An Act to Expand the Use of Traffic Cameras for School and Work Zones
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1076
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2117

Legislative Document
No. 1076
S.P. 445
In Senate, March 9, 2023
An Act to Expand the Use of Traffic Cameras for School and Work 
Zones
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §2117, as amended by PL 2019, c. 318, §1, is further amended 
to read:
§2117.  Use of traffic surveillance cameras restricted
Except as provided in subsections 1 and, 2, 3 and 4, the State or a municipality may 
not use a traffic surveillance camera to prove or enforce a violation of this Title.  For 
purposes of this section, "traffic surveillance camera" means a device that, in conjunction 
with a lighted traffic-control device or a lane direction control device, as described in 
section 2057, subsections 1 and 3, or a speed measurement device as described in section 
2075, subsection 4, automatically produces one or more photographs, one or more 
microphotographs, a videotape or any other recorded image of a vehicle at the time the 
vehicle is operated in violation of state law.
1.  School buses.  The State or a municipality may use a traffic surveillance camera 
mounted on a school bus in conjunction with a lighted traffic-control device to prove or 
enforce a violation of section 2308, subsection 2.  A photograph, microphotograph, 
videotape or other recorded image or audio produced by a traffic surveillance camera 
mounted on a school bus is confidential and may only be released to a law enforcement 
officer for the purpose of an investigation into a violation of the law or to a law enforcement 
officer, prosecutor, defendant or court for the purpose of a prosecution of a violation of the 
law.
The state or a municipality may not retain a photograph, microphotograph, videotape or 
other recorded image or audio produced by a traffic surveillance camera mounted on a 
school bus for more than 30 days from the date of production unless it is released in 
accordance with this subsection.
For the purposes of this subsection, "prosecutor" means a person who by virtue of public 
employment is vested by law with a duty to prosecute offenders for crimes, whether that 
duty extends to all crimes or is limited to specific crimes.
1-A.  Definition.  For the purposes of this section, "prosecutor" means a person who 
by virtue of public employment is vested by law with a duty to prosecute offenders for 
crimes, whether that duty extends to all crimes or is limited to specific crimes.
2.  Toll enforcement.  The Maine Turnpike Authority may use a photo-monitoring 
system, as defined by Title 23, section 1980, subsection 2‑A, paragraph B, subparagraph 
(4), for toll enforcement purposes.
3.  School zones.  The State or a municipality may use a traffic surveillance camera 
equipped with a speed measurement device in a school zone to prove or enforce a violation 
of section 2074, subsection 1, paragraph A. A photograph, microphotograph, videotape or 
other recorded image or audio produced by a traffic surveillance camera mounted in a 
school zone is confidential and may only be released to a law enforcement officer for the 
purpose of an investigation into a violation of the law or to a law enforcement officer, 
prosecutor, defendant or court for the purpose of a prosecution of a violation of the law.
4.  Public ways under construction.  The State or a municipality may use a traffic 
surveillance camera equipped with a speed measurement device in a portion of a public 
way under construction to prove or enforce a violation of section 2075, subsection 2.  A 
photograph, microphotograph, videotape or other recorded image or audio produced by a 
traffic surveillance camera mounted in a public way under construction is confidential and 
may only be released to a law enforcement officer for the purpose of an investigation into 
a violation of the law or to a law enforcement officer, prosecutor, defendant or court for 
the purpose of a prosecution of a violation of the law.
5.  Retention of data.  The State or a municipality may not retain a photograph, 
microphotograph, videotape or other recorded image or audio produced by a traffic 
surveillance camera mounted on a school bus, in a school zone or in a public way under 
construction for more than 30 days from the date of production unless it is released in 
accordance with this subsection.
SUMMARY
This bill expands the authorized use of traffic surveillance cameras to school zones and 
portions of a public way under construction. The bill makes the data of the cameras 
confidential and restricts the dissemination of the data to only the purposes of investigation 
or prosecution of a violation of the law.