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Committee advances bill to let school districts use stop‑arm cameras to ticket motorists
Summary
Senate Bill 38, a permissive measure allowing school districts to install stop‑arm cameras and use fines to fund systems, was reported favorably by the Kentucky Senate Transportation Committee after sponsor testimony and committee discussion.
The Kentucky Senate Committee on Transportation reported Senate Bill 38 favorably after testimony that the measure would allow — but not require — school districts to outfit buses with stop‑arm camera systems to document and pursue citations for motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses.
Sen. Greg Elkins (R–District 20) presented the bill, citing a National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services safety survey in which 1,491 Kentucky bus drivers recorded 489 illegal passings on a single survey day in April 2024. Elkins said Kentucky operates about 8,800 school buses daily; extrapolating the survey result, he said the equivalent would be roughly 2,886 illegal passings per day statewide. He also said law enforcement issued 361 citations for stop‑arm violations in 2023 and only 151 motorists were fined that year.
“Elkins said the bill is entirely permissive,” he noted, describing it as vendor‑neutral and written to keep revenue from fines within the school district and court system except for a $25 review fee to local law enforcement. The bill places appeals for citations in district court and outlines a defense process for motorists to contest tickets. “This bill is strictly voluntary. It is vendor neutral, and most importantly this bill will change driving behavior,” Elkins said.
Rep. David Hale, who appeared in support, described a near‑miss incident witnessed by his wife and urged the committee to pass the bill to improve student safety during boarding and disembarking.
The committee voted by roll call; Senators Chambers Armstrong, Berg, Carpenter, Douglas, Elkins, Smith, Storm, Wheeler, Williams and Wilson were recorded as voting yes. The chair announced the bill was reported favorably with the committee substitute attached.
The bill does not compel districts to install cameras. Under the version discussed, camera systems would be activated only when a bus stop arm is deployed; districts that implement systems may contract with vendors and use fine revenue to cover costs, subject to the appeals process established in the bill.
