State Representatives Haines & DeCaprio Address Enforcement Concerns for Drugged Drivers

HARTFORD—House Republicans are blasting majority party Democrats for their indifference to the scourge of drugged driving after they opposed Republican legislation aimed at making Connecticut’s roadways and communities safer.

During debate on H.B. 5500 on Monday evening, House Republicans reminded Democrats of the crisis on Connecticut’s roadways—wrong way driving, in particular. While Democrats have trained their focus on simply lowering the state’s blood alcohol content, Republicans have instead urged their colleagues to address the impact of their efforts to commercialize marijuana.

The majority of House Democrats rejected two amendments (LCO 4819 and 4821) that would allow police officers to make those marijuana-related traffic stops. Republicans also saw most Democrats reject a third amendment that would re-establish a police officer’s ability to perform a consent search of a vehicle when that officer has a reasonable and articulable suspicion that weapons, drugs, or other evidence of crime.

“Over the last several years, Connecticut roadways have become increasingly dangerous for a variety of reasons,” said State Representative Irene Haines. “Last May, we passed legislation that calls for the installation of wrong-way driving detection systems on at least 120 high-risk exit ramps. Now, we are preventing police officers from taking people off the road who are driving high that are an absolute danger to everyone. It’s baffling to me.”

“It is our jobs to vote on a variety of policies as legislators, among them is doing everything possible to keep our roads as safe as possible for Connecticut residents,” State Representative Mark DeCaprio added. “It was shocking to see so many of my counterparts on the other side of the aisle vote against commonsense amendments that would indeed help with just that. We need to take a hard look at what our priorities are – giving our law enforcement officers the authority to stop a driver who is clearly smoking marijuana in plain sight is one of them.”

Democrats, who took that important investigatory tool away from law enforcement officers through their “police accountability” legislation in 2020, rejected the proposal (LCO 4820) from Republicans.

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Rep. Irene Haines represents the 34th Assembly District serving residents of East Haddam, East Hampton, and Salem.

Rep. Mark DeCaprio represents the 48th Assembly District serving the residents of Bozrah, Colchester, Franklin, and Lebanon.