State Sen. Paul Cicarella, member of the Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Senate’s final passage of his bipartisan co-sponsored bill (S.B. 1284) to aid municipalities in combating violent street takeovers in Connecticut.
“Thank you to my Senate and House colleagues for passing this commonsense measure that holds people accountable for endangering others on our roads. Consequences are the best deterrent, and this is something we’ve lacked for years. I continue to hear from many constituents and understand their frustrations with these lawless stunts. Street takeovers will continue until criminals realize that they will face significant consequences, and this bill accomplishes that. I look forward to the Governor signing this important bill into law.
“Also, thank you to our local leaders like North Haven Police Chief Kevin Glenn, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson, and North Haven First Selectman Mike Freda, who helped shape this bill and put all perspectives into consideration,” he said.
S.B. 1284 will allow towns and cities to impose larger fines on street takeover participants, with penalties including a two-year license suspension for those with three or more violations and fines reaching thousands of dollars per offense. It also provides towns with the ability to seize ATVs, dirt bikes, and mini-motorcycles involved and either auction them off or destroy them.
The bill now awaits Governor Lamont’s signature to become law.
Sen. Cicarella has offered similar bills in previous legislative sessions in response to street takeover events that threaten public safety. He has closely worked with state and local leaders in crafting this legislation that has garnered overwhelming community support.