Senate Bill 1045 Summary

• Authorizes local units of government to operate automated traffic enforcement safety device programs on school buses to detect and photograph vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses in violation of section 682.

• Requires local ordinances or resolutions to specify that vehicle owners are liable for violations, allows electronic payment, mandates police officer review of images before citations are issued, and provides a 30-day warning-only period when devices are first deployed.

• Establishes violation penalties matching section 601b(3) standards, with fine revenue allocated 70% to the local government (20% of which goes to school safety programs) and 30% to library purposes.

• Creates affirmative defenses for citation recipients including lawful police direction, prior citation for same conduct, stolen vehicle reports, and vehicle control by someone other than the owner under rental or lease agreements.

• Requires recorded images to show vehicle rear and registration plate only, prohibits facial images, mandates destruction of images within 90 days after case disposition, and requires annual public reporting of citation data by implementing jurisdictions.