Ricky A. McCoy v. Commissioner of Public Safety

Summary

The court held that a second conviction within ten years under General Statutes § 14-227a is a felony because the offense authorizes imprisonment for up to two years and does not fall within the Penal Code's motor vehicle violation exception. Applying the plain text, related statutes, legislative history, statutory commentary, and the structure of the motor vehicle laws, the court concluded that the plaintiff could lawfully be designated a convicted felon. The court reversed the trial court's judgment and remanded with direction to enter judgment for the defendant. Katz, J., joined by Rogers, C. J., and McLachlan, J., dissenting, would have treated the violation as a motor vehicle violation and affirmed the trial court.