Substitute House Bill No. 7132, effective October 1, 2025, introduces significant amendments to traffic laws, particularly regarding vehicle number plates and lighting requirements. The bill mandates that vehicles with one number plate display it at the rear, while those with two plates must show one at the front and one at the rear, with the option to place the rear plate against the rear window if legible. It clarifies that number plates must be "substantially unobscured" for visibility and removes the requirement for the rear plate to be illuminated at a distance of fifty feet. Additionally, the bill updates vehicle lighting regulations, replacing "provide lighted" with "illuminate," and specifies that violations related to lamp number, placement, or intensity will be enforced under designated sections rather than the general lighting section.

The bill also addresses cannabis consumption while driving, classifying smoking or ingesting cannabis as a class C misdemeanor, with restrictions on when peace officers can stop vehicles for this violation. It modifies penalties for reckless driving and speeding, introducing fines for exceeding 100 miles per hour and requiring vehicle impoundment for repeat offenders. Furthermore, it establishes stricter license suspension rules for drivers under eighteen committing specific traffic violations, with a six-month suspension for first offenses and one year for subsequent violations. The bill repeals and substitutes certain sections of the general statutes to clarify municipal liability regarding speed limits on private roads and the court's responsibilities for traffic violation plea acceptances, aiming to enhance road safety and regulatory clarity.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 14-96a, 14-96c, 14-96y, 14-99f
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute: 14-96a, 14-96c, 14-96y, 14-99f
File No. 767: 14-96a, 14-96c, 14-96y, 14-99f
File No. 909: 14-96a, 14-96c, 14-96y, 14-99f, 14-222, 14-81b, 14-219b, 54-1q
Public Act No. 25-19: 14-96a, 14-96c, 14-96y, 14-99f, 14-222, 14-81b, 14-219b, 54-1q