WeVote
Log In

Bill

WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 6853

Summary — HB 6853 (File No. 395)

Title: An Act Requiring the Inclusion of Certain Information in the Standardized Method of Recording Traffic Stop Information
Introduced: February 4, 2025
Subject areas: Police, Traffic stops, Racial profiling, Records, Emergency Services and Public Protection, Office of Policy and Management

Purpose and intent

HB 6853 would modify Connecticut’s standardized method for recording information about motor vehicle stops to require additional specific data elements be collected and recorded. The bill’s intent, as indicated by its title, is to improve the completeness and consistency of traffic‑stop data so that law enforcement agencies and policymakers can better monitor outcomes (including potential racial profiling) and analyze practices across jurisdictions.

Key provisions (based on bill title and legislative actions)

  • Requires that the statewide standardized form or electronic method used to record traffic stops include additional specified information. The bill text itself is not in the materials provided; however, bills of this type typically add items such as:
    • Driver and passenger demographic information (e.g., perceived race/ethnicity, age group, gender)
    • Reason for stop and identifying statutory/ordinance basis
    • Disposition of the stop (warning, citation, arrest, no action)
    • Whether a search was conducted, and if so, whether consent was obtained and the basis for the search
    • Use of force, vehicle/property seizure, or contraband discovered
    • Time, location, officer ID/agency, and body‑worn camera activation status
  • Directs state agencies (likely the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and/or the Office of Policy and Management) and local police departments to adopt and use the updated standardized recording method.
  • May require periodic reporting or transmission of collected data to a central repository for analysis and public reporting (common with similar statutes), though the provided materials do not list reporting deadlines or formats.

Who is affected

  • State and local law enforcement agencies: will need to collect and record the expanded data elements.
  • State administrative agencies (e.g., Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Office of Policy and Management): responsible for implementing standards, receiving/aggregating data, and oversight.
  • Individuals stopped by police: enhanced data collection could affect privacy and civil‑liberties considerations but is intended to improve transparency and accountability.
  • Policymakers and researchers: will gain more comprehensive data for analysis of traffic‑stop patterns, racial disparities, and operational outcomes.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Feb 4, 2025: Referred to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security; public hearing Feb 11.
  • Mar 18, 2025: Joint favorable; filed with Legislative Commissioners’ Office (LCO).
  • Mar 26, 2025: Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis.
  • Apr 1, 2025: Reported out of LCO; favorably reported and tabled for House calendar (House Calendar No. 256); File No. 395.

Potential impacts and implementation considerations

  • Transparency and oversight: More detailed, standardized data may better identify racial disparities and inform policy reforms.
  • Administrative and fiscal: Collecting, storing, and reporting additional data may impose costs and require training and IT changes for agencies. A fiscal note from OFA would clarify budgetary impact.
  • Privacy and legal issues: Expanded demographic and stop‑level data raise privacy considerations; safeguards and data‑use limits may be needed.
  • Implementation details (exact data fields, reporting frequency, enforcement, effective dates) are not included in the summary materials; reviewing the bill text and any OFA fiscal note is recommended to assess obligations and costs.

For a complete assessment, review the bill’s full text and any fiscal or policy analyses prepared by the Office of Fiscal Analysis or Office of Legislative Research.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.