The Commissioner of Motor Vehicle has reviewed the agency policies to provide guidance to school bus companies regarding the operation and inspection of school buses, as required by Public Act 2024-20.  The below chart has been created to assist companies in adhering to the school bus idling requirements outlined in Connecticut General Statute 14-277. 

During each driver’s pre-trip and post-trip inspection, the vehicle should remain off or in the accessory mode unless a specific item requires the bus to be running to inspect properly as per Sec. 14-277(b). Those items required to be inspected per Sec. 14-275c-41 (b)(1-10), include but are not limited to:  

Please note:  As stated in Connecticut General Statute 14-277(b) the operator of any school bus shall not operate the engine of any school bus for more than three consecutive minutes when the school bus is not in motion except when: 

• the school bus is forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions or mechanical difficulties over which the operator has no control 
• it is necessary to operate heating, cooling or auxiliary equipment installed on the school bus when such equipment is necessary to accomplish the intended use of the school bus, including, but not limited to, the operation of safety equipment 
• the outdoor temperature is below twenty degrees Fahrenheit 
• it is necessary to maintain a safe temperature for students with special needs 
• the school bus is being repaired, 
• the operator is in the process of receiving or discharging passengers on a public highway or public road. 

This memorandum serves as an official notice regarding the upcoming changes mandated by Connecticut General Statutes 14-67l, which becomes effective on October 1, 2024. Please read the following information carefully to ensure compliance and to avoid any disruptions to your business operations.

Surety Bond Requirement: Effective October 1, 2024, all new recycler licenses being issued will require a surety bond in the amount of $25,000 on file with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). For existing recyclers, this surety bond will be required at the time of license renewal. The absence of this surety bond at time of renewal will lead to an automatic suspension of your recycler’s license.

Submission of Surety Bond: To comply with this new requirement, you must use Form K158, the designated surety bond form. This form is attached and is also available for download on the CT DMV website at CT.GOV/DMV. It is imperative that you submit the form as an original signed document, completed in full, including all required signatures, a seal, and a Power of Attorney (POA) attached. Ensure that your full business name and address, as listed on your dealer license, are correctly detailed as the business principal on this form.

Please mail the original surety bond document to the following address:

Connecticut DMV
Dealers and Repairers Licensing Unit
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161 

Important: No copies will be accepted. Failure to submit a properly executed surety bond will result in the suspension of your license.
Questions or Confirmation of Receipt: Should you have any questions, or if you wish to confirm the receipt, please contact the Dealers and Repairers Licensing Unit at 860-263-5056 or via email at DMV.DR@ct.gov.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and for continuing to comply with Connecticut licensing regulations.

Please allow this notice to serve as a reminder that pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 14-52, only new car dealer's, a used car dealer's, a repairer's or a limited repairer's license may engage in the business of repairing motor vehicles.

This Department expects that all repairers licensed under the Department’s jurisdiction will endeavor to repair vehicles safely and in compliance with available professional guidelines, including but not limited to guidance from the original equipment manufacturer and related service bulletins. All repair decisions should come from a licensed repair professional in consultation with the vehicle owner.

Licensed repairers are responsible for the quality and safety of each repair, and should always be mindful of, and guided by, practices and procedures that protect the wellbeing and safety of the motoring public.

Effective July 1,2024, changes to CGS 14-15b and 14-153b will go into effect setting parameters for loss of use charges by company and prohibiting companies to require additional driver’s credit card.

Please review Senate Bill 184, Public Act 24-21 in its entirety for more information by going to CGA@ct.gov .

As required under state law, DMV will update on its website every six months the total number of electric vehicles registered in the state of Connecticut, including the total number registered in the state each year. 
 
Total number of electric vehicles registered in Connecticut (as of July 1, 2024): 52,691

Total number registered from 1/1/24 to 6/30/24: 11,902

Total number registered from 1/1/23 to 6/30/23: 7,878
Total number registered from 7/1/23 to 12/31/23: 10,355
Total number registered in 2023: 18,233

Total number registered from 7/1/22 to 12/31/22: 6,373 
Total number registered from 1/1/22 to 6/30/22: 5,441
Total number registered in 2022: 11,814

Total number registered from 7/1/21 to 12/31/21: 5,407
Total number registered from 1/1/21 to 6/30/21: 4,335
Total number registered in 2021: 9,746

Total number registered from 7/1/20 to 12/31/20: 2,883
Total number registered from 1/1/20 to 6/30/20: 1,525
Total number registered in 2020: 4,408**

Total number registered from 7/1/19 to 12/31/19: 2,074
Total number registered from 1/1/19 to 6/30/19: 2,046
Total number registered in 2019: 4,120

**Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers may be affected by registration expiration dates extended by Executive Orders.

Public Act 21-20 in Connecticut set new equipment and operating requirements for “frozen dessert trucks” (commonly referred to as ice cream trucks), and for anyone driving these vehicles. 

Equipment requirements
Effective May 1, 2022, ice cream trucks must be equipped with:

• Signal lamps
• Stop signal arm
• A front crossing arm
• A convex mirror

Signal lamps 
These vehicles must have signal lamps mounted at the same level as high and as widely spaced laterally as is practical.
 
The signal lamps must:

• Measure between five and seven inches in diameter
• Display two alternately flashing red signal lights visible at least 500 feet away from the front and rear in normal sunlight on a straight level road.

Stop signal arm 
These vehicles must have a stop signal arm that can be extended horizontally from the left side of the truck. Here are the specifications.

• Measurements
  • When the arm is extended, the side nearest the truck must be 7.25 inches long and parallel to the side of the truck. 
  • The side farthest from the truck must be 18 inches long and parallel to the side nearest the truck. 
  • The two sides must be 18 inches apart, creating a symmetrical, trapezoidal shape. The bottom of the extended arm must be about 42 inches above the street.
• Lights
  • The signal arm must have two alternately flashing red lights in the outside corners, and the corners must be rounded to conform with the shape of the lights. 
  • Each light must be between three and five inches in diameter and visible from at least 300 feet away from the front and rear in normal sunlight upon a straight level road.
• Colors
  •  The signal arm must have a red reflectorized background with white letters. 
  • These colors must conform to the requirements of the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Words
  • The sign must bear the words “stop” “if safe” “then go.” The word “stop” must be in the middle of the sign in six-inch high letters that are up to four inches long. 
  • The phrase “if safe” must appear above the word “stop,” and the phrase “then go” must appear below it. 
  • Both phrases must have letters that are two inches high and up to 1.75 inches in length.

A front crossing arm 

• A front crossing arm must be attached to an ice cream truck’s front bumper, hinged from the truck’s right side, and extend in conjunction with the stop signal arm. 
• It must be made of durable material that is covered with a yellow or white reflective material. 
• It should extend between four and six feet parallel to the ground when extended outward in front of the truck, and
• It should not extend past the width of the truck on the driver’s left side when retracted against the front of the truck. The bottom of the arm must be between 16 and 20 inches above the street.

A convex mirror 

•  A convex mirror mounted on the front of the truck so that the driver can see the front of the truck that is obscured by the hood from his or her normal seating position. 
  

How to operate once properly equipped
On or after May 1, 2022, or when the ice cream truck is equipped, the operator of the vehicle must:

Display flashing red signal lights and extend the stop signal arm and the front cross arm:

• Not less than 50 feet before the operator brings the truck to a stop to vend
• While vending, until all customers are safely off the street. 
• When the truck is in motion, the ice cream truck operator should not display the flashing red signal lights or extend the front crossing arm. 
  

Penalties: 
First violations are infractions and subsequent violations are punishable by a fine of up to $500.
 
Truck operating rules
Beginning July 1, 2021, the law limits the locations where and circumstances under which an ice cream truck may stop to vend. 
 
Specifically, it prohibits a person from vending from an ice cream truck:

• On roads with speed limits higher than 25 mph or less than 100 feet from an intersection with a road with a speed limit higher than 25 mph, unless authorized by a local traffic authority (LTA). , See below.);
• Less than 500 feet from elementary or middle schools, between one hour before and one hour after the regular school day, unless it is not a school day and the board of education approves in writing;
• If the driver does not have a free, unobstructed view of the road for at least 200 feet in both directions from where the truck is stopped or parked; or
• At least 200 feet away from a person standing in the road. 

This  law also prohibits:

• Stopping on the left side of a one-way road to vend
• Backing up an ice cream truck in order to vend.

The law allows LTAs to authorize ice cream truck vending

• On highways with speed limits up to 35 mph 
• Within 100 feet from an intersection with another highway with a speed limit of up to 35 mph.

The entity designated as the LTA varies by town, but may be the police commission, board of selectman, mayor, town manager, police chief, or traffic authority (CGS § 14-297(6)).
 
Penalties: 

• From July 1 to September 30, 2021, police officers must issue a warning to operators who violate the above rules.
• Beginning October 1, 2021, first violations are infractions and subsequent violations are punishable by a fine of up to $100. 
  

Driving near ice cream trucks

The new law requires drivers

• To stop their vehicles at least 10 feet from the front or back of the truck when approaching or overtaking an ice cream truck displaying flashing lights and extending its stop signal arm and crossing arm
• After stopping, the driver may proceed past the truck at a reasonable speed, up to 5 mph
• To yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing the road to or from the truck.

Note: Drivers are not required to stop and proceed in this manner when approaching or overtaking an ice cream truck that is in another lane separated by a safety island or physical barrier.

The Department of Motor Vehicles will not accept paper tax releases from town tax collectors. The towns have the ability to electronically remove a delinquent tax hold once the local taxpayer pays their delinquent car taxes. 
 
Please check with your local municipal tax office to determine the procedure your town uses to release your delinquent tax hold at DMV.
 
DMV offers CT Tax Collectors the methods below to release a delinquent motor vehicle tax hold on a registrant:

1. An immediate online clearance performed in the town tax office when the local motor vehicle taxes are resolved;
    and
2. An overnight batch clearance done at the end of each day by the town or city. The overnight clearance is posted with the DMV and by the following morning the delinquent tax hold is removed.

The electronic process makes getting a tax clearance easier and more efficient for customers and municipal tax collectors. It is also designed to help customers avoid repeat trips to DMV. 
 
Customers can first check whether they owe taxes by using the online service on the DMV website.