Connecticut § 14-39 - Nonresident operators. Reciprocity concerning equipment, marking and inspection of vehicles.

§ 14-39. Nonresident operators. Reciprocity concerning equipment, marking and inspection of vehicles.

Sec. 14-39. Nonresident operators. Reciprocity concerning equipment, marking and inspection of vehicles. (a) Any nonresident sixteen years of age or older who is licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the state or country of which he is a resident may, subject to the provisions of section 14-216, operate any registered motor vehicle on the highways of this state for the same period allowed by the state or country of his residence to residents of this state without complying with the provisions of this chapter requiring the licensing of operators; provided (1) no nonresident shall operate a commercial motor vehicle without a commercial driver's license or a motor vehicle belonging to a class other than that for which his license or commercial driver's license was issued in the other state or country, and (2) no person, including a nonresident, shall operate a motor vehicle with a load greater than the capacity designated in section 14-267a.

(b) Each such nonresident shall display on the motor vehicle he is operating the distinguishing number or mark required by the state or country within which the motor vehicle is registered. He shall conform to all provisions of the general statutes regarding equipment, marking and operation of motor vehicles registered in this state, except that the commissioner may enter into reciprocal agreements with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or other like authority of another state, district or country concerning the equipment, marking or inspection of motor vehicles and may grant privileges concerning noncompliance with Connecticut laws requiring certain equipment, marking and inspection of motor vehicles if substantially similar privileges are granted regarding the equipment, marking and inspection of Connecticut registered vehicles operating in that state, district or country.

(c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction, except that any person who violates any provision of section 14-267a shall be fined as provided in said section.

(1949 Rev., S. 2379; 1953, S. 1298d; 1957, P.A. 262; 1967, P.A. 458, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 612, S. 3; P.A. 75-577, S. 20, 126; P.A. 76-382, S. 1; P.A. 79-188, S. 5, 10; P.A. 84-429, S. 19; P.A. 90-263, S. 7, 74; P.A. 93-341, S. 11; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 45, 121.)

History: 1967 act clarified provision by adding reference to licenses for various classes of motor vehicles; 1971 act deleted reference to motor bus licenses re operation of public service motor vehicles and replaced reference to repealed Sec. 14-30 with reference to Sec. 14-34; P.A. 75-577 replaced provision re $100 maximum fine with provision that violation shall be an infraction; P.A. 76-382 added reference to Sec. 14-44 P.A. 79-188 replaced reference to repealed Sec. 14-267 with reference to Sec. 14-267a; P.A. 84-429 divided section into Subsecs., rephrased provisions and made other technical changes; P.A. 90-263 amended Subsec. (a) to delete all provisions of Subdiv. (2) re public service motor vehicle and inserted in lieu thereof “a motor vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire for which a permit is required in accordance with section 14-44 ...”; P.A. 93-341 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding that no nonresident shall operate a commercial motor vehicle without a commercial driver's license or a motor vehicle belonging to a class other than that for which his commercial driver's license was issued, deleted former Subdivs. (2) and (3) and inserted new Subdiv. (2) which provided that no person, including a nonresident, shall operate a motor vehicle with a load greater than the capacity designated in Sec. 14-267a; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Motor Vehicle Commissioner” with “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles”, effective June 24, 1998.

See Sec. 14-107 re liability of owner, operator or lessee of vehicle in prosecutions for violations of this section.

The operator and owner need not be the same person. 97 C. 146. A teacher employed in another state, living here with her parents during the summer, is not a nonresident. 107 C. 140.

Cited. 36 CA 710.

One who operates a car in this state while his right to operate remains under suspension may be convicted of a violation of Sec. 14-215 even though he has in the meantime moved to another state and obtained a license in that state. 23 CS 26.