2025 -- S 0568 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

ENFORCEMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Tikoian, LaMountain, Ciccone, Burke, Felag, Dimitri, Rogers,

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 31-51-2, 31-51-3, and 31-51-5.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-

51 entitled "School Bus Safety Enforcement" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-51-2. Live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems.

     (a) All school departments of this state are hereby authorized to install and operate live

digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems. Such systems shall at a minimum,

be systems which monitor and detect school bus traffic violations. For purposes of this chapter a

live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system means a system with one or

more camera sensors and computers which produce live digital and recorded video of motor

vehicles being operated in violation of school bus traffic laws in violation of 31-20-12. All systems

installed for used use under this chapter must shall, at a minimum, produce a live visual image

viewable remotely, a recorded image of the license plate, and be able to record the time, date, and

location of the vehicle, and a signed affidavit by a person who witnessed the violation via live

video.

     (b) On and after July 1, 2027, all new school buses to be operated pursuant to § 31-20-

11(a) shall be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system

that conforms with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

     (c) On and after July 1, 2032, all school buses to be operated pursuant to § 31-20-11(a)

shall be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system that

conforms with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

     (b)(d) The school departments with input and approval by the municipal police chief may

enter into an agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide live digital video school

bus violation detection monitoring systems and to maintain and operate such systems.

     31-51-3. Procedure — Notice.

     (a) Except as expressly provided in this chapter, all prosecutions based on evidence

produced by a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system shall follow the

procedures established in chapter 41.1 of this title, chapter 18 of title 8 and the rules promulgated

by the chief magistrate of the traffic tribunal for the hearing of civil traffic violations in the traffic

tribunal. Provided, that in an action brought pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, references

in chapter 41.1 of this title to an “operator” shall apply to the registered owner of the vehicle. A

summons may be issued by an officer solely based on evidence obtained by use of a live digital

video school bus violation detection monitoring system. All summonses issued based on evidence

obtained from a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system shall be issued

within ten (10) days of the violation. Notwithstanding any provisions of the general laws to the

contrary, exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any violation under this chapter shall be with the

traffic tribunal. as follows:

     (1) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a state

agency;

     (2) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

town which has not established a municipal court; and

     (3) By the municipal court over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

town which has established a municipal court.

     (b) It shall be sufficient to commence a prosecution based on evidence obtained from a live

digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system. A copy of the summons and

supporting documentation shall be mailed to the address of the registered owner kept on file by the

registry of motor vehicles. For purposes of this section, the date of issuance shall be the date of

mailing.

     (c) The officer issuing the citation shall certify under penalties of perjury that the evidence

obtained from the live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system was sufficient

to demonstrate a violation of the motor vehicle code. Such certification shall be sufficient in all

prosecutions pursuant to this chapter to justify the entry of a default judgment upon sufficient proof

of actual notice in all cases where the citation is not answered within the time period permitted.

     (d) The summons shall contain all the information provided for on the uniform summons

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as referred to in § 31-41.1-1 and the rules of procedure promulgated by the chief magistrate of the

traffic tribunal as well as the date, time, and location of the violation. In addition, the following

information shall be attached to or accompany the summons:

     (1) Copies of two (2) or more photographs, or microphotographs, videos, or other recorded

images taken as proof of the violation;

     (2) A signed statement certified under the penalties of perjury by a trained law enforcement

officer that, based on inspection of recorded images and video, the motor vehicle was being

operated in violation of this chapter;

     (3) A signed statement that recorded images are evidence of a violation of this chapter;

     (4) A statement that the person who receives the summons under this chapter may either

pay the civil fine in accordance with the provisions of § 31-51-2.2, proceed under § 31-51-5(c)(3)

of this section, or elect to stand trial for the alleged violation;

     (5) A signed affidavit by a person who witnessed the motor vehicle being operated in

violation of this chapter; and

     (6) A signed statement certified under the penalties of perjury by a trained law enforcement

officer that the summons and attachments required under this subsection were mailed to the address

of the registered owner kept on file by the registry of motor vehicles.

