§ 14-297 — Definitions.

Connecticut § 14-297

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 14: Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway By Vehicles. Gasoline
• Ch. 249: Traffic Control and Highway Safety

Text

Terms used in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless another construction is clearly apparent from the language or context in which the term is used or unless the construction is inconsistent with the manifest intention of the General Assembly: (1) The following terms shall be construed as they are defined in section 14-1 : “Authorized emergency vehicle”, “class 1 electric bicycle”, “class 2 electric bicycle”, “class 3 electric bicycle”, “driver”, “electric bicycle”, “electric foot scooter”, “head lamp”, “highway”, “limited access highway”, “motor vehicle”, “number plate”, “operator”, “person”, “rotary” or “roundabout”, “shoulder”, “stop”, “tank vehicle”, “truck” and “vehicle”; (2) “Crosswalk” means that portion of a highway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections, or any portion of a highway distinctly indicated, by lines or other markings on the surface, as a crossing for pedestrians, except such prolonged or connecting lines from an alley across a street; (3) “Intersection” has the same meaning as provided in section 14-212 ; (4) “Official traffic control devices” means all signs, signals, markings and devices consistent with the provisions of this chapter and placed or erected, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic, by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction; (5) “Parking” means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, on a highway, except it shall not include the temporary standing of a vehicle for the purpose of and while engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or loading or unloading merchandise or while in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals; (6) “Traffic” means pedestrians, vehicles and other conveyances while using any highway for the purpose of travel; (7) “Traffic authority” means (A) the board of police commissioners of any city, town or borough, (B) the city or town manager, the chief of police, the superintendent of police or any legally elected or appointed official or board having similar powers and duties of any city, town or borough that has no board of police commissioners but has a regularly appointed police force, (C) the board of selectmen of any town in which there is no city or borough with a regularly appointed police force, or (D) a traffic authority established pursuant to section 7-149d , except that, with respect to state highways and bridges, “traffic authority” means the Office of the State Traffic Administration, provided nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit or detract from the jurisdiction or authority of the Office of the State Traffic Administration to adopt regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings as provided in section 14-298 , and the requirement that no installation of any traffic control signal light shall be made by any city, town or borough until the installation has been approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration as provided in section 14-299 ; (8) “Traffic control sign” means any sign bearing a message with respect to the stopping or to the rate of speed of vehicles; and (9) “Traffic control signal” means any device, whether operated manually, electrically or mechanically, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.

Legislative History

(1949 Rev., S. 2516; P.A. 84-429, S. 42; P.A. 90-263, S. 53, 74; P.A. 05-210, S. 27; P.A. 12-132, S. 28; P.A. 18-165, S. 16; P.A. 19-162, S. 16; P.A. 21-61, S. 2; 21-95, S. 2; P.A. 24-40, S. 8.) History: P.A. 84-429 substantially revised section, dividing section into Subsecs., applying definitions in Sec. 14-1 to terms added in Subdiv. (1), rephrasing provisions and making other technical changes; P.A. 90-263 amended Subdiv. (1) to delete “public service motor vehicle”; P.A. 05-210 amended Subdiv. (1) by substituting “rotary” or “roundabout” for “rotary traffic island”, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 12-132 amended Subdiv. (6) by replacing “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 18-165 amended Subdiv. (1) by adding “class 1 electric bicycle”, “class 2 electric bicycle”, “class 3 electric bicycle” and “electric bicycle”; P.A. 19-162 amended Subdiv. (1) by adding “electric foot scooter” and making technical changes; P.A. 21-61 amended Subdiv. (1) by removing “intersection”, added new Subdiv. (3) redefining “intersection” and redesignated existing Subdivs. (3) to (8) as Subdivs. (4) to (9); P.A. 21-195 amended Subdiv. (1) to add “tank vehicle”; P.A. 24-40 amended Subdiv. (7) to redefine “traffic authority”, effective July 1, 2024. Cited. 122 C. 518. Longitudinal line at intersection is an official control device. Id., 520. Cited. 123 C. 665; 130 C. 243; 138 C. 81; 163 C. 365.