Massachusetts H 4478: An Act concerning the safety of school children embarking and disembarking school buses

Bill Text

HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 4478

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

________________________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 31, 2022.
The committee on Transportation to whom was referred the petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 3436) of Linda Dean Campbell and
Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to authorize the installation and
operation of digital video violation detection monitoring systems to detect
drivers failing to stop for school buses, the petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 3440) of Paul J. Donato relative to the safety of school
children embarking and disembarking school buses, the petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 3491) of Kevin G. Honan and Elizabeth
A. Malia relative to the safety of school children embarking and
disembarking school buses, and the petition (accompanied by bill, House,
No. 3607) of William M. Straus and Elizabeth A. Malia for legislation to
authorize the installation and operation of digital video violation detection
monitoring systems to detect drivers failing to stop for school buses,
reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4478)
ought to pass.

For the committee,

WILLIAM M. STRAUS.

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FILED ON: 1/31/2022
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4478

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act concerning the safety of school children embarking and disembarking school buses.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 SECTION 1. Section 14 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2 inserting after section 14B the following section:-
3 Section 14C. (a) In addition to other monitoring devices lawfully authorized to be
4 installed in school buses and notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any city
5 or town within the Commonwealth is hereby authorized to install and operate live digital video
6 school bus violation detection monitoring systems for purpose of enforcing violations against the
7 owner of a motor vehicle whose vehicle failed to stop for a school bus when required to do so by
8 the provisions of Section 14. Such systems shall be limited to monitor and detect violations of
9 motorists failing to stop for a school bus.
10 (b) (1) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
11 “School bus violation detection monitoring system”, a camera system that shall monitor
12 and detect motor vehicles overtaking or passing school buses when said buses are stopped and
13 displaying front and rear alternating flashing red signal lamps as provided in section seven B,

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14 and that has been stopped to allow pupils to alight from or board the same. It shall be a system
15 with two or more camera sensors and computers that produce live digital and recorded video and
16 2 or more film or digital photographic still images of each motor vehicle at the time it is used or
17 operated in a manner that is in violation of Section 14 of Chapter 90.
18 “Stop arm traffic control sign”, a stop sign mounted on a mechanical arm installed on a
19 school bus that is deployed when a school bus is stopped to allow pupils to alight from or board
20 the same and notify motorists when they are required to stop and when they can proceed.
21 “Violation”, the failure of an operator of a motor vehicle to comply with the laws, codes,
22 regulations, by-laws, ordinances, rules or other forms of legislation governing the traffic control
23 requirements for school buses stopped to allow pupils to alight from or board same for which a
24 school bus violation detection monitoring system is installed and is in operation.
25 (2) All systems installed for use under this section shall produce an evidence file that
26 includes a live visual image viewable remotely, a recorded image of the license plate and the
27 capacity to record the date, time and location of the vehicle committing the violation. A law
28 enforcement officer, or law enforcement’s approved technician, shall review the video and
29 decide whether a violation occurred.
30 (3) Recorded video images and still photographic images must record the rear of the
31 motor vehicle, with at least 1 photographic image and 1 recorded video image clearly recording
32 the motor vehicle immediately before the violation of the stop arm traffic control sign and at
33 least 1 photographic image and 1 recorded video image recording the motor vehicle passing the
34 stopped school bus with the stop arm traffic control sign deployed in violation of the stop arm

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35 traffic control sign. Additionally, at least 1 photographic image and 1 recorded video image
36 must clearly identify the license plate of the motor vehicle.
37 (4) To the extent practicable, any school bus violation detection monitoring system shall
38 use necessary technologies to ensur