The bill H.304 proposes the implementation of traffic cameras on all Types I and II school buses in Vermont to enhance safety and enforce laws against illegally passing school buses. It allows for civil traffic violations to be issued based on images captured by these cameras when a vehicle is identified as having passed a stopped school bus. The bill amends existing laws to include new provisions regarding the operation of these cameras and the process for issuing violations, including the requirement for a school bus operator to attest to the violation under penalty of perjury.

Key amendments include the addition of a new definition of moving violations to encompass passing a school bus, the establishment of a civil violation complaint process for violations captured by traffic cameras, and the requirement for school buses to be equipped with a live digital video monitoring system that records violations. The bill also specifies that the recorded images must only capture the number plates of offending vehicles and outlines the preservation timeline for such recordings. The act is set to take effect on August 1, 2026, and will first apply to school buses operated during the 2026-2027 school year.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 23-4(44), 23-4, 23-1075, 23-1283, 23-2502