Bill > A2338

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program allowing municipalities and school districts to contract with private companies for video monitoring systems on school buses to help enforce laws against illegally passing a stopped school bus. These "school bus monitoring systems" are defined as camera and computer systems capable of capturing high-resolution video and images that clearly show the school bus's flashing red lights, the violating vehicle, its license plate, make, model, and the date, time, and location of the violation. If a violation is detected, the recorded evidence is reviewed by local law enforcement, who can then issue a summons within 90 days. The bill clarifies that these recorded images are not public records and have strict retention and discovery limitations. Vehicle owners are generally liable for violations unless they can prove the vehicle was used without their consent, and lessors are not liable if they provide the lessee's information to the court. Violators face fines between $300 and $500, but no penalty points are assessed. Fines collected through this program will be used by the municipality and school district for general purposes, including improving monitoring efforts and public safety education. The program's progress and outcomes will be reported to the Legislature.