Connecticut General Statutes 14-73 – Instructor’s license. Master instructor’s license. Regulations
(a) No person shall be employed by a drivers’ school to give instruction in driving a motor vehicle unless such person is licensed to act as an instructor or master instructor by the commissioner.
Attorney's Note
Under the Connecticut General Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 14-73
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Commissioner: includes the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and any assistant to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles who is designated and authorized by, and who is acting for, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under a designation. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Conviction: means an unvacated adjudication of guilt, or a determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the law in a court of original jurisdiction or an authorized administrative tribunal, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the person's appearance in court, the payment of a fine or court cost, or violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether or not the penalty is rebated, suspended or probated. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Drive: means to drive, operate or be in physical control of a motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle being towed by another. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Felony: means any offense, as defined in §. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Motor vehicle: means any vehicle propelled or drawn by any nonmuscular power, except aircraft, motor boats, road rollers, baggage trucks used about railroad stations or other mass transit facilities, electric battery-operated wheel chairs when operated by persons with physical disabilities at speeds not exceeding fifteen miles per hour, golf carts operated on highways solely for the purpose of crossing from one part of the golf course to another, golf-cart-type vehicles operated on roads or highways on the grounds of state institutions by state employees, agricultural tractors, farm implements, such vehicles as run only on rails or tracks, self-propelled snow plows, snow blowers and lawn mowers, when used for the purposes for which they were designed and operated at speeds not exceeding four miles per hour, whether or not the operator rides on or walks behind such equipment, motor-driven cycles, as defined in §. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, limited liability company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business trust or other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state or any political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or requires. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- State: means any state of the United States and the District of Columbia unless the context indicates a more specific reference to the state of Connecticut. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Vehicle: includes any device suitable for the conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, whether operated on wheels, runners, a cushion of air or by any other means. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
(b) Application for an instructor’s license or a master instructor’s license shall be in writing and shall contain such information as the commissioner requires. Each applicant for a license shall be fingerprinted and shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant: (1) Is of good moral character considering such person’s state and national criminal history records checks conducted in accordance with § 29-17a, and record, if any, on the state child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to § 17a-101k. If any applicant for a license or the renewal of a license has a criminal record or is listed on the state child abuse and neglect registry, the commissioner shall make a determination of whether to issue or renew an instructor’s license or master instructor’s license in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in § 14-44 and the regulations adopted pursuant to said section; (2) has held a license to drive a motor vehicle for the past five consecutive years and has a driving record satisfactory to the commissioner, including no record of a conviction or administrative license suspension for a drug or alcohol-related offense during such five-year period; (3) has passed a physical examination, administered not more than ninety days prior to the date of application, by a physician, physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to practice within the state and the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse certifies that the applicant is physically fit to operate a motor vehicle and provide instruction in driving; (4) has received a high school diploma or has an equivalent academic education; and (5) has completed an instructor training course of forty-five clock hours given by a school or agency approved by the commissioner, except that any such course given by an institution under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees of the Connecticut State University System shall be approved by the commissioner and the State Board of Education. During the period of licensure, an instructor shall notify the commissioner, within forty-eight hours, of an arrest or conviction for a misdemeanor or felony, or an arrest, conviction or administrative license suspension for a drug or alcohol-related offense. Upon such notification, the commissioner may suspend, revoke or withdraw the instructor’s license or master instructor’s license pursuant to the provisions of § 14-79.
(c) The commissioner may deny the application of any person for an instructor’s license or a master instructor’s license if the commissioner determines that the applicant has made a material false statement or concealed a material fact in connection with his or her application for the instructor’s license or master instructor’s license.
(d) The commissioner shall conduct such written, oral and practical examinations, as the commissioner deems necessary, to determine whether an applicant has sufficient skill in the operation of motor vehicles to ensure their safe operation, a satisfactory knowledge of the motor vehicle laws and the ability to impart such skill and knowledge to others. If the applicant successfully completes the examinations and meets all other requirements of this section, the commissioner shall issue an instructor’s license or a master instructor’s license, as the case may be, to such applicant. The license shall be valid for use only in connection with a drivers’ school or schools licensed pursuant to § 14-69. If the applicant fails the examination, such applicant may apply for reexamination after five days. The license and the license renewal shall be valid for two years.
(e) The licensee shall be reexamined periodically in accordance with standards specified in regulations adopted under § 14-78.
(f) The commissioner may establish, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, standards and procedures for the training and licensing of master instructors who are qualified to train driving instructors.
(g) The fee for an instructor’s license, or for any renewal thereof, shall be one hundred dollars. The fee for a master instructor’s license, or for any renewal thereof, shall be two hundred dollars. If the commissioner has not received a complete renewal application and fee on or before the expiration date of an applicant’s license, such applicant shall be charged, in addition to the renewal fee, a late fee in an amount equal to the fee for such applicant’s license. The commissioner shall not renew an instructor’s license or a master instructor’s license that has expired for more than sixty days.
(h) Any person who is not licensed in accordance with this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor if such person: (1) Engages in the business of providing, for compensation, instruction in driving a motor vehicle; or (2) is employed by a drivers’ school to give instruction in driving a motor vehicle.