Sec. 14-261. Towing and pushing of vehicles. Double trailers and semitrailers. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 14-261. Towing and pushing of vehicles. Double trailers and semitrailers. (a) When any occupied vehicle is drawn or towed by another vehicle upon any public highway, the distance between the towing vehicle and the vehicle being towed shall not exceed twenty feet. A rigid tow bar shall be used when towing any vehicle on any limited access highway and when towing any unoccupied vehicle on any other public highway. Except as provided under section 14-261a, no person shall operate on any public highway any vehicle which draws or tows at the same time more than one vehicle, including, but not limited to, a trailer which is designed or constructed so that no part of its weight except the towing device rests upon the towing vehicle, a semitrailer or a semitrailer equipped with an auxiliary front axle, but excluding a pole trailer, except that such limitation shall not apply to (1) a vehicle, other than a tractor or truck tractor as defined in subdivision (5) of section 14-260n, which tows a non-cargo-carrying vehicle having a gross weight not exceeding five thousand pounds coupled to the towing vehicle by a towing device designed exclusively for the towing of another vehicle, provided the overall length of the two vehicles and the towing device does not exceed fifty-five feet, or (2) a combination of vehicles coupled together by a saddlemount device used to transport motor vehicles in drive-away service when no more than three saddlemounts and one fullmount are used, provided equipment used in such combination shall have been approved by regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-166 to 4-174, inclusive, and shall comply with the safety regulations of the United States Department of Transportation, or (3) specialized equipment, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Part 658, as amended. No occupied vehicle shall be pushed or otherwise propelled from the rear by another vehicle except for the purpose of obtaining emergency service to start the engine of such vehicle or to perform the immediate function of removing such vehicle from the travel lanes to a place of safety at the roadside.

      (b) Any person pushing, propelling, drawing or towing a motor vehicle, except as authorized by the provisions of this section shall be deemed to have committed an infraction.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2513; February, 1965, P.A. 448, S. 32; 1969, P.A. 262; P.A. 73-272; P.A. 75-577, S. 98, 126; P.A. 81-366, S. 1; P.A. 83-21, S. 2, 5; P.A. 84-17; 84-372, S. 2, 9; P.A. 88-317, S. 60, 107; P.A. 93-307, S. 7, 34.)

      History: 1965 act deleted penalty provision and added limited access highway exception in first sentence, required wreckers to use rigid tow bars and added provision re pushing vehicles from the rear; 1969 act deleted exception re limited access highways and clarified requirement concerning rigid tow bars; P.A. 73-272 added exception re use of saddlemount devices; P.A. 75-577 made violation of provisions an infraction; P.A. 81-366 included specific vehicles in the general prohibition of towing more than one vehicle at a time; P.A. 83-21 divided section into Subsecs. and prohibited operation of commercial vehicle combinations and mandated fine and suspension of registration or license for such operation (Note: The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut granted the United States' motion for preliminary injunction enjoining the state from enforcing a prohibition on operation of commercial vehicle combinations on interstate highways and primary system highways designated pursuant to Section 411(e) of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982. U.S. v. State of Conn., D.C. Conn. 1983, 566 F. Supp. 571, affirmed 742 F.2d 1443); P.A. 84-17 inserted Subdivs. in Subsec. (a) adding new language as Subdiv. (1) permitting the towing of two vehicles at the same time with an overall length restriction; P.A. 84-372 eliminated prohibition on, and penalties for, operation of a commercial vehicle combination; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-166 to 4-174 in Subsec. (a) to include new section added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 93-307 in Subsec. (a)(2) deleted the words "two saddlemounts" and inserted in lieu thereof the words, "three saddlemounts and one fullmount" and in Subsec. (a)(3) inserted a reference to "specialized equipment", effective June 29, 1993.

      See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.

      Cited. 145 C. 141.