Bill > HB06389

This bill proposes an amendment to existing statutes that would expand police officers' ability to establish probable cause for driving under the influence (DUI) by allowing them to base their determination on observing a passenger using cannabis within a motor vehicle. Probable cause is a legal standard that provides law enforcement with justification to conduct a search, make an arrest, or obtain a warrant, requiring more evidence than a mere suspicion but less than absolute proof. In this specific context, the bill would enable police to initiate a DUI investigation not only when the driver appears impaired, but also when a passenger is seen actively using cannabis, potentially suggesting that the driver might be under the influence or creating an environment that could compromise driving safety. This represents an expansion of current DUI investigation protocols by introducing a new circumstantial factor that could trigger a more thorough examination of the driver's potential impairment.

Justice

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB06389&which_year=2025