     (e) Any summons issued pursuant to this chapter shall be issued by a law enforcement

officer authorized to issue a traffic violation summons pursuant to this title.

     31-51-5.1. Revenue.

     The revenue generated from each fine imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated

as follows:

     (1) Seventy-five percent (75%) to the vendor;

     (2) Twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) Forty percent (40%) to the state general fund; and

     (3) Twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) to the

     (2)(i) Thirty percent (30%) to the municipality where the violation takes place; and

     (ii) Thirty percent (30%) to the vendor who supplies and supports the video detection

monitoring system being used; and

     (3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to contracts existing at the time of the

enactment of this section, and shall only apply to new contracts, or extensions of existing contracts,

entered into on or after the effective date of this section.

     SECTION 2. Section 8-18-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-18 entitled "State and

Municipal Court Compact" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     8-18-3. Jurisdiction for certain violations. [Effective until January 15, 2027.]

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     (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, jurisdiction over the adjudication of matters

relating to violations enumerated in the following sections of the general laws is hereby conferred

upon the municipal courts and the traffic tribunal:

     31-13-4 31-13-9 31-13-11 31-14-3 31-14-9 31-15-1 31-15-3

     31-15-4 31-15-5 31-15-6 31-15-7 31-15-9 31-15-11 31-15-12

     31-15-13 31-16-1 31-16-2 31-16-4 31-16-5 31-16-7 31-16-9

     31-17-1 31-17-2 31-17-4 31-17-6 31-17-7 31-18-12 31-20-1

     31-20-2 31-20-9 31-21-4 31-22-2 31-22-4 31-22-5 31-22-6

     31-22-7 31-22-8 31-22-9 31-23-1 31-23-8 31-23-13 31-23-14

     31-23-15 31-24-1 31-24-4 31-24-5 31-24-7 31-24-12 31-38-4

     31-12-12 37-15-7 31-3-29 31-3-30 31-3-34 31-3-35 31-8-1

     31-10-32 31-10.1-1 31-10.1-4 31-10.1-5 31-10.1-6 31-13-6 31-15-8

     31-23-45 31-14-1 31-17-3 31-23-4 31-23-10 31-23-17 31-23-19

     31-23-20 31-23-26 31-23-27 31-23-40 31-23-42.1 31-3-18 31-10-27

     31-18-3 31-10.1-7 31-38-3 31-14-12 31-17-5 31-25-9 31-25-11

     31-25-12 31-25-12.1 31-25-10 31-22-1 31-24-34 31-27-9 31-3-9

     31-15-10 31-18-8 31-25-17 31-10.1-4 31-23-43 31-23-29 31-24-45

     31-17-8 31-24-10 31-23-47 31-12-9 31-15-16 24-10-18 31-19-5

     31-3-12 31-24-9 31-22-22 31-28-7 31-28-7.1 31-3-32 31-18-4

     24-10-18 31-18-5 31-18-15 31-18-18 31-21-14 31-22-3 31-23-16

     31-24-6 31-24-8 31-24-31 31-27-16 31-22-23 31-10-30 31-10-10

     31-19-3 31-3-40 31-22-24 31-23-51 31-7-1 31-15-2 31-15-12.1

     31-16-8 31-20-17 31-24-16 31-24-17 31-24-20 31-24-22 31-24-23

     31-24-24 31-24-25 31-24-26 31-24-27 31-24-28 31-24-29 31-24-30

     31-24-32 31-24-33 31-24-36 31-24-38 31-24-39 31-24-40 31-24-41

     31-24-42 31-24-43 31-24-46 31-24-49 31-24-51 31-24-53 31-26-3.1

     31-27-17 31-27-19 31-33-2 31-45-1 4-1-26 31-10.1-2 31-20-10

     31-22-13 31-24-13 31-27-10 31-41.1-4 31.41.2-3 Chapter 31-51

(Speeding (A)).

     (b) Except as provided in §§ 8-18-9, 8-18-10, and 31-41.1-11 jurisdiction over violations

enumerated in subsection (a) shall be exercised as follows:

     (1) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a state

agency;

     (2) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

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town which has not established a municipal court; and

     (3) By the municipal court over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

town which has established a municipal court.

