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HB0186 • 2021

Automated traffic law enforcement-prohibition.

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; prohibiting enforcement of traffic violations using an automated traffic enforcement system; prohibiting use of information obtained through an automated traffic enforcement system; and providing for an effective date.

Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor
Representative Andrew
Last action
2021-04-07
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how existing contracts will be handled before the effective date of July 1, 2021.

Ban on Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems

The bill prohibits the use of automated traffic enforcement systems in Wyoming and restricts sharing information related to traffic violations obtained through such systems.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits the state or any local government from using red light cameras, speed cameras, or other similar devices to enforce traffic laws without an officer present.
  • Adds a definition for 'automated traffic enforcement system' which includes devices like red light and speed cameras that can detect traffic violations without needing a police officer to be there.
  • Prohibits the state or any local government from sharing information about traffic violations caught by these systems with other states or agencies, unless allowed under specific exceptions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The state of Wyoming and its local governments
  • Drivers who might have been ticketed by automated traffic enforcement systems

Terms To Know

Automated Traffic Enforcement System
A device like a red light camera or speed camera that can detect traffic violations without needing a police officer to be present.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens to existing contracts before July 1, 2021.
  • It is unclear how this will affect current automated systems already in use by the time the law takes effect.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-07 House

    H:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to HR 5-4

  2. 2021-03-24 House

    H No report prior to CoW Cutoff

  3. 2021-03-04 House

    H08 - Transportation:Do Pass Failed 4-5-0-0-0

  4. 2021-03-03 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation

  5. 2021-03-02 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2021-03-01 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
21LSO-0515
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-0515
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0186

Automated traffic law enforcement-prohibition.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Andrew, Baker, Bear, Clausen, Gray, Hunt and Provenza and Senator(s) Biteman, Driskill and Rothfuss

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; prohibiting enforcement of traffic violations using an automated traffic enforcement system; prohibiting use of information obtained through an automated traffic enforcement system; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
204 is created to read:

31
‑
1
‑
204.

Automated traffic enforcement systems.

(a)

Neither the state of Wyoming nor any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof shall employ or contract with any private entity to employ an automated traffic enforcement system, except as authorized under W.S.

21
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3
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131(b)(x) and 31-5-507(e) for school bus video systems. Nothing in this subsection prevents a law enforcement officer from using a photographic or other enforcement assistance device for the purpose of personally detecting a violation of a state traffic law under title 31 of the Wyoming statutes where a citation is delivered to the driver of a vehicle at the time and place of an alleged offense.

(b)

Neither the state of Wyoming nor any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof shall provide or contract to provide to another state or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof any information used to impose or collect a civil or criminal fine that results from an alleged violation of a state traffic law under title 31 of the Wyoming statutes captured by an automated traffic enforcement system in this state.

Section 2
.

W.S. 31
‑
1
‑
101(a) by creating a new paragraph (xxxv) is amended to read:

31
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1
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101.

Definitions.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided, as used in this act:

(xxxv)

"Automated traffic enforcement system" means a red light camera, a speed camera or any other device used to detect a violation of a state traffic law under title 31 of the Wyoming statutes without requiring a law enforcement officer to be present to witness the violation, which results in a notice of the violation being delivered to the registered owner of a vehicle.

Section 3
.

Neither the state of Wyoming nor any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof shall provide information used to impose or collect a civil or criminal fine that results from a violation captured by an automated traffic enforcement system as defined in
W.S.

31
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1
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101(a)(xxxv) pursuant to any existing interstate compact or contract entered into before July

1,

2021 if that compact or contract does not specifically allow, or require, information to be shared for that explicit purpose. The state of Wyoming or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof shall not renew any existing compact or contract provision or enter into any new compact or contract provision that requires provision of information used to impose or collect a civil or criminal fine that results from a violation captured by an automated traffic enforcement system as defined in W.S.

31
‑
1
‑
101(a)(xxxv).

Section 4
.

This act is effective July 1, 2021
.

(END)

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HB0186