(a) The certificate of registration and any automobile insurance identification card for the vehicle issued pursuant to section 38a-364 shall be carried in the motor vehicle at all times when it is being operated on a public highway, except as otherwise provided by statute. If a vehicle is registered in the name of a lessor licensed under section 14-15, a legible photostatic copy of the certificate of registration or a rental or lease contract which shall include the vehicle identification number of such vehicle registered in this state may be carried in lieu of the original certificate, provided the original certificate shall be available at all times for inspection at the lessor's usual place of business in the state if the motor vehicle is registered in this state. If a vehicle is registered as a school bus as defined in section 14-275, such copy may be carried in lieu of the original certificate, provided such certificate shall be available at all times for inspection at the school bus owner's usual place of business in the state.

(b) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be deemed to have committed an infraction and be fined fifty dollars.

(1949 Rev., S. 2362; 1961, P.A. 233, S. 2; P.A. 76-124; P.A. 79-577, S. 6, 8; P.A. 80-466, S. 3, 25; P.A. 82-223, S. 5; 82-460, S. 4; P.A. 83-577, S. 11; P.A. 84-429, S. 5; P.A. 86-47, S. 1, 2; 86-85, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-297, S. 6, 29; P.A. 10-3, S. 54.)

History: 1961 act removed provision for payment of one-half registration fee when registration applied for after September thirtieth; P.A. 76-124 allowed maintenance of photocopy of registration in car registered to lessor in Subsec. (b); P.A. 79-577 included no-fault insurance identification card in Subsec. (b); P.A. 80-466 deleted reference to “yearly” registration and included reference to single license plate in Subsec. (c) reflecting switch to biennial registration and single plate; P.A. 82-223 amended Subsec. (d) to specify that a first offense constituted the commission of an infraction and increased the fine therefor from maximum of $3 to $25; P.A. 82-460 amended Subsec. (b) by clarifying that the certificate and identification card only need be carried in a motor vehicle while it is being operated; P.A. 83-577 amended Subsec. (d) to increase the fine for a first offense from $25 to $35; P.A. 84-429 transferred provisions in Subsec. (a) re registration certificates to Sec. 14-12(e), transferred provisions in Subsec. (c) re temporary registrations to Sec. 14-12(i), relettered the remaining Subsecs. and made other technical changes; P.A. 86-47 permitted the carrying of a rental or lease contract in lieu of original registration certificate in vehicles registered by lessors; P.A. 86-85 permitted the carrying of a copy of a registration certificate in lieu of original in vehicles registered as school buses; P.A. 93-297 amended Subsec. (a) to delete term “no-fault” in description of insurance identification card, effective January 1, 1994, and applicable to acts or omissions occurring on or after said date; P.A. 10-3 amended Subsec. (b) to replace fine of $35 for first offense and not more than $50 for subsequent offense with fine of $50, effective April 14, 2010.

See Sec. 14-107 re liability of owner, operator or lessee in prosecutions for violation of this section.

As to the effect of failure to carry the certificate in the car, see the analogous ruling as to operator's license. 93 C. 457. Cited. 110 C. 148.

Cited. 11 CA 644.

Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 385; Id., 390.