Panel reviews proposal to ticket vehicle owners, allow bus cameras to curb illegal school‑bus passes

Committee members discussed a draft bill that would allow cameras on school buses and make the registered owner of a vehicle responsible if their vehicle is captured passing a stopped school bus.

A committee speaker summarized the bill: "It would ticket the registered owner of that plate," and said the measure would shift liability to vehicle owners who previously could claim they had loaned the car to someone else.

The speaker said the bill would authorize cameras on buses configured to capture only license plates rather than drivers or broader images. "They have a special camera that will video the plate only, not the driver," the speaker said. The sponsor also said the bill preserves recorded video for up to 90 days.

The committee heard that Mountain Transit and other service providers have raised the problem of bad actors passing school buses and that the problem has reportedly worsened. The sponsor said the proposal grew from earlier work begun in February with Senator Mazza and engagement with Paul Clancy at Mountain Transit.

Committee members discussed point assessments and appeals. The draft referenced a point schedule; one participant noted a five‑point assessment is identified in the bill's draft and that appeals would be handled by a hearing officer or superior judge. The sponsor said the "illegal passing of a school bus is repealed" in the draft and that plate‑based citations would replace the prior mechanism.

No formal vote occurred. Committee members said they would return to the measure for further review and possible revisions, including privacy protections and point assessment procedures.