The bill S.82, introduced by Senator Brennan, aims to enhance the enforcement of traffic laws regarding the illegal passing of school buses by requiring the installation of traffic cameras on all Types I and II school buses. The bill allows for civil traffic violations to be issued based on images captured by these cameras when a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus. Key amendments include the addition of a new definition of moving violations to include passing a school bus, and the establishment of a process for law enforcement to issue civil violation complaints based on evidence from the traffic cameras.

Additionally, the bill mandates that school buses be equipped with a live digital video monitoring system that records violations, including the date, time, and location, while ensuring that images of vehicle occupants are not captured. The bill also specifies that video evidence must be preserved for a limited time unless a violation is attested to by the school bus operator. Furthermore, it repeals the previous point assessment for illegal passing of a school bus and sets an effective date for the law to take effect on August 1, 2026, applying to the 2026-2027 school year.

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