Connecticut SB 407: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE PERMITS ALLOWING ORGAN TRANSPORT VEHICLES TO USE CERTAIN LIGHTS.

Bill Text

Substitute Senate Bill No. 407 
 
Public Act No. 26-147 
 
 
AN    ACT    AUTHORIZING    THE    COMMISSIONER    OF    MOTOR 
VEHICLES  TO  ISSUE  PERMITS  ALLOWING  ORGAN  TRANSPORT 
VEHICLES TO USE CERTAIN LIGHTS. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of Representatives  in  General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section  1.  Section  14-96q  of  the  general  statutes  is  repealed  and  the 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 
(a) A permit is required for the use of colored or flashing lights on all 
motor vehicles or equipment specified in this section except: (1) Motor 
vehicles  not  registered  in  this  state  used  for  transporting  or  escorting 
any vehicle or load, or combinations thereof, which is either oversize or 
overweight,  or  both,  when  operating  under  a  permit  issued  by  the 
Commissioner  of  Transportation  pursuant  to  section  14-270;  or  (2) 
motor  vehicles  or  equipment  that  are  (A)  equipped  with  lights  in 
accordance  with  this  section,  (B)  owned  or  leased  by  the  federal 
government, the state of Connecticut, or any other state, commonwealth 
or  local  municipality,  and  (C)  registered  to  such  governmental  entity. 
When  used  in  this  section,  the  term  "flashing"  shall  be  considered  to 
include the term "revolving". 
(b) The  Commissioner  of  Motor  Vehicles,  or  such  other  person 
specifically  identified  in  this  section, may issue  permits  for  the  use  of 

Substitute Senate Bill No. 407 
 
Public Act No. 26-147 2 of 5 
 
colored or flashing lights on vehicles in accordance with this section, at 
the  commissioner's  or  such  person's  discretion.  Any  person,  firm  or 
corporation other than the state or any metropolitan district, town, city 
or  borough  shall  pay  an  annual  permit  fee  of  twenty  dollars  to  the 
commissioner for each such vehicle. Such fee shall apply only to permits 
issued by the commissioner. 
(c) A flashing blue  light  or  lights  may  be  used  on  a  motor  vehicle 
operated  by  an  active  member  of  a  volunteer  fire  department  or 
company  or  an  active  member  of  an  organized  civil  preparedness 
auxiliary  fire  company  who  has  been  issued  a  permit  by  the  chief 
executive officer of such department or company to use a flashing blue 
light  or  lights  while  on  the  way  to  or  at  the  scene  of  a  fire  or  other 
emergency requiring such member's services. Such permit shall be on a 
form provided by the commissioner and may be revoked by such chief 
executive  officer  or  successor.  The  chief  executive  officer  of  each 
volunteer fire department or company or organized civil preparedness 
auxiliary  fire  company  shall  keep  on  file, on forms  provided  by  the 
commissioner,  the  names  and  addresses  of  members  who  have  been 
authorized  to  use  a  flashing  blue  light  or  lights  as  provided  in  this 
subsection. Such listing shall also designate the registration number of 
the motor vehicle on which authorized a flashing blue light or lights are 
to be used. 
(d) A flashing green or blue light or lights may be used on a motor 
vehicle  operated  by  an  active  member  of  a  volunteer  ambulance 
association  or  company  who  has  been  issued  a  permit  by  the  chief 
executive officer of such association or company to use such a light or 
lights,  while  on the  way  to  or  at  the  scene  of  an  emergency  requiring 
such member's services. Such permit shall be on a form provided by the 
commissioner  and  may  be  revoked  by  such  chief  executive  officer  or 
successor.  The  chief  executive  officer  of  each  volunteer  ambulance 
association  or  company  shall  keep  on  file,  on  forms  provided  by  the 

Substitute Senate Bill No. 407 
 
Public Act No. 26-147 3 of 5 
 
commissioner,  the  names  and  addresses  of  members  who  have  been 
authorized to use a flashing green or blue light or lights as provided in 
this subsection. Such listing shall also designate the registration number 
of the motor vehicle on which the authorized flashing green or blue light 
or lights are to be used. 
(e) The  commissioner may issue a permit for a flashing red light or 
lights which may be used on a motor vehicle or equipment (1) used by 
paid  fire  chiefs  and  their  deputies  and  assistants,  up  to  a  total  of  five 
individuals per department, (2) used by volunteer fire chiefs and their 
deputies and assistants, up to a total of five individuals per department, 
(3)  used  by  members  of  the  fire  police  on  a  stationary  vehicle  as  a 
warning signal during traffic directing operations at the scene of a fire 
or emergency, (4) used by chief executive officers of emergency medical 
service organizations, as defined in section 19a-175, the first or second 
deputies, or if there are no deputies, the first or second assistants, of such 
an   organization   that   is   a   munic