Bill > H3014

This bill authorizes cities and towns to install and operate "school bus violation detection monitoring systems," which are camera systems designed to identify drivers who fail to stop for school buses when they are stopped with flashing red lights and their stop arm extended. A "violation" is defined as a driver not fully stopping for a school bus under these conditions. These systems will capture video and photographic evidence, including license plates, to issue citations to the registered owner of the vehicle. Penalties for violations are fines, not criminal convictions, though they will be noted on driving records. The bill also outlines procedures for issuing citations, contesting violations through hearings or mail, and consequences for non-payment, such as license suspension or vehicle immobilization. It specifies that recorded images not showing a violation must be destroyed within 30 days, and those showing violations within one year, and requires annual reporting to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on the system's usage and financial impact.