Rep. Klarides-Ditria Working to Make Roads Safer, Provide Law Enforcement with More Tools

State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R-105) yesterday voted in support of a commonsense public safety measure to allow police to pull over drivers they see or suspect of using cannabis.

House Bill 7132 – An Act Concerning Non-Safety Related Traffic Stops and Driving While Consuming Cannabis – provides the authority for officers to stop a motor vehicle if the officer sees the operator actively consuming cannabis and smells burnt cannabis. It also makes numerous changes regarding non-safety related items and reduces the standard for vehicle stops for items like license plate frame holders, windshield obstructions and headlights.

“The safety of our citizens, whether they’re driving or pedestrians, should be the priority with any legislation that involves mind-altering substances and the use of machinery like operating a motor vehicle on our roads, ´ Rep. Klarides-Ditria said. “Driving while high on cannabis is just as dangerous as driving while drinking alcohol, so it’s about time the legislature finally caught up and amended state law to prohibit such reckless behavior on our roads. I’m encouraged by this change, but it is frustrating that it took several years of Republican pressure to get this basic safety measure passed.”

During debate on the bill, Republican State Rep. and Stonington Police Officer Greg Howard introduced an amendment to restore law enforcement’s ability to perform vehicle consent searches. A vocal critic of the 2020 police accountability law that outlawed the common police practice which takes illegal guns and drugs of our streets, Rep. Howard has championed the House Republican push to allow police to ask drivers for consent to search their vehicle during a traffic stop.

Under current state law, unless probable cause exists, police are not allowed to ask a driver to provide any documentation or identification other than an operator’s license, motor vehicle registration, insurance identity card, or other documentation or identification directly related to the stop. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated 79-63.

“As the wife of a retired police officer and a proponent of both public safety and common sense, I find these prohibitions on law enforcement’s ability to do their job to be absolutely ridiculous,” Rep. Klarides-Ditria said. “Police officers use discretion and training to solve crimes every day, yet on a motor vehicle stop they’re not even allowed to ask a simple question. It makes no sense. I will continue to support policies that support law enforcement.”