Voters would approve local use of school-zone speed cameras

Voters in a county or city must approve school-zone speed-camera enforcement in a referendum before the local government or police can enter or renew a contract for it. The referendum applies to a county or municipality considering a contract to enforce school-zone speeding with automated cameras. More than half of votes cast must favor the measure for camera enforcement to be allowed. After voters reject it, the local government must wait three years before asking again. Contracts tied to a local government's proprietary functions are exempt. This requirement takes effect July 1, 2027.

Law enforcement may use recorded images to enforce school-zone speed limits during specified school-day hours, and the vehicle owner may owe a civil penalty. These rules cover violations more than 10 miles per hour over the applicable school-zone speed limit, recorded by an authorized camera. Enforcement is limited to school days during class time, one hour before classes begin, and one hour after they end; local governments may set shorter hours. A first violation carries a $75 penalty; a second or later violation carries $125. Electronic processing fees may be up to $10. No penalty applies if an officer arrested or cited the driver for the same violation. For 30 days after an agency first introduces a camera in a school zone, the owner receives a warning instead of a penalty. Owners may contest liability, and no late fee may be imposed on an unpaid penalty under this section. The camera-enforcement provisions take effect July 1, 2026. The 30-day warning period starts when an agency first introduces a camera in a school zone.

Local agencies must send violation notices and may refer unpaid, uncontested penalties to the Department of Revenue, which can block vehicle registration renewal until payment. This process applies to an owner cited for a camera-recorded school-zone violation who has not contested or paid the penalty. The agency must send a final notice and wait at least 30 days before referring an unpaid, uncontested penalty. The text bars late fees for unpaid penalties under this section, though the registration provisions refer to payment of a penalty plus any late fee. After the final notice is mailed, the agency may refer the penalty no sooner than 30 days later; the Department of Revenue must enter a referral in its vehicle database within five days.

State officials may fine local agencies or their agents for intentional violations of the camera-enforcement rules and may suspend permits after repeated violations. These consequences apply to an agent, law enforcement agency, or governing body found to have intentionally violated the chapter's rules for automated traffic enforcement devices. The fine is $2,500 for a first intentional violation and $5,000 for a second. After a third or later finding, the Public Safety commissioner may suspend a local permit; the Transportation Department must suspend the jurisdiction's camera permits for up to 12 months after notice. The bill's other provisions take effect July 1, 2026; the suspension period may last no more than 12 months.