ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 1545
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JUNE 1, 2026
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1545.
As amended and reported, the bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to issue citations for covered violations as evidenced by recorded images captured by bus obstruction monitoring systems. The bill requires an officer with the New Jersey Transit Police Department (department) or an employee of the corporation that has been designated, trained, and certified by the department to review citations for covered violations to review recorded images for covered violations. The corporation is required to install and operate bus obstruction monitoring systems on buses owned or operated by the corporation, or operated under contract with the corporation, to capture recorded images of motor vehicles during the commission of a covered violation and to issue citations for covered violations. The number of buses to be equipped with bus obstruction monitoring systems is to be determined by the corporation. Under the bill, a bus obstruction monitoring system may only be used if it is operated by a bus obstruction monitoring system operator and a sign is affixed to the bus alerting drivers that the bus is equipped with a bus obstruction monitoring system.
Under the bill, a bus obstruction monitoring system is to only retain recorded images of motor vehicles that contain evidence of a covered violation. Recorded images from a bus obstruction monitoring system may be retained for up to six months or 60 days after final disposition of the citation, whichever is later, if the recorded images contain evidence of a covered violation. If the recorded images do not contain evidence of a covered violation, the recorded images are to be destroyed within 15 days of the recorded images’ capture. Recorded images are to be stored on secure servers or encrypted digital storage systems that meet or exceed State information security standards established by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Under the bill, recorded images are not deemed a government record and are not to be discoverable as a government record by any person, entity, or governmental agency, except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter. Additionally, recorded images may not be offered as evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding not directly related to a covered violation. A bus obstruction monitoring system may not use biometric identification techniques, including facial recognition technology.
A bus obstruction monitoring system operator is required to complete training by the manufacturer of the bus obstruction monitoring system in the procedures for setting up, testing, and operating the bus obstruction monitoring system. Upon completion of the training, the manufacturer is required to issue a signed certificate to the bus obstruction monitoring system operator, which certificate is to be admissible as evidence in any administrative or judicial proceeding for a covered violation. In addition, a bus obstruction monitoring system operator is required to perform manufacturer-specified functionality tests of each bus obstruction monitoring system prior to the start of daily service and at regular intervals throughout the day, as required by the manufacturer. Each test is to confirm proper operation of the camera, time and date stamp, location tracking, and image capture functions. A bus obstruction monitoring system operator is also required to complete and sign a test verification log for each bus obstruction monitoring system, which log is to meet certain requirements under the bill.
Under the bill, no motor vehicle is permitted to stop, stand, or park in a dedicated bus lane, bus stop zone, or designated bicycle lane. Citations issued by a bus obstruction monitoring system for a covered violation may be contested on certain grounds provided in the bill. An owner or operator of a motor vehicle who received a citation for a covered violation has 30 days from the date on which the citation was mailed to contest the alleged covered violation to the corporation. After reviewing a contested citation, the corporation is to send a copy of its final decision to the registered owner contesting the citation with instructions for the registered owner’s options to either pay the fine or appeal the corporation’s decision. A registered owner contesting a citation may appeal a final decision issued by the corporation to the New Jersey Superior Court.
If an owner or operator of a motor vehicle violates the bill’s provisions, as captured by a bus obstruction monitoring system, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle is subject to a fine of $45 for the first offense. Subsequent offenses within a 12-month period are to increase by $45, with a maximum fine of $135 per offense. The corporation is permitted to retain any fines collected to cover administrative costs of administering the bus obstruction monitoring system program. Any excess revenue from the fines collected is to be used to fund Access Link services. Additionally, the corporation is prohibited from entering into any agreement for bus obstruction monitoring systems or bus obstruction monitoring system operator services that bases contractor compensation on the amount of revenue generated in monetary fines collected. If an owner or operator has failed to pay three or more fines, the corporation may notify the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) in a form and manner prescribed by the commission. Upon receiving such notice, the commission may suspend the driver’s license, or the registration of the motor vehicle, of an owner or operator who has not paid or otherwise satisfied three or more fines. However, after issuing such notice, if the fines are subsequently paid or if the case is dismissed or otherwise disposed of, the corporation is to promptly notify the commission of the subsequent payment, dismissal, or disposal.
The corporation is required to conduct a public education and awareness campaign regarding the corporation’s implementation of the bus obstruction monitoring system program for a period of 180 days beginning on the date of implementation of the bus obstruction monitoring system program. The campaign is to include, but not be limited to, bus exterior advertising, web-based and social media outreach, and press events.
In addition, the corporation is required to issue warning notices prior to issuing any citations or fines for covered violations for 90 days following the implementation of the bus obstruction monitoring system program. Finally, the corporation is required to submit an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature regarding the bus obstruction monitoring system, which report is to include certain information outlined in the bill.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amended the bill to:
(1) define the term “commission”;
(2) provide that the recorded images are to be reviewed to determine whether a covered violation has occurred by either an officer with the department or an employee of the corporation that has been designated, trained, and certified by the department to review citations for covered violations, instead of by a contracted law enforcement agency or a designated employee of the corporation;
(3) provide that a citation issued by a bus obstruction monitoring system for a covered violation may be contested, in part, if a local law enforcement agency or parking authority has previously issued a citation for the same covered violation. As introduced, the bill only pertained to citations issued by parking authorities for the same incident of a covered violation;
(4) provide that an owner or operator is to contest a citation of an alleged covered violation to the corporation;
(5) clarify that the corporation is to adopt rules and regulations to establish procedures concerning hearings conducted by the corporation for contested citations for a covered violation under the bill;
(6) require the corporation to send a copy of its final decision on a contested citation for a covered violation to the registered owner contesting the citation with instructions for the registered owner’s options to either pay the fine or appeal the corporation’s decision;
(7) permit a registered owner contesting a citation to appeal a final decision issued by the corporation to the New Jersey Superior Court;
(8) provide that if an owner or operator has failed to pay three or more fines the corporation may notify the commission in a form and manner prescribed by the commission and, upon receiving such notice, the commission may suspend the driver’s license, or the registration of the motor vehicle, of an owner or operator who has not paid or otherwise satisfied three or more fines. However, after issuing such notice, if the fines are subsequently paid or if the case is dismissed or otherwise disposed of, the corporation is required to promptly notify the commission of the subsequent payment, dismissal, or disposal; and
(9) make technical changes.