Sec.14-45a-5. Definitions

In Sections 14-45a-5 through 14-45a-9 of these regulations, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Altered consciousness," means a state of awareness characterized by loss, distortion, or unresponsiveness to the impressions made by the senses.

(b) "Assessment" means an examination of the person's use of chemicals.

(c) "Cognitive skill" means ability to think, perceive, and remember.

(d) "Co-morbid" means that more than one condition is present at the same time.

(e) "Consciousness" means the condition of a person when awake and fully responsive to stimuli.

(f) "Corrective lens" means an ophthalmic lens, whether an eyeglass or a contact lens, that corrects the refraction error or other optically correctible deficiency of the eye.

(g) "Department" means Department of Motor Vehicles.

(h) "Driving evaluation" means an evaluation to determine if a person's actual ability to operate a motor vehicle compensates adequately for the person's medical, mental or physical condition, or functional impairment.

(i) "Episode" means any incident or segment of time involving altered consciousness or loss of bodily control.

(j) "Field of vision" means the entire horizontal, temporal plane a person has for each eye without shifting the gaze.

(k) "Functional ability" means the degree of cognitive, mental or emotional, sensorimotor, and sensory capability in performing activities of daily living, including safely performing the driving tasks.

(l) "Licensing action" means any action by the department involving the denial, cancellation, restriction, or issuance of a motor vehicle operator's license, permit or endorsement.

(m) "Loss of bodily control" means involuntary movements of the body characterized by muscle spasms or muscle rigidity, or loss of muscle tone or muscle movement.

(n) "Medical condition" means any physical, mental or emotional condition affecting a person's health, for which a person is receiving medical treatment, or for which medical treatment is usually prescribed.

(o) "Medical Advisory Board" or "review board" means the medical board established under Sec. 14-46a through Sec. 14-46g of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(p) "Mental or emotional function" includes interaction and communication skills, adaptive behavior or coping capacity, and affect.

(q) "Physical disability" includes any physical limitation interfering with the ability to perform normal tasks associated with operating a motor vehicle.

(r) "Vision specialist" means a person who practices optometry, or a physician or ophthalmologist.

(Effective June 22, 1992)