This bill amends New Jersey's school bus safety laws by authorizing the use of school bus monitoring systems to improve enforcement against the illegal passing of stopped school buses. It introduces a requirement for drivers to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus that is discharging or receiving children or individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill establishes a civil penalty of $250 for violations captured by the monitoring system, which will not affect the driver's record or insurance eligibility. It also outlines the responsibilities of municipalities and school districts in contracting with private vendors for the installation and maintenance of these systems.

Additionally, the bill sets forth a new penalty structure for illegally passing a school bus, with fines and community service requirements for first and subsequent offenses. It mandates that monitoring systems capture high-resolution images and video of violations, which must be reviewed by law enforcement for potential summons issuance. The bill ensures that recorded images are not publicly accessible and must be purged after a specified period, while clarifying the liability of vehicle owners regarding violations captured by the monitoring system. The provisions of the bill are set to take effect seven months after enactment, allowing for necessary administrative preparations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39:4-128.1