§ 14-279a — Operation of school bus monitoring system by board of education or municipality. Vendor agreement. Report.

Connecticut § 14-279a

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 14: Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway By Vehicles. Gasoline
• Ch. 248: Vehicle Highway Use

Text

(a) As used in this section and section 14-279b, “live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system” or “monitoring system” means a system with one or more camera sensors and computers that produce live digital and recorded video images of motor vehicles being operated in violation of section 14-279. A monitoring system shall produce a live visual image that is viewable remotely and a recorded image of the number plate of a motor vehicle violating section 14-279. Such recorded image shall indicate the date, time and location of the violation. (b) A municipality or local or regional board of education may install, operate and maintain live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems, or may enter into an agreement with a private vendor for the installation, operation and maintenance of such monitoring systems. Such agreement shall provide for the compensation to the vendor for the expense of the monitoring services and cost of equipment provided by the vendor and for the reimbursement of the vendor for the expenses of installing, operating and maintaining the monitoring system. Such agreement shall provide that the vendor shall, on an annual basis, submit a report to such municipality or local or regional board of education that includes, but is not limited to: (1) The total number of citations issued pursuant to section 14-279b as a result of a violation detected and recorded by the monitoring system, and (2) the total amount of funds collected from such citations. The municipality or local or regional board of education shall, not later than thirty days after receipt of such report, submit such report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and public safety and security. A municipality or local or regional board of education serving a municipality that has entered into an agreement with a private vendor for the installation, operation and maintenance of a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system shall use amounts remitted to such municipality in accordance with subsection (e) of section 51-56a , in respect to the violation of section 14-279 , to reimburse the private vendor for the expenses for installing, operating and maintaining the monitoring system. (c) A warning sign shall be posted on all school buses in which a monitoring system is installed and operated pursuant to this section indicating the use of such system. (d) A monitoring system installed pursuant to this section shall record images of the number plate of a motor vehicle only, and shall not record images of the occupants of such motor vehicle or of any other persons or vehicles in the vicinity at the time the images are recorded. (e) (1) A municipality or local or regional board of education that is not operating a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system pursuant to subsection (b) of this section prior to July 1, 2024, shall not (A) commence operation of such a system on or after July 1, 2024, or (B) enter into an agreement with a private vendor pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for the installation, operation and maintenance of such a system on or after July 1, 2024. (2) A municipality or local or regional board of education, or a private vendor under an agreement pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, that is operating a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system pursuant to subsection (b) of this section on July 1, 2024, shall cease operation of such system not later than July 1, 2026, except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection. (3) A private vendor operating a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system may continue operating such system on or after July 1, 2026, provided (A) the agreement regarding such operation was entered into pursuant to subsection (b) of this section prior to July 1, 2024, (B) no option to renew or extend such agreement is exercised on or after July 1, 2024, that would extend such operation to include any period of time on or after July 1, 2026, and (C) such operation ceases upon termination of such agreement.

Legislative History

(P.A. 11-255, S. 2; P.A. 18-164, S. 19; P.A. 22-44, S. 20; P.A. 24-107, S. 2.) History: P.A. 11-255 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 18-164 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 14-279(c) and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 22-44 amended Subsec. (d) to change “license plate number” to “number plate”; P.A. 24-107 amended Subsec. (b) to add requirement to submit report to committee having cognizance of matters related to public safety and security and added reference to Sec. 14-279b in Subdiv. (1), added Subsec. (e) re use and termination of use of live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems and made minor and technical changes, effective July 1, 2024.