Senate Bill No. 233 (File No. 206) proposes an amendment to Section 14-96q of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes, which will be effective from October 1, 2024. The bill allows wreckers to be equipped with steady blue lights without needing a permit, a privilege previously reserved for certain government-owned vehicles and those transporting oversize or overweight vehicles. Additionally, the bill reorganizes subsections, changing references and deleting the previous requirement for wreckers to obtain a permit for yellow or amber lights, as they are now included in the new clause (3) under subsection (a). The bill also specifies the authorities responsible for issuing permits for various colored lights on vehicles used by volunteer fire departments, ambulance associations, and other specified officials and vehicles.

The bill introduces the right for wreckers to use steady or flashing yellow and amber lights, and now steady blue lights when stationary, which is a change from the previous law that only allowed yellow or amber lights. It also revises the law concerning the operation of vehicles with steady blue or red lights visible from the front, now permitting wreckers to display a steady blue light while stationary. The prohibition on the use of steady blue or red lights by anyone other than police officers or DMV inspectors has been removed. The bill has no fiscal impact on state or municipal governments and received a Joint Favorable vote from the Public Safety and Security Committee.