2011 Connecticut Code
Title 14 Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway By Vehicles. Gasoline
Chapter 246 Motor Vehicles
Sec. 14-44e. Limitations on issuance of commercial driver's license. Qualification standards. Waiver of skills test. Requirements for license endorsement to operate vehicle transporting hazardous materials. Commercial driver's instruction permit.

      Sec. 14-44e. Limitations on issuance of commercial driver's license. Qualification standards. Waiver of skills test. Requirements for license endorsement to operate vehicle transporting hazardous materials. Commercial driver's instruction permit. (a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a commercial driver's license to any person unless such person is a resident of this state and has passed a knowledge and skills test for driving a commercial motor vehicle which complies with the minimum federal standards established by 49 CFR 383, Subparts G and H, as amended, and has satisfied all other requirements of this section and sections 14-44b, 14-44c and 14-44g, in addition to other requirements for an operator's license imposed by the general statutes and regulations of the commissioner.

      (b) The commissioner shall not issue a commercial driver's license or a commercial driver's instruction permit to any person who has a physical or psychobehavioral impairment that affects such person's ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely. In determining whether to issue a commercial driver's license in any individual case, the commissioner shall apply the standards set forth in 49 CFR 391.41, as amended. Any person who is denied a commercial driver's license or a commercial driver's instruction permit, or whose license or permit is suspended, revoked or cancelled pursuant to this subsection shall be granted an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

      (c) The commissioner may waive the skills test required under subsection (a) of this section in the case of an applicant for a commercial driver's license who meets the requirements of 49 CFR 383.77, as amended or, in the case of an applicant for a school bus endorsement who meets the requirements of 49 CFR 383.123, as amended.

      (d) A commercial driver's license shall not be issued to any person subject to disqualification from driving a commercial motor vehicle or subject to suspension, revocation or cancellation of operating privileges in any state. Each applicant for an endorsement to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials shall be subject to the requirements of 49 USC 5103a, as administered by the United States Transportation Security Administration. The commissioner may refuse to issue a hazardous materials endorsement, or may suspend or revoke any such endorsement, held by any person who is the subject of a notification received from the Transportation Security Administration, in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 1572.5, as amended.

      (e) An operator's license shall not be issued to any person who holds an operator's license issued by any other state, unless such person first surrenders such license or licenses to the commissioner. The commissioner shall return every license surrendered hereunder to the issuing state for cancellation.

      (f) The commissioner may refuse to issue a commercial driver's license, or may issue a commercial driver's license subject to compliance with such condition as the commissioner may prescribe, to any person whose motor vehicle operator's license, privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state or license endorsement is under suspension or is subject to any pending action by the commissioner that may result in suspension.

      (g) The commissioner may issue a commercial driver's instruction permit to any person who holds a valid operator's license. Said permit may be issued for a period not exceeding six months, and may be reissued or renewed, until June 30, 2011, for periods not exceeding six months. On and after July 1, 2011, only one renewal or reissuance may be granted within a two-year period. The holder of a commercial driver's instruction permit may, unless otherwise disqualified or suspended, drive a commercial motor vehicle if such holder is accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license of the appropriate class and bearing endorsements for the type of vehicle being driven who occupies a seat beside the individual for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the commercial motor vehicle.

      (P.A. 90-263, S. 34, 74; P.A. 04-217, S. 8; P.A. 06-130, S. 18; P.A. 07-167, S. 9; P.A. 08-150, S. 7; P.A. 09-187, S. 67; P.A. 10-110, S. 50.)

      History: P.A. 04-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change and afford person whose commercial driver's license has been cancelled an opportunity for hearing, amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change and permit commissioner to waive skills test for applicant for school bus endorsement meeting specified requirements and amended Subsec. (d) to prohibit issuance of commercial driver's license to person subject to cancellation of operating privileges in any state and added provisions re endorsement to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials, effective January 1, 2005; P.A. 06-130 added new Subsec. (f) re commissioner's discretionary power to issue commercial driver's license to driver whose license or endorsement is under suspension or is subject to pending action that may result in suspension and redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (g), effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to commercial driver's instruction permit and deleting provision re standards applicable when person will operate vehicle only in this state; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (g) to insert "or suspended" and replace "with appropriate endorsements" with "of the appropriate class and bearing endorsements"; P.A. 09-187 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (g) and amended Subsec. (g) to replace provision re commercial driver's instruction permit renewed or reissued only once within a 2-year period with provision re permit reissued or renewed for periods not exceeding 6 months until June 30, 2011, and only once within a 2-year period on and after July 1, 2011, effective July 8, 2009; P.A. 10-110 made a technical change in Subsec. (g).