-260 repealed Subsec. (c) re suspension of license following fatal accident, effective June 13, 1995; P.A. 98-182 divided Subsec. (b) into Subdivs. and in Subdiv. (2) allowed the commissioner to suspend the operator's license of a person who has been arrested for a felony and for whom there is an outstanding warrant for rearrest for failure to appear, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to delete reference to periods of suspension of an operator's license for a first and a subsequent violation of Sec. 14-145 and amended Subsec. (k) to delete references to Secs. 14-145, 14-219 and 14-229, to eliminate provision re application to commissioner for reversal or reduction of term of suspension for any person who has had his case nolled or judgment or execution suspended or has forfeited his bond and to add provision re such application for any person who has had his or her license suspended in accordance with Sec. 14-111c or 14-111n, to allow a person whose license is suspended for specified violations to apply to commissioner for the reduction of the term of such suspension, deleting references throughout Subsec. to reversal of the revocation, to require commissioner to consider each application for reversal or reduction of the term of suspension and the applicant's driver control record and to allow commissioner to grant a hearing to applicant, to eliminate provisions re filing of a trial fee, and to make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2002; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 amended Subsec. (h) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-278 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(1), effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 05-215 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to reduce from five years to two years the minimum period of suspension for a subsequent violation of Sec. 14-224(a), 14-110, 14-215 or 53a-119b, effective October 1, 2005, and applicable to any suspension of an operator's license on or after October 1, 2000, and amended Subsec. (k) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and make technical changes therein and add Subdiv. (2) authorizing a person whose license has been revoked in accordance with Sec. 14-227a(g)(3)(C) on or after October 1, 1999, to apply for reversal or reduction of such revocation; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (k)(2) by changing required time period after date of revocation from 10 years to 6 years, replacing provision re application to commissioner with provision re request for a hearing before commissioner, conducted in accordance with chapter 54, and added provisions re evidence, installation and maintenance of ignition interlock device and adoption of regulations; P.A. 08-32 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to add exception re provisions of new Subsec. (b)(2) and make a technical change, added new Subsec. (b)(2) re suspension provisions for certain violations by holders of operator's licenses who are less than 18 years of age and redesignated existing Subsec. (b)(2) as Subsec. (b)(3), effective August 1, 2008; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (b)(2) to require commissioner to suspend operator's license of holder who is less than 18 years of age for first violation of Sec. 14-219(b)(4), effective August 1, 2008, and added Subsec. (l) re ignition interlock device, effective October 1, 2008.
See Sec. 14-111e re suspension of operator's license for misuse of license to procure liquor.
See Sec. 14-111f re suspension of operator's license for possession of counterfeit or altered license.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
Commissioner may suspend or revoke any operator's license or certificate for any cause that he may deem sufficient. 143 C. 202. Fact that license has been suspended is not proof that operator lacks necessary skill to operate automobile. 146 C. 631. Proper method of appeal from suspension discussed. 148 C. 456. Cited. 176 C. 374. Cited. 177 C. 588. Conditions imposed on license holder under section violated right to equal protection under Conn. Const. Amdt. Art. XXI; not narrowly tailored to particular medical condition. 225 C. 499.
Cited. 38 CA 322, 324.
Not unconstitutional because of failure to require hearing. 7 CS 165. Cited. 16 CS 179. Action of commissioner in suspending or revoking operator's license is reviewable; he must not act arbitrarily or abuse his discretion. 20 CS 208. Cited. 24 CS 348. Not a proper remedy to bring an injunction restraining commissioner from interfering with plaintiff's right to drive where plaintiff had adequate legal remedies. 25 CS 512. The revocation of plaintiff's license upheld, where there was substantial evidence of violation of section 14-267. 31 CS 325.
Commissioner may suspend or revoke any operator's license or right of any person to operate on public highways for any cause he deems sufficient, with or without hearing. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 34, 38. Sending notice of suspension to licensee with suffix "Jr." held sufficient compliance although notice returned unclaimed. Id., 254. Notice mailed by commissioner was sufficient although returned marked "moved, left no address" and defendant was properly convicted for driving without a license. Notice required by this statute may be constructive notice. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 72. Cited. Id., 161; Id., 163. Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 521.
Subsec. (a):
Commissioner has authority to suspend or revoke operator's license for traffic violations occurring in another state. Exercise by commissioner of his powers under this subsection does not give effect to penal law outside jurisdiction of state. 170 C. 140. There is no indication in the legislative history that actual knowledge of a license suspension is required; defendant bears burden of knowing limitations associated with having failed a chemical alcohol test. 245 C. 442.
Cited. 21 CA 496. Cited. 31 CA 797. Cited. 33 CA 727. Cited. 41 CA 866.
Resident of this state who is not a licensed operator in this state and has never been a registered owner in this state is not within class of persons for whom statutory notice is intended. 24 CS 346.
Subsec. (c):
Where a person by careless driving contributes to causing an accidental death, suspension of his license is not unequal treatment or denial of due process. Legislature has drawn reasonable distinction between such operators and other careless operators as matter of public policy. 168 C. 94. Cited. Id., 587. Coroner's findings of fact and conclusions are designed to aid commissioner's decision, but cannot be substituted for independent determination by commissioner. 171 C. 705. Cited. Id. Cited. 172 C. 263. Cited. 202 C. 453. Cited. 204 C. 60.
Cited. 4 CA 143. Cited. 7 CA 748. Cited. 10 CA 90. Cited. 27 CA 377.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 36 CS 586.
Subsec. (k):
Cited. 37 CS 767.
