Connecticut Raises Fine for Ignoring Emergency Road Closures

Public Act 26-63 amends Connecticut General Statutes section 3-6a, effective October 1, 2026. The section lets the governor restrict movement of people and vehicles during extreme weather or other acts of nature and designate who may travel and by what routes. The act changes the penalty for violating such an order from an infraction to a fine of not more than $250.

Separately, the act creates a new state program for "dynamic part-time lanes," effective January 1, 2027. The Office of the State Traffic Administration may designate a lane or shoulder for temporary use as a high-occupancy-vehicle lane, a bus lane, an emergency-vehicle lane, or to redirect an opposing lane into one-way traffic. The Department of Transportation may install camera systems to detect violations. Vehicle owners face a $75 fine for a first violation and up to $200 for a second or subsequent violation within a year. The act requires advance signage, system calibration and notice procedures before citations issue, and bars insurers from using these violations for surcharge points.

The act does not name commercial trucks or CDL holders specifically in the lane-restriction sections.

What's next

• 2026-10-01: Higher fine for violating a governor's emergency road-closure order is already in force.
• 2027-01-01: Dynamic part-time lane camera enforcement and its $75/$200 fines take effect.

All sources

• Public Act 26-63 (HB 5464): Connecticut General Assembly