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The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) conducts a program known as the Operator's Retraining Program (ORP) in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-111g of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS). The basic purpose of the program is to prevent highway crashes and injuries by providing education concerning safe driving practices and attitudes to licensed drivers who have a record or certain and specified motor vehicle convictions.

DMV is authorized to use the services and facilities of qualified, private organizations to conduct the ORP. In accordance with the governing statute, the ORP "shall (1) review principles of motor vehicle operation, (2) develop alternative attitudes for those attitudes contributing to aggressive driving behavior  and (3) emphasize the need to practice safe driving behavior." If the Commissioner certifies a private entity to offer the ORP, such an entity may charge a fee of not more than sixty dollars to each program applicant. DMV is authorized to retain a portion of each program fee, in an amount not to exceed ten dollars, to cover the costs of administering the ORP.

As specified in the statute, the Commissioner may require an operator license holder who is twenty-four years of age or less to attend the ORP if he or she commits an ORP listed violation on two or more occasions. An operator license holder who is over twenty-four years of age may be subject to the ORP requirement if he or she commits an ORP violation on three or more occasions. The statue describes two categories of violations, denominated as "moving" and "suspension" violations, respectively. In accordance with other provisions of Title 14 of the General Statues and DMV practice, most violations remain on a person's driving history record for three years from the date of conviction. Consequently, the numbers of violations that trigger the ORP requirement for each driver generally relates to any given three year period. A driver who is notified by the Commissioner to attend the ORP, but who fails to attend or complete the program is subject to a suspension of his or her operator's license. The suspension remains in effect until the requirement is satisfied.

Members of the Joint Committee on Transportation have raised questions concerning the administration and the effectiveness of the ORP. In accordance with a letter from Commissioner Gary J. DeFilippo to the Chairs of the Committee and to Representative Shawn Johnston, dated May 4, 2004, the Commissioner agreed to study and report on the following suggestions, questions and issues:

This Report has been prepared and is being submitted in accordance with the Commissioner's commitment. In its conclusion, the Report outlines several recommendations, a number of which will require statutory amendments by the General Assembly if they are to be implemented by DMV.