Bill
HB 4928
Creates civil penalties for stop-arm camera violations; fines go to counties and then to school districts for transportation safety; districts may contract for enforcement.
Topic: Transportation / School vehicles — school bus stop‑arm cameras; civil sanctions
Status and timeline
- Enacted as Public Act No. 161 of 2024; approved by the Governor December 10, 2024; effective Sine Die (per act language).
- Companion/tie‑bar bills: HB 4929 (Revised Judicature Act changes) and HB 4930 (Pupil Transportation Act changes) were considered with HB 4928 and make related procedural and contracting changes.
Purpose / intent
- To create a statutory framework for “camera‑based violations” for drivers who unlawfully pass or fail to stop for stopped school buses using evidence from stop‑arm camera systems, and to direct how fines from those violations are collected and used to support school transportation safety.
Key provisions
- Camera‑based violation defined: a violation of MCL 257.682 (failing to stop for or passing a stopped school bus with alternating red lights) that is based solely on a photograph or video recorded by a school bus stop‑arm camera system.
- Evidentiary use: photographs and video from certified stop‑arm camera systems are admissible as evidence (to the extent permitted by state rules of evidence). A school district using a system must provide recorded images to an investigating law enforcement agency on request.
- Citation procedure: a law enforcement agency may review stop‑arm camera system information and may initiate enforcement by mailing a citation (first‑class mail) to the operator/owner identified in the image; the mailing must include the image(s), date/time/location, and a statement of facts inferred from the image/video.
- Penalties: a civil infraction with a civil fine (statutory range preserved in the enacted text at $100–$500 for violations and for camera‑based violations).
- Fine collection and distribution: civil fines for camera‑based violations must be paid to the county treasurer (or designee). The county treasurer must distribute the collected fines at least monthly to the school district that operates the school bus.
- Use restriction: money received by a school district from these fines is limited to school transportation safety‑related purposes.
- Stopping exception refined: motorists need not stop for a stopped bus when a raised intervening space, physical barrier, or dividing section separates roadways — except where a crosswalk or pedestrian walkway is present (drivers must stop in that case).
- Definitions: clarifies “school district,” “law enforcement agency,” and cross‑references the Pupil Transportation Act for “stop‑arm camera system.”
Related provisions in HB 4929 / HB 4930
- HB 4929: aligns civil infraction distribution rules in the Revised Judicature Act so fines ordered in court for camera‑based violations are paid to the county treasurer and distributed per HB 4928.
- HB 4930: authorizes school districts to contract with law enforcement agencies to establish enforcement responsibilities and cost reimbursements for camera‑based violations and to contract with private vendors to install/operate/support stop‑arm camera systems and carry out those agreements.
Who is affected
- Motorists / registered vehicle owners (civil liability for camera‑documented violations).
- School districts (may operate or contract for stop‑arm camera systems; receive fine revenue for transportation safety).
- County treasurers (receive/process fines; may designate private vendors to process payments).
- Law enforcement agencies (review camera data, issue citations, coordinate with school districts/vendors).
- Private vendors (may be contracted to install/operate systems or process fines).
Fiscal impacts / policy considerations
- State: no direct fiscal impact reported.
- Local: indeterminate—may increase revenue for school districts (used for transportation safety), shift revenues that previously supported local law libraries, and affect enforcement workload. Testimony cited ~ $10,000 per bus as an average installation cost, a motivation for directing fines to districts.
Practical effect
- Establishes a clearer, legislated path to use bus‑mounted stop‑arm camera evidence for civil enforcement, channels resulting fines to school districts for safety uses, and sets procedures for citation and evidence sharing between districts, vendors, and law enforcement.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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