CT HB07204

Increases penalties for several motor vehicle offenses: negligent homicide with a motor vehicle becomes a class C felony with 3 years non-suspendable; failing to stop for police upgraded from infraction to class A misdemeanor; evading police upgraded from class A misdemeanor to class D felony (class C if causing death/serious injury); misconduct with a motor vehicle upgraded from class D to class C felony with 5 years non-suspendable (10 years if killing a police officer)

Removes restrictions on police using cannabis odor as basis for stops and searches, eliminating the prior prohibition that prevented odor of cannabis, possession suspicion under 5 ounces, or cash under $500 near cannabis from constituting probable cause

Establishes a traffic safety corridor program allowing the Commissioner of Transportation to designate high-accident highway sections where traffic violation fines are doubled, with enhanced State Police enforcement and required signage

Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct annual safety inspections of randomly selected law enforcement vehicles starting July 1, 2026, and mandates a joint DESPP/DOT study on implementing a statewide law enforcement phlebotomy program to combat impaired driving, with report due January 1, 2026

Creates a one-year pilot program for three municipal police departments to install GPS tracking devices on police vehicles that can be launched onto other vehicles, with grants available and a report due to the legislature by January 1, 2027