Sec. 14-111. Suspension or revocation of registration, license or right to operate.
Sec. 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.