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S 2344

Dissolves the New York state thruway authority, and transferring all functions, duties, debts, and obligations of such authority to the department of transportation; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Walczyk

Allows eligible Massachusetts municipalities to opt in to install automated road safety cameras to enforce red-light, speed, and blocking-intersection violations with defined fines

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · S 2344

Summary — S.2344 (Massachusetts Senate, 2025)

Title: An Act relative to traffic regulation using road safety cameras (proposes new Chapter 90K, “Automated Road Safety Enforcement”)

Note: The submitted metadata for this docket contains conflicting and truncated elements (different titles, sponsors, and procedural entries). This summary is based on the text of Senate No. 2344 as filed in the Massachusetts Senate (introduced by Sen. William N. Brownsberger) that creates Chapter 90K regarding automated road safety camera systems.

Main purpose

To authorize Massachusetts cities and towns (that opt in) to install and administer automated road safety camera systems for enforcement of certain traffic violations, establish procedures, limits and reporting requirements, and to add protections around the photographs and personal identifying information collected under the new law.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions: Establishes terms such as “automated road safety camera system,” “camera enforceable violation,” “municipal designee,” and “registrar.”
  • Authorized violations: Cameras may be used to detect (a) red-light running (failure to stop at steady red; and prohibited right turns on red), (b) speed-limit violations (as defined by specified sections of Chapter 90), and (c) blocking intersections.
  • Municipal opt-in: A city or town must accept the chapter before installing systems. Cameras may be placed on municipal ways or on state-controlled ways (except limited-access highways) with written permission from MassDOT or DCR.
  • Local approval and public process: Camera locations must be approved by city council with mayoral approval (or select board in towns) after a public hearing.
  • Fines: Civil fines for camera-enforceable violations set between $25 and $150. Registered vehicle owners are generally liable unless the vehicle operator was separately cited under Chapter 90C.
  • Warning period: For 60 days after the first system in a municipality becomes operational, only written warnings may be issued; municipalities may also choose to issue written warnings in lieu of fines under objective, written criteria.
  • Evidence and records: A sworn certificate based on camera photographs/data is prima facie evidence. Camera violations are not treated as moving convictions for driving records and do not trigger motor vehicle insurance premium surcharges.
  • Administration: Municipalities designate a “municipal designee” to administer the program, hire staff or contract for services, and must maintain/calibrate systems.
  • Reporting and transparency: Annually (by Dec. 1) municipalities must file a report with MassDOT detailing locations, safety nexus, numbers of fines/warnings, maintenance/calibration records, crash data at each location, and analysis of police traffic stops pre/post implementation; MassDOT will post these reports publicly.
  • Privacy amendment: Adds to Ch. 4 (clause 26) that photographs and other personal identifying information collected under Chapter 90K are included among records addressed in that clause (i.e., subject to specified records law treatment).

Who is affected

  • Cities and towns that choose to adopt the program.
  • Registered vehicle owners and operators captured by camera systems.
  • Municipal governments (administration, police, and finance functions).
  • MassDOT and DCR (permission, oversight, and public posting of reports).
  • Registrar of Motor Vehicles (mentioned in definitions/administration).

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • Municipal adoption is voluntary and requires local public hearing and legislative body approval.
  • Annual municipal reporting to MassDOT due by December 1.
  • Initial 60-day warning-only period after a municipality’s first system becomes operational.
  • The bill text as provided is truncated; implementation details (appeal procedures, notice content, timelines for payment/contestation, data retention and access rules) may be contained in sections not fully included in the available excerpt.

Notes / caveats

  • The provided legislative metadata contains conflicting entries and sponsors unrelated to the Massachusetts text; readers should consult the official Massachusetts legislative website (Senate Docket No. 1495 / Senate No. 2344) for the complete, authoritative text, any amendments, and the current status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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