State v. Anonymous (1971-6)

The defendant was given a uniform traffic summons (see Practice Book § 852) for failure to obey a traffic control signal on a public highway, in violation of § 14-299 of the General Statutes.1 The defendant’s pretrial motion for a jury trial was denied, and, after a trial to the court, the defendant was found not guilty and an order of discharge was entered.

On this appeal, the defendant claims that the statute (§ 51-266) denying the right to trial by jury where the maximum authorized penalty is a fine of $50 or a jail sentence of thirty days, or both, is unconstitutional under federal and…