The Norwalk Ordinance Committee voted Oct. 21 to send a draft ordinance authorizing school‑bus-mounted photo enforcement systems to a public hearing. The committee’s vote was 6–1 in favor of taking the ordinance to public hearing; Committee member Nora Nojelski Eitner voted no.

The draft ordinance follows language in the state’s authorizing statute and lays out definitions, vendor requirements and a civil-penalty schedule. Under the committee package, a civil penalty for a camera-recorded illegal pass of a stopped school bus would be $250. The ordinance text in the meeting made clear that a camera-based civil penalty would not duplicate a police officer’s ticket — a driver who receives a camera notice will not also be separately fined under the camera ordinance for the same event (though an officer-issued citation remains possible in other circumstances).

Tom (staff) told the committee that the police department has issued citations for passing school buses and that camera-systems could increase enforcement reach. "I was looking at the citations, and just yesterday they issued 4 citations for passing a school bus," he said, noting the camera system would allow enforcement where police are not present.

The draft also requires that buses equipped with the enforcement cameras carry identifying markings to notify drivers when enforcement equipment is present.

Vote and next steps: The committee voted to send the ordinance to public hearing (vote recorded as 6 yes, 1 no). The public hearing will allow residents to comment on the plan and on technical elements such as vendor selection, signage and implementation timing.

Ending: Staff recommended coordinating procurement so that vendors able to supply multiple photo-enforcement systems (for example, speed, red-light and bus cameras) could be evaluated for efficiency. The item will be scheduled for a public hearing on the committee calendar.