Smile, Gov. Healey Signs Two Camera Enforcement Bills for Buses
Massachusetts law will now allow public transit agencies and school districts to use bus-mounted cameras to issue fines against illegal parking in dedicated bus lanes and bus stops, and against drivers who threaten kids by illegally passing stopped school buses.
On Wednesday, Governor Healey signed “An Act relative to bus lane enforcement,” which passed in the Massachusetts legislature’s sparsely-attended chambers during the last week of 2024.
The law sets a minimum fine of $25 and a maximum of $125 for bus lane violations caught on camera, and a flat $100 fine for bus stop violations.
The law also authorizes municipal governments install stationary cameras at bus stops to prevent illegal parking in bus boarding areas, which can be a serious safety hazard for mobility-impaired riders.
On Friday, Gov. Healey signed “An Act concerning the safety of school children embarking and disembarking school buses,” a separate bill that would allow cities and towns to use cameras to identify and fine vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses.
Under that law, drivers caught on camera passing a stopped school bus would receive the same fines that are already established under current Massachusetts law: $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third offense.
This story was updated on Monday, Jan. 13 to confirm the Governor’s signing of “An Act concerning the safety of school children embarking and disembarking school buses.”
