By Kathy Kennedy
State Rep., R-119
Kathy Kennedy
It’s no secret: Connecticut roads are notorious for speeding and intoxicated driving, sadly leading to unnecessary fatalities and accidents for the past five years. As the ranking member of the Transportation Committee, I want to share what I have done to crack down on reckless, distracted and intoxicated driving by collaborating with law enforcement to prioritize safety on our roadways.
This year included many positive bills that will pave safer roadways across our state. But I believe that Public Act 25-19 is one of the most significant. This recently-signed law officially allows a police officer to conduct a motor vehicle stop if they presume the driver or passenger is consuming marijuana.
This means that before this law, our police were unable to carry out their duties in protecting our travelers from drivers under the influence of cannabis. So why didn’t we do this earlier?
Well, we tried. Last year, my House Republican colleagues and I proposed an amendment to House Bill 5550 (Public Act 24-137) that would have only allowed police to pull over drivers possibly consuming marijuana if there was a passenger under the age of 18 in the vehicle. Sadly, a majority of Democrats voted against this amendment, despite its safety benefits.
Thankfully, after several bipartisan conversations this legislative session we passed this proposal which not only deters marijuana use while driving but also restores a law enforcement officer’s ability to carry out their investigative duties and keep us safe. This is a win-win for safer roads and support for the work of our police.
Apart from intoxicated driving, this bill also creates new penalties for speeding over 100 miles per hour and decreases the standard for what constitutes certain license plate, headlight or windshield equipment violations, first issuing warnings to drivers before infractions.
Passing this bill is a huge step toward a safer Connecticut. Back in 2020, when majority Democrats proposed and passed the police accountability bill, we wrongly placed limits on our police officers that continue to have negative ripple effects in 2025. Whether it’s with defending against intoxicated driving, or against “street takeovers,” when our police get the support they deserve in Hartford, our communities get the safety they deserve in return.
As someone with family in law enforcement, I will continue to preserve the rights of our police officers who put their lives on the line for us every day. The success of this bill is a testament to changing times in our state where we are hopefully once again respecting our law enforcement and prioritizing public safety.
If you are a constituent with a public safety concern or question about state government, sharing your voice matters. I encourage you to please contact me at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at 860-240-8700 so that together we can put your safety and values first. Don’t forget to visit RepKennedy.com to subscribe to my brief email updates and to follow me on Facebook.