Transportation

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; allow the use of camera monitoring systems on school buses operated by a school district and allow the enforcement of a civil penalty for stop arm camera violations recorded by a camera monitoring system; establish the amount of the civil penalty; require that the revenue generated from a civil penalty be retained by the school district; allow a law enforcement agency to charge a fee of $25 from every civil penalty enforced by the law enforcement agency; require specific notice for a stop arm camera violation; establish defenses to a violation; establish procedures for a contest to a violation; allow for suspension of motor vehicle registration for failure to timely pay a penalty; require a school district or law enforcement agency to notify the Transportation Cabinet of the need to release a motor vehicle registration suspension within 1 business day of payment; amend KRS 189.370 to require traffic in the opposite direction of a school or church bus to stop for the bus on a highway that is not divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median;amend KRS 189.990 to increase the maximum fines for failing to stop for a school or church bus that is receiving or discharging passengers.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to require vehicles operating on a highway with an iron, steel, or wooden wheel to be equipped with a rubberized strip on the portion of the wheel that is in contact with the highway; provide an exception for certain animal-drawn vehicles; amend KRS 189.990 to set penalty for violation at $20 to $100 for each offense.

Repeal and reenact KRS 189.292 to define "mobile electronic device"; prohibit the use of a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; establish exceptions; amend KRS 189.294 to define "mobile electronic device"; amend KRS 189.990 to establish penalties for violation of KRS 189.292 and 189.294; require that money from fines be deposited into the traumatic brain injury trust fund, the Kentucky trauma care system fund, and the veterans' program trust fund; provide that a courtesy warning and not a uniform citation shall be issued by a peace officer until October 31, 2026; provide that the Act may be cited as the Phone-Down Kentucky Act.