The Trumbull Police Department would like to inform residents that several new safety laws regarding pedestrians and motor vehicles will be going into effect on October 1, 2021. Some of these laws are an expansion of existing laws that are already in place, but other new laws have been added. These new additions have been developed in an effort to increase the safety of the public.
“Ice Cream Truck Safety”
The legislature passed this new law to enhance the safety of children when they are in the area of ice cream trucks conducting business. Among other things, this new law (1) requires ice cream trucks to install, by May 1, 2022, and use certain safety equipment; (2) establishes operating rules for ice cream trucks that generally limit selling locations and conditions; and (3) requires drivers, when approaching an ice cream truck displaying flashing lights and its signal arm, to stop and proceed past the truck at 5 mph or less, yielding to any pedestrians. Violations of this provision are infractions (PA 21-20).
“Yielding to Pedestrians at Crosswalks”
This law expands the circumstances under which drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks. This relates to crosswalks that are not controlled by traffic signals or police officers. Currently, a driver must yield to a pedestrian, slowing or stopping as necessary, if the pedestrian has stepped off the curb or into the crosswalk. Under this new act, a driver must do so if a pedestrian is within any portion of the crosswalk; if they step to the curb at a crosswalk’s entrance and indicates their intent to cross the road by raising his or her hand and arm toward oncoming traffic; or when they indicate their intent to cross the road by moving into the crosswalk’s entrance any body part or any extension of a body part (which also includes a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, stroller, carriage, cart, or leashed or harnessed dog). As under existing law, drivers who fail to yield at a crosswalk when required are subject to a $500 fine. Violations of this provision are infractions (PA 21-28 hb 5429).
“Dooring”
This new law generally prohibits a person from causing physical contact between a vehicle door and moving traffic (including cyclists and pedestrians). This would be by means of opening the vehicle door, if the moving traffic is traveling at a reasonable speed with due regard for the safety of people and property. This law also includes leaving a vehicle’s door open longer than needed to load or unload passengers (i.e. dooring). Violations of this provision are infractions (PA 21-28). Under the act, “moving traffic” includes motor vehicles, bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric foot scooters traveling on the highway and pedestrians and people riding bicycles, electric bicycles, or electric foot scooters on sidewalks, shoulders, or bikeways.
“Right-of-Way and Buses”
This new law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to a bus traveling in the same direction when the bus appropriately signals (i.e. by using a hand and arm, signal lamp, or mechanical signal device) to reenter the flow of traffic. Violations of this provision are infractions (PA 21-106).
“Back Seat Passenger Seat Belt Use”
This law generally requires all motor vehicle occupants to wear seat belts while the vehicle is moving. Prior law required only the driver, front seat passenger, and certain back seat passengers (i.e. those under age 16) to wear them. Under this new law, the failure to wear a seat belt by any back seat passenger age 16 or older is a secondary offense. Under this law, police officers cannot stop a vehicle solely for this offense, but may pull over a vehicle for another violation, and then cite violators of this law accordingly. Violations are infractions (PA 21-175).