HB344: HB344 Motor vehicles; school bus cameras; revise penalty amount for violations captured by recorded images

Georgia law already lets school buses use cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus, and lets local law enforcement issue civil fines to the vehicle's owner based on those recorded images. This bill amends that law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-163) to change the dollar amounts of those fines. Under the bill, a first violation caught on camera in a given jurisdiction would carry a $300 penalty, a second violation in that jurisdiction would carry a $500 penalty, and a third or later violation would carry a $1,000 penalty. The bill does not change how the cameras work, who can issue the penalty, or any other part of the school bus law; it only revises the penalty amounts in subparagraph (d)(3)(A). It also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Revises the civil monetary penalty amounts for vehicle owners caught by school bus camera footage illegally passing a stopped school bus.
• Sets the fine at $300 for a first violation captured by camera in a given jurisdiction.
• Sets the fine at $500 for a second violation captured by camera in that same jurisdiction.
• Sets the fine at $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation captured by camera in that jurisdiction.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new penalty amounts.

This bill affects owners of motor vehicles that are caught on school bus camera footage illegally passing a stopped school bus, as well as the local law enforcement agencies and governing bodies responsible for collecting these civil penalties.

For drivers caught by school bus cameras, the size of the fine they owe would change, with repeat violations in the same jurisdiction becoming notably more expensive. This could affect how much revenue local governments collect from these penalties and how strongly repeat offenders are deterred.

• Section 1 amends subparagraph (d)(3)(A) of O.C.G.A. § 40-6-163, which governs civil penalties for school bus camera violations.
• The revised text sets a $300 penalty for a first violation in a jurisdiction, evidenced by recorded images from a school bus camera.
• The revised text sets a $500 penalty for a second violation in the same jurisdiction.
• The revised text sets a $1,000 penalty for a third or subsequent violation in the same jurisdiction.
• Section 2 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2025-02-26House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-02-12House Second Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-11House First Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-10House Hopper (House)

• Don Parsons (R, HD-044)Primary sponsor
• Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Brad Thomas (R, HD-021)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)

• school bus safety
• traffic penalties
• motor vehicle law
• school bus cameras