Senate Bill No. 233 (SB233), also known as File No. 206, is a legislative proposal that seeks to amend Section 14-96q of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes, with an effective date of October 1, 2024. The bill introduces a new clause that permits wreckers, which are registered pursuant to section 14-66, to be equipped with steady blue lights when stationary, in addition to the already allowed steady or flashing yellow and amber lights. This represents a change from the previous law, which did not authorize the use of steady blue lights for wreckers. The bill also includes technical adjustments, such as renumbering subsections (k) to (l) and (l) to (m), and specifies that no person, other than a police officer or DMV inspector in a police vehicle, may operate a vehicle with a steady blue or red light visible from the front, with the exception of the new provision for wreckers.

The bill outlines the conditions under which colored or flashing lights may be used on vehicles, the process for obtaining the necessary permits, the authority responsible for issuing and revoking permits, and the record-keeping requirements for such permits. It also makes deletions and insertions to update the language and provisions related to the use of flashing lights on vehicles, including the removal of the provision that allowed wreckers to use flashing yellow or amber lights without a permit. The use of unauthorized colored and flashing lights is considered an infraction under this bill. SB233 has received a Joint Favorable report from the Public Safety and Security Committee with a vote of 24-1 and is noted to have no expected fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.