     8-18-3. Jurisdiction for certain violations. [Effective January 15, 2027.]

     (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, jurisdiction over the adjudication of matters

relating to violations enumerated in the following sections of the general laws is hereby conferred

upon the municipal courts and the traffic tribunal:

     31-13-4 31-13-9 31-13-11 31-14-3 31-14-9 31-15-1 31-15-3

     31-15-4 31-15-5 31-15-6 31-15-7 31-15-9 31-15-11 31-15-12

     31-15-13 31-16-1 31-16-2 31-16-4 31-16-5 31-16-7 31-16-9

     31-17-1 31-17-2 31-17-4 31-17-6 31-17-7 31-18-12 31-20-1

     31-20-2 31-20-9 31-21-4 31-22-2 31-22-4 31-22-5 31-22-6

     31-22-7 31-22-8 31-22-9 31-23-1 31-23-8 31-23-13 31-23-14

     31-23-15 31-24-1 31-24-4 31-24-5 31-24-7 31-24-12 31-38-4

     31-12-12 37-15-7 31-3-29 31-3-30 31-3-34 31-3-35 31-8-1

     31-10-32 31-10.1-1 31-10.1-4 31-10.1-5 31-10.1-6 31-13-6 31-15-8

     31-23-45 31-14-1 31-17-3 31-23-4 31-23-10 31-23-17 31-23-19

     31-23-20 31-23-26 31-23-27 31-23-40 31-23-42.1 31-3-18 31-10-27

     31-18-3 31-10.1-7 31-38-3 31-14-12 31-17-5 31-25-9 31-25-11

     31-25-12 31-25-12.1 31-25-10 31-22-1 31-24-34 31-27-9 31-3-9

     31-15-10 31-18-8 31-25-17 31-10.1-4 31-23-43 31-23-29 31-24-45

     31-17-8 31-24-10 31-23-47 31-12-9 31-15-16 24-10-18 31-19-5

     31-3-12 31-24-9 31-22-22 31-28-7 31-28-7.1 31-3-32 31-18-4

     24-10-18 31-18-5 31-18-15 31-18-18 31-21-14 31-22-3 31-23-16

     31-24-6 31-24-8 31-24-31 31-27-16 31-22-23 31-10-30 31-10-10

     31-19-3 31-3-40 31-22-24 31-23-51 31-7-1 31-15-2 31-15-12.1

     31-16-8 31-20-17 31-24-16 31-24-17 31-24-20 31-24-22 31-24-23

     31-24-24 31-24-25 31-24-26 31-24-27 31-24-28 31-24-29 31-24-30

     31-24-32 31-24-33 31-24-36 31-24-38 31-24-39 31-24-40 31-24-41

     31-24-42 31-24-43 31-24-46 31-24-49 31-24-51 31-24-53 31-26-3.1

     31-27-17 31-27-19 31-33-2 31-45-1 4-1-26 31-10.1-2 31-20-10

     31-22-13 31-24-13 31-27-10 31-41.1-4 Chapter 31-51

(Speeding (A)).

     (b) Except as provided in §§ 8-18-9, 8-18-10, and 31-41.1-11 jurisdiction over violations

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enumerated in subsection (a) shall be exercised as follows:

     (1) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a state

agency;

     (2) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

town which has not established a municipal court; and

     (3) By the municipal court over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

town which has established a municipal court.

     Compiler’s Notes.

     Section 31-10.1-2, referred to in the table in subsection (a) of this section, is repealed by

P.L. 2024, ch. 41, § 3 and P.L. 2024, ch. 42, § 3, effective August 31, 2024.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

ENFORCEMENT

***

     This act would require that all new school buses be equipped with live digital video school

bus violation detection monitoring systems as of July 1, 2027. All buses, new and used, would be

required to have the monitoring systems installed by July 1, 2032. This act would also provide that

jurisdiction over all prosecutions based on evidence produced by a live digital video school bus

violation detection monitoring system would be shared between the municipal courts and the traffic

tribunal. This act would also amend the distribution of revenues from fines imposed for violations

of chapter 31 of title 51 ("School Bus Safety Enforcement").

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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