Exemptions from compliance

(a) The commissioner of motor vehicles may grant variations or exemptions from, or approve equivalent or alternate compliance with, any of the parts of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, adopted in accordance with Section 1, when strict compliance with any of such provisions would entail practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, or would be otherwise adjudged unwarranted. (b) Any variation, exemption, approved equivalent or alternate compliance with the requirements of Section 1 as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be requested in writing addressed to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161-4010. Such request shall explain fully how strict compliance with the regulation would not serve the public interest, and how the requested modification or other change would maintain public safety no less secure than the compliance required by the original regulation. No such variation, exemption, approved equivalent or alternate compliance shall be permitted except as authorized in writing by the commissioner.