Texas House Bill HB2656

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the authority of a school district to implement a school bus monitoring system that records images of vehicles that pass a stopped school bus; authorizing a civil penalty.

Impact

The enactment of HB 2656 will amend existing regulations under the Transportation Code, specifically addressing vehicle compliance regarding stopped school buses. School districts will have the authority to issue civil penalties based solely on photographic evidence. This is intended not only to improve adherence to traffic laws but also to provide districts with a new revenue stream, as penalties collected from violations will be directed back to the districts. The bill also mandates that penalties can be used to support the costs related to the installation and maintenance of these monitoring systems.

Summary

House Bill 2656 pertains to the authority granted to school districts to implement a school bus monitoring system. This system is designed to capture photographic evidence of vehicles that unlawfully pass a stopped school bus, which is a significant traffic violation under Texas law. The bill aims to enhance student safety by deterring individuals from endangering children when they are boarding or disembarking from school buses. It provides a legal framework for school districts to establish these monitoring systems and outlines the penalties for violations, which are to be enforced through photographic evidence collected from the monitoring system.

Contention

While the primary goal of HB 2656 is to improve the safety of students at risk due to reckless driving around school buses, concerns have been expressed regarding privacy implications and the potential overreach of surveillance measures. Critics argue that the implementation of these systems could lead to unjust penalties and that proper checks need to be in place to ensure fairness in enforcement. Additionally, there is a dialogue about the effectiveness of such systems in truly enhancing safety versus merely collecting fines, highlighting the need for ongoing evaluation of the outcomes associated with the monitoring systems.