[Adopted by the Legislative Council 5-6-2026]
This article authorizes the use of a municipal school bus violation enforcement system as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279c to detect and enforce violations of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-279(a) involving the failure of a motor vehicle operator to stop for a school bus displaying flashing red signal lights.
A. 
The Town of Newtown hereby authorizes the installation and operation of a municipal school bus violation enforcement system on school buses owned, leased, or operated on behalf of the Newtown Board of Education, consistent with requirements set forth in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279c.
B. 
This article is adopted pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279c(b)(1). A municipal school bus violation enforcement system captures: (1) digital images of violations, (2) a remotely viewable and recorded image of the number plate, (3) the date, time and location of the violation. "Owner" means the registered owner of a motor vehicle and in the case of a leased or rented motor vehicle, includes the lessee for purposes of liability under this article.
C. 
Warning signs shall be posted on all school buses in which such a system is installed and operated.
The owner of a motor vehicle commits a violation of this article if the operator of such motor vehicle violates Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279(a), unless the owner submits an affidavit transferring liability to the operator pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279c(j). In the case of leased or rented vehicles, the lessee is liable unless an affidavit as outlined in this section properly designates the operator.
A. 
The Newtown Board of Education may equip school buses with municipal school bus violation enforcement systems and may enter into agreements necessary for installation, operation, maintenance, and data management.
B. 
Images, video, and associated data captured by such systems shall be transmitted to the Newtown Police Department for review and determination of whether a violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279(a) has occurred
A. 
Recorded images or video and associated data collected by a municipal school bus violation enforcement system shall be used solely for the enforcement of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279.
B. 
Recorded images or video and associated data shall be retained, disclosed, and destroyed in accordance with applicable state statutes and regulations.
C. 
Recorded images or video and associated data that does not document a violation shall be deleted in accordance with applicable state statutes and regulations.
D. 
Recorded images or video and associated data shall not be introduced as evidence in any other civil or criminal proceeding.
All defenses are available to any person alleged to have committed a violation detected and recorded by the municipal school bus violation enforcement system, including, but not limited to, that:
A. 
The operator was driving an emergency vehicle in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-283(b)(1);
B. 
The violation was necessary to allow the passage of an emergency vehicle;
C. 
The violation was necessary to comply with an order or direction from a law enforcement officer, observable on the recorded images;
D. 
The violation was necessary to comply with an order or direction from a law enforcement officer, observable on the recorded images;
E. 
The violation took place during a period in which the vehicle had been reported stolen to a law enforcement unit and had not been recovered prior to the time of the violation; or
F. 
The operator received a citation under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279 for the same incident.
A. 
If there are reasonable grounds to believe a violation occurred and the file captures the number, plate, color, and type of vehicle, and the date, approximate time, and location of the violation, the Newtown Police Department shall issue a written warning or citation to the owner in accordance with the requirements of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279c.
B. 
The Town adopts the procedures set forth in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-279c and establishes a citation hearing procedure pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-152c, which may include in-person or virtual hearings.
C. 
The First Selectman shall appoint one or more citation hearing officers, other than police officers or employees or persons who issue citations, to conduct such hearings.
The Town of Newtown, or its designated agent, is authorized to collect fines imposed under this article, and all such fines shall be credited to the Town.
Funds received from fines imposed under this article shall be used for the purposes of improving public safety in Newtown, compensating any private vendor that installs, operates, or maintains a municipal school bus violation enforcement system, or both.
The Town of Newtown shall, no later than October 1 following adoption of this article and annually thereafter while in effect, submit a report to the Department of Transportation including:
A. 
A copy of this article;
B. 
The total number of citations issued for violations of this article in the prior fiscal year;
C. 
The total amount of funds collected in the prior fiscal year; and
D. 
A description of how such funds were spent in the prior fiscal year.