Connecticut Driving Law



A summary of Connecticut driving law is provided here for your convenience. You can use this summary to keep yourself informed on Connecticut traffic laws.

Keeping Your Driver's License

In order to keep your driver's license, you must drive safely at all times. Under Connecticut driving law, you can lose your license for:

  1. Leaving the scene of an accident in which you are involved, without identifying yourself.


  2. Giving false information when you apply for a driver's license.


  3. Attempting to change the information on your license or using someone else's license when attempting to purchase an alcoholic beverage.


  4. Failing to appear for a re-examination.


  5. Failure to comply with DMV requests.


  6. Using a motor vehicle to commit a felony or taking the life of someone in a motor vehicle accident.


  7. Letting someone else use your driver's license or identity documents to obtain a license or ID card.


  8. Failing to appear in court when summoned for a motor vehicle violation, or being convicted in court of a serious violation of Connecticut traffic laws.


  9. Other reasons as the DMV may deem necessary under Connecticut driving law.


Assessment of Points Against an Operator’s License

The holder of an operator’s license shall have points assessed against his or her driving record for a conviction of the indicated motor vehicle violations of Connecticut driving law in accordance with the following schedule:

One point shall be assessed for convictions of the following violations:

  • Operating at unreasonable rate of speed
  • Speeding
  • Failure to drive in right-hand lane
  • Illegal use of limited access highway by bus, commercial vehicle or vehicle with trailer
  • Improper operation on multiple-lane highways
  • Improper operation on divided highway
  • Wrong direction at rotary or one-way street
  • Improper turn, illegal turn, illegal stopping, failure to signal intention to turn
  • Improper backing or starting
  • Failure to give proper signal
  • Operator’s duties on stopping a school bus
  • Operation of motorcycles abreast, illegal passing
  • Wrong way on one-way street

Two points shall be assessed for conviction of the following violations:

  • Slow speed, impeding traffic
  • Disobeying orders of officer
  • Entering or leaving controlled access highway at other than designated entrance or exit
  • Entry upon a limited access highway other than a highway intersection or designated point
  • Executing turn from wrong lane or contrary to traffic control devices
  • Failure to obey signal at railroad crossing
  • Failure to stop at railroad crossing by school bus, commercial motor vehicle carrying flammable or explosive substance, taxicab, motor vehicle in livery service, motor bus, motor vehicle used for the transportation of school children
  • Failure to observe parkway or expressway restrictions
  • Failure to obey traffic control signal light
  • Failure to obey stop sign
  • Failure to obey yield sign
  • Operating a vehicle through pedestrian safety zone

Three points shall be assessed for convictions of the following violations:

  • Driving while impaired
  • Failure to keep to right when meeting opposing traffic
  • Improper passing or failure to yield to passing vehicle
  • Passing on right
  • Passing in no passing zone
  • Failure to keep to right on curve, grade or when approaching intersection
  • Failure to drive reasonable distance apart
  • Failure to grant right of way at intersection
  • Failure to grant right of way at junction of highways
  • Failure to yield when emerging from driveway or private road
  • Failure to grant right of way when emerging from alley, driveway or building
  • Failure to grant right of way to ambulance, police or fire apparatus
  • Failure to grant right of way to pedestrian

Four points shall be assessed for conviction of each Connecticut driving law shown below:

  • Wagering, speed record
  • Failure to drive reasonable distance apart, intent to harass
  • Passing stopped school bus

Five points shall be assessed for conviction of the following violations:

  • Operation of school bus at excessive speed
  • Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle

Recording Assessment

Points shall remain assessed against the driving record of the holder of an operator’s license for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of such assessment.

For more information on Connecticut driving law, please visit the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

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