(a) As used in this section:

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 14-36m

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • another: may extend and be applied to communities, companies, corporations, public or private, limited liability companies, societies and associations. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
  • 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
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Felony: means any offense, as defined in §. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • 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
  • Operator: means any person who operates a motor vehicle or who steers or directs the course of a motor vehicle being towed by another motor vehicle and includes a driver. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • 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
  • United States: means the fifty states and the District of Columbia. 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

(1) “Primary proof of identity” means documentation indicating the identity of an applicant for a motor vehicle operator‘s license in the form of (A) a valid foreign passport issued by an applicant’s country of citizenship that is unexpired or expired for less than three years before an application for such motor vehicle operator’s license, or (B) a valid, unexpired consular identification document issued by an applicant’s country of citizenship.

(2) “Secondary proof of identity” means documentation indicating the identity of an applicant for a motor vehicle operator’s license in the form of (A) a valid, unexpired motor vehicle operator’s license, with security features, issued by another state or country, (B) a valid foreign national identification card, (C) a certified copy of a marriage certificate issued by any state or territory of the United States, or any political subdivision thereof, including any county, city or town, or (D) an original birth certificate with a raised seal issued by a foreign country.

(3) “Proof of residency” means a piece of mail or electronic mail that includes an applicant’s name and address, indicates that such applicant resides in the state and is dated, unless otherwise indicated, not earlier than ninety days before an application for a motor vehicle operator’s license, from any two of the following sources: (A) A bill from a bank or mortgage company, utility company, credit card company, doctor or hospital, (B) a bank statement or bank transaction receipt showing the bank’s name and mailing address, (C) a preprinted pay stub, (D) a property or excise tax bill dated not earlier than twelve months before such application, (E) an annual benefits summary statement from the Social Security Administration or other pension or retirement plan dated not earlier than twelve months before such application, (F) a Medicaid or Medicare benefit statement, (G) a current homeowners insurance or renter’s insurance policy or motor vehicle insurance card or policy dated not earlier than twelve months before such application, (H) a residential mortgage or similar loan contract, lease or rental contract showing signatures from all parties needed to execute the agreement dated not earlier than twelve months before such application, (I) any postmarked mail, (J) a change of address confirmation from the United States Postal Service indicating an applicant’s current and prior address, (K) a survey of an applicant’s real property issued by a licensed surveyor, or (L) any official school records showing enrollment.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any regulation, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not decline to issue a motor vehicle operator’s license to any applicant who meets the licensure requirements provided in § 14-36 but who cannot establish that he or she is legally present in the United States or does not have a Social Security number if such applicant (A) submits proof of residency in the state, (B) submits either two forms of primary proof of identity or one form of primary proof of identity and one form of secondary proof of identity, and (C) files an affidavit with the commissioner attesting that such applicant has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status or will file such an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so. Any form of primary proof of identity, secondary proof of identity or proof of residency submitted to the commissioner that is in a language other than English shall be accompanied by a certified English translation of such document prepared by a translator approved by the commissioner. No photocopy, notarized photocopy or noncertified document is acceptable as a form of primary proof of identity or secondary proof of identity.

(2) The commissioner shall not issue a motor vehicle operator’s license under this section to any applicant who has been convicted of any felony in Connecticut.

(3) The commissioner shall administer a knowledge test to any such applicant after such applicant has submitted proof of residency and proof of identity that satisfy the requirements of this section. Not later than thirty days after such applicant has passed such knowledge test, the commissioner shall determine whether such applicant has been convicted of any felony in Connecticut by searching the electronic criminal record system maintained on the Internet web site of the Judicial Department for convictions matching such applicant’s name and date of birth. If such applicant has not been convicted of any such felony, the commissioner shall mail the applicant an adult instruction permit or youth instruction permit. The commissioner shall not refund the application fee of any applicant who fails a knowledge test or has been convicted of any such felony.

(c) Any motor vehicle operator’s license issued pursuant to this section shall include an indication on such license that such license shall not be acceptable for federal identification purposes.

(d) Any motor vehicle operator’s license issued under this section shall expire from three to six years after the date of issuance and may be renewed every three years thereafter. The fee for an operator’s license that expires six years from the date of issuance shall be seventy-two dollars. The commissioner shall charge a prorated amount of such fee for an operator’s license that expires less than six years from the date of issuance. The commissioner shall not renew any such operator’s license unless the holder of such operator’s license makes personal appearance and demonstrates proof of residency at the time of renewal. The fee for the renewal of any such operator’s license shall be thirty-six dollars.

(e) No motor vehicle operator’s license issued pursuant to this section shall be used as identification for voting purposes. The back of such license shall contain language indicating that it cannot be used for voting purposes. For any such license issued prior to July 1, 2016, the language required by this subsection shall be added upon renewal of such license.

(f) The commissioner shall place a restriction on each motor vehicle operator’s license issued pursuant to this section, indicating that such motor vehicle operator’s license is “for driving purposes only”.

(g) The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section.

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