An Act relative to school bus safety cameras

This bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law that allows cities and towns to install automated cameras on school buses to detect when vehicles pass the bus while its warning signals are active. If a community chooses to adopt this system, local officials must hold a public hearing to review accident data and costs before approving the number of cameras, and they must annually report details about the equipment and enforcement actions to the state Department of Transportation. Violations captured by these cameras result in a maximum fine of $25 for the vehicle's registered owner, though the owner can avoid the penalty if the driver was already cited by police for the same incident. Additionally, the bill ensures that these specific violations do not appear on the driver's operating record or affect their auto insurance premiums.