New Law Requires
certain police vehicles to be equipped with cameras.
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The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports
favorably Assembly Bill No. 2280.
The bill requires
certain municipal police vehicles to be equipped with mobile video recording
systems, and increases an existing surcharge on persons convicted of driving
while intoxicated to provide funding for the municipal cost of equipping police
vehicles with video systems. Under the bill, every new or used municipal
police vehicle purchased, leased, or otherwise acquired on or after the bill’s
effective date that is primarily used for traffic stops must be equipped with a
mobile video recording system.
The bill defines a
“mobile video recording system” as a device or system installed or used in a
police vehicle or worn or otherwise used by an officer that electronically
records visual images depicting activities that take place during a motor
vehicle stop or other law enforcement action.
The bill increases,
from $100 to $125, the current surcharge imposed on persons convicted of
driving while intoxicated. The bill provides for the additional $25 surcharge
to be payable to the State, county, or municipal entity that issued the
summons, and stipulates that the increased amounts payable to municipalities
from the surcharge must be used for the cost of equipping police vehicles with
mobile video recording systems.
The bill requires the
Attorney General to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the bill’s
provisions. The bill takes effect on