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S 9395

Relates to enforcement of owner liability for failure of an operator to stop for a school bus

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Siela Bynoe and 1 co-sponsor

Local governments can use school bus photo violation monitoring to impose owner liability for drivers who fail to stop for stopped school buses, within participating districts.

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Bill Summary · S 9395

Summary of Bill S.9395 (2025-2026, New York) – Enforcement of Owner Liability for Failure of an Operator to Stop for a School Bus

Purpose and Intent

This bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to expand and formalize a demonstration program allowing local governments within a school district to impose monetary liability on vehicle owners when an operator fails to stop for a school bus that is stopped and signaling, as required by law. The program centers on the use of school bus photo violation monitoring systems (PVMS) to record and process violations, with specific requirements and limitations to govern implementation, operation, and data handling.

Key Provisions

Creation and Scope of Demonstration Program

  • Local governments (counties, cities, towns, or villages) within a school district may adopt local laws or ordinances to establish a demonstration program imposing monetary liability on the owner of a vehicle for violations when the operator fails to stop for a school bus.
  • PVMS may be stationary or mobile and installed on buses owned by the district or under contract with the district.
  • Limitations:
    • Stationary PVMS may be installed only on roadways within the local jurisdiction.
    • Mobile PVMS may be used only within the boundaries of participating school districts and requires a district agreement.
    • If a district has an agreement, other cities/towns within the same county cannot enter separate PVMS agreements with that district, and counties cannot enter agreements with city school districts wholly contained within a city.
  • Data handling and vendor use:
    • Localities must maintain and share a list of participating districts and boundaries with PVMS vendors; vendors must limit operation to these geographic boundaries.
    • Law enforcement remains able to enforce existing traffic provisions independently of PVMS.

Notice of Liability and Local District Resolution

  • A notice of liability may not be mailed for violations that occur in a district that has not passed a resolution authorizing PVMS or for violations that occurred before the district’s resolution and agreement.

Reporting and Transparency (Subdivision (m))

  • For counties/cities/towns/villages that adopt the demonstration program, an annual public report is required, due by June 1 of each year the program is operable, covering:
    • Bus routes and locations where PVMS were used (stationary/mobile).
    • Accident data before and after PVMS installation at locations where PVMS are used.
    • Violation data at PVMS locations (daily/weekly/monthly).
    • Convictions and notices of liability, fines assessed and paid, adjudication results and dispositions, and associated costs.
    • Revenue realized from adjudications and program expenses.
    • Details on adjudication processes (hearings, defaults) and the number of hearings.
    • Public education efforts concerning stopping for school buses.
  • The report must be publicly available on local government websites.

Defenses (Subdivision (n))

  • A defendant may raise a defense to a violation:
    • If the school bus stop-arms were malfunctioning at the time.
    • If the violation occurred within a district that had not adopted a PVMS authorization resolution, or before such resolution.

Affected Parties

  • Vehicle owners whose vehicles are captured violating the stop-for-school-bus requirement within participating districts.
  • Local governments (counties, cities, towns, villages) within school districts that decide to implement PVMS demonstration programs.
  • School districts that enter into PVMS agreements with localities.
  • PVMS vendors designated by participating jurisdictions.

Timeline and Procedural Notes

  • Effective immediately upon enactment.
  • Provisions related to PVMS are subject to the broader repeal timelines for the underlying PVMS framework (the act notes that amendments do not affect the repeal of the section and are considered repealed with it).

Practical Impact

  • Creates a formal, revenue-generating mechanism for enforcing stop-for-school-bus laws through photo monitoring in selected districts.
  • Requires local legislative and school district action, intergovernmental agreements, and ongoing annual reporting.
  • Aims to improve bus-stop safety by increasing accountability for violations while ensuring due process through district resolutions and defined defenses.

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

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