History of the Motor Vehicle Department


The reason for the founding of the Motor Vehicle Department was simple: The burden of administering Connecticut's automotive laws and regulations had become too vast and too complex for the limited facilities of the office of the Secretary of the State. Early in 1917 the then Governor Marcus H. Holcomb nominated Robbins B. Stoeckel, of Norfolk, to be Connecticut's first Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Mr. Stoeckel assumed charge of the new department when it opened June 1st in three rooms on the third floor of the State Capitol.


In 1918, during its first calendar year in existence, the Motor Vehicle Department collected $1,281,719 in total receipts, registered 92,605 vehicles, licensed 103,657 drivers, analyzed 1,987 traffic accidents of all kinds, and recorded the traffic deaths of 209 human beings. Also during 1918, Connecticuts roads were being patrolled for the first time by MVD (Motor Vehicle Department) inspectors.


In 1919, the State Legislature established a MVD highway patrol, authorizing an increase to 30 uniformed men equipped with motorcycles, as well as to establish MVD inspection stations at the New York and Massachusetts state lines to weigh and inspect trucks on a 24-hour schedule.


In 1921, the State Police took over driver-license examining, but this was later returned to the MVD in the year 1931.


In 1927, 16 and 17 year olds could now obtain a driver's license where previously only 18 years old could obtain such licenses.


In 1932, the State Police and MVD cooperated to inaugurate a system of warnings for traffic violations not serious enough to warrant arrest.


In 1947, the department pioneered the world's first Point System for the control of careless or dangerous drivers. Under this system a driver is judged by the number of points he accumulates against his driving record on file in the department. Basically, the system operates on the condition that the more points a driver has the worse his record is. MVD action ranges from warning letters to friendly conferences to outright license revocations.


In 1948, the nation's first and the world's first permanent type reflectorized registration plates were issued to prevent dark-hour accidents by having the plates reflect headlights of approaching vehicles.


In 1963, the MVD instituted inspection of vehicles 10 or more years old when transferred from one owner to another as a prerequisite for registration.


Today, with approximately 2.7 million registered motor vehicles and 2.3 million licensed operators in Connecticut, the Motor Vehicle Department continues its objective to protect life and property by the administration of the motor vehicle laws; the regulation, discipline and education of motor vehicle operators; and the obtaining of revenue through licensing to provide funds for the construction and maintenance of state highways.