2011 Connecticut Code
Title 14 Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway By Vehicles. Gasoline
Chapter 248 Vehicle Highway Use
Sec. 14-289j. Restrictions on the use and sale, lease or rental of mini-motorcycles.

      Sec. 14-289j. Restrictions on the use and sale, lease or rental of mini-motorcycles. (a) For the purposes of this section, "mini-motorcycle" means a vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, that (1) has not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, (2) has a manufactured seat height of less than twenty-six inches measured at the lowest point on top of the seat cushion without the rider, and (3) is propelled by an engine having a piston displacement of less than 50 c.c.

      (b) No person shall operate a mini-motorcycle or ride as a passenger on a mini-motorcycle on any highway or public sidewalk. No owner of a mini-motorcycle shall permit a person to operate the owner's mini-motorcycle or to ride as a passenger on the owner's mini-motorcycle on any highway or public sidewalk.

      (c) Except on private property owned by the operator of a mini-motorcycle, no person shall operate a mini-motorcycle or ride as a passenger on a mini-motorcycle on any private property in this state unless such operator has in the operator's possession written permission from the owner of the private property to operate such mini-motorcycle and, as the case may be, to carry a passenger on such property.

      (d) Except on private property owned by the owner of the mini-motorcycle, no owner of a mini-motorcycle shall permit a person to operate the owner's mini-motorcycle or to ride as a passenger on the owner's mini-motorcycle on any private property in this state unless such operator has in the operator's possession written permission from the owner of the private property to operate such mini-motorcycle and, as the case may be, to carry a passenger on such property.

      (e) Any police officer who issues a summons for the alleged violation of subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section shall cause the mini-motorcycle that was being operated to be impounded for a period of forty-eight hours after the issuance of such summons. The owner of such mini-motorcycle may reclaim such mini-motorcycle after the expiration of such forty-eight-hour period upon payment of all transportation and storage costs.

      (f) No person may offer a mini-motorcycle for sale, lease or rent unless such mini-motorcycle has a warning label that gives warning information about the safe and legal use of a mini-motorcycle and about the limitations on use and the possible consequences of use in violation of such limitations, set forth in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section. Such person, on sale, lease or rent of a mini-motorcycle, shall give a written clear and conspicuous statement, separate from the warning label, to the purchaser, lessee or renter of such mini-motorcycle containing such warning information. Advertisements for mini-motorcycles and oral communications of a person offering a mini-motorcycle for sale, lease or rent shall not contain information inconsistent with any information required in this section. Until regulations required in subsection (g) of this section are adopted, persons offering a mini-motorcycle for sale, lease or rent shall display such warning information, advertise and make oral communications in a manner consistent with the provisions of this section. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to any person selling fewer than five used mini-motorcycles in one calendar year, provided any person claiming inapplicability of the provisions of this subsection shall have the burden of proving such inapplicability.

      (g) On or before January 1, 2007, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, that set forth the warning information required in this section and manner of display of such warning information, establish reasonable transportation and storage fees and otherwise implement the provisions of this section.

      (h) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality from adopting more restrictive limitations on the use and sale, lease or rent of mini-motorcycles.

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

      (P.A. 05-173, S. 1; P.A. 06-130, S. 17; P.A. 07-167, S. 5.)

      History: P.A. 06-130 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision re seat with requirement re seat height in Subdiv. (2), by changing "50 c.c. or less" to "less than 50 c.c." in Subdiv. (3) and by deleting former Subdivs. (4) re speed and (5) re registration, amended Subsec. (b) by removing public property from list of prohibited riding areas and amended Subsec. (g) to change date re adoption of regulations from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2007, effective June 2, 2006; P.A. 07-167 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective June 25, 2007.