Modifier 01 / 06
Active work zone
Fine ×2+1 pointSteeper insurance tier
Connecticut's work-zone enhancement is the easiest modifier to trigger and the easiest to miss. The fine on any moving violation doubles automatically if the citation is issued in a posted construction zone — and "active" doesn't mean what most drivers think it means.
The statute applies any time the zone is posted, regardless of whether workers are present. 2 a.m. on a Sunday, no cones in your lane, no flagger in sight — if the orange signs are still up, the doubling applies. The officer doesn't need additional probable cause to invoke it; just the location of the stop.
One point is added on top of the doubled fine, and the conviction reports to your insurer as a "work zone" violation — which several major carriers treat as a separate (and steeper) surcharge tier than ordinary speeding.
Authority · C.G.S. § 14-212d · Connecticut General Statutes, Sec. 14-212d
Modifier 02 / 06
School zone, during school hours
Fine ×2Mandatory courtNo plea-by-mail
Posted school zones operate on the same doubling rule as work zones, but with two important differences: mandatory court appearance (no plea-by-mail available) and a much narrower window — the enhancement only applies during posted school hours, typically 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
The mandatory-appearance requirement is the bigger trap. Drivers who try to handle a school-zone ticket the way they'd handle a regular speeding ticket — pay it, move on — find themselves with a failure-to-appear warrant 30 days later. Once that's on your record, the underlying ticket becomes the smaller problem.
Authority · C.G.S. § 14-218a
Modifier 03 / 06
Passing a stopped school bus
$450 minimum$1,000+ on 2nd30-day susp. on 2nd
Connecticut treats school-bus violations more harshly than nearly any other moving offense. The minimum fine for a first offense is $450; a second within three years jumps to a minimum of $1,000 and a mandatory 30-day license suspension on top.
There is no diversionary program available, no infraction reduction the prosecutor can offer without judicial sign-off, and a guilty disposition is reported to the DMV automatically. Compounding the problem: many of these tickets are issued based on driver-camera footage from the bus itself, which means the case effectively prosecutes itself unless someone challenges the chain of custody or visibility conditions.
Authority · C.G.S. § 14-279
Modifier 04 / 06
Reckless driving
MisdemeanorUp to 30 d. jail · 1stUp to 1 yr · 2nd
Connecticut's reckless-driving statute kicks in at 85 mph regardless of the posted limit — and that's the bright-line version. Officers can also charge reckless based on conduct alone (aggressive lane changes, racing, weaving) at any speed. Either way, the charge is no longer an infraction; it's a misdemeanor criminal offense.
A reckless conviction carries up to 30 days of jail exposure for a first offense, up to a year for repeats, and stays on your criminal record indefinitely unless you successfully petition for erasure. Insurance treats it as on par with a DUI for surcharge purposes; most carriers non-renew on the next policy term.
Authority · C.G.S. § 14-222
Modifier 05 / 06
Commercial driver's license (CDL) holder
60-day DQ · 2 in 3 yrs120-day DQ · 3 in 3 yrsNo hardship license
Federal regulations classify any 15+ mph over the limit as a "serious" violation for CDL holders — regardless of whether you were driving a commercial vehicle or your personal Camry on a Sunday afternoon. Two serious violations within three years trigger a mandatory 60-day CDL disqualification; three within three years means 120 days.
There is no hardship license, no first-offender program, no judicial discretion at the disqualification stage. The DMV is required to act once the conviction posts. For most CDL holders, that means termination — carriers can't insure a driver with a disqualified license.
Authority · 49 CFR § 383.51 · Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
Modifier 06 / 06
Driver under 18 (16/17 law)
30-day auto susp.60 days on 2ndNo hardship license
Connecticut's graduated driver-license law treats teenage drivers differently from adult drivers, and the difference is stark. Any moving violation conviction triggers an automatic 30-day license suspension on top of whatever fine or points the underlying offense carries. A second within the licensing period escalates to 60 days.
Unlike adult suspensions, there is no "occupational" or "hardship" license available during the suspension period. The teen driver cannot drive to school, work, or medical appointments. Parents who sign for a minor's permit are also notified, and in some cases held accountable for fines.
Authority · C.G.S. § 14-36g
