Greenwich gun dealers, drivers and police departments face new rules when three Connecticut laws take effect Thursday, Oct. 1.
The highest-profile change bans the sale and importation of "convertible pistols," semiautomatic handguns with a cruciform trigger bar that can be converted into a machine gun. The law targets design features found primarily in Glock handguns, which are among the most popular in the country. Violations are a Class D felony carrying up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Gov. Ned Lamont signed the ban on June 5. Glock, Inc. filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 21 in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, asking a judge to block enforcement. The company also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. A separate suit by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Shadow Systems and Connecticut retailer Blue Trail Range was filed the same day.
No ruling had been issued as of Sept. 25.
Glock argues the law is unconstitutionally vague and infringes on Second Amendment rights. The company says state officials have not clarified whether three of its pistol lines, the Slimline, V Series and Gen6, fall under the ban's definition. According to the NSSF lawsuit, about 85% of Connecticut law-enforcement agencies issue Glock pistols. Glock's complaint says the state has 659 federally licensed firearms dealers.
"This is just another attempt by the Democratic majority in this state to show that they are openly hostile to law-abiding gun owners in the state of Connecticut," State Sen. Rob Sampson told WTNH.
Attorney General William Tong said in a Sept. 21 statement that he intends to vigorously defend the state against the lawsuit.
License plate camera limits
A second law caps how long police can store data from automated license plate readers (ALPRs) at 21 days for images not tied to an active investigation. Statewide, police departments have deployed 1,564 fixed cameras, with 78% of departments using the technology, according to data presented to the state's Police Officer Standards and Training Council on Sept. 24.
Officers must now attach every search to an incident or case number and cannot act on a plate alert alone. The law bars searches for immigration enforcement, reproductive care, gender-affirming health care, or First Amendment-protected activities. Departments can share data only with New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The council has recommended an even shorter seven-day retention limit. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and Sampson both said they want to explore tighter restrictions in the next legislative session.
Distracted driving expansion
The third law broadens Connecticut's distracted driving rules. Holding a phone at all while driving is now prohibited, not just calling or texting, according to CT Insider. The law also bans any video or moving image on a mobile device or installed screen within view of the driver. Exceptions remain for navigation maps on a mounted device, driver-assistance systems and emergency calls.
Distracted driving in a highway work zone will be classified as reckless driving, a misdemeanor that can carry jail time, CT Mirror reported.
Greenwich residents can track the status of the Glock lawsuits through the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut's electronic filing system.
