Bill > S0082

This bill proposes to enhance school bus safety by requiring Type I and II school buses to be equipped with digital video monitoring systems that can capture images of vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses. The bill amends existing Vermont traffic laws to allow law enforcement to issue civil traffic violations based on photographic evidence from these bus-mounted cameras. Specifically, if a school bus operator attests under penalty of perjury that a vehicle passed a stopped school bus in violation of traffic laws, and provides dated and timestamped images showing the violation, a citation can be issued to the vehicle's registered owner within 10 days. The bill also removes the previous point assessment for illegally passing a school bus and stipulates that the video monitoring systems can only record number plates, must only preserve images for up to 90 days, and cannot record occupants of vehicles. The new requirements will take effect on August 1, 2026, and will first apply to school buses during the 2026-2027 school year, giving school districts time to implement the new camera systems.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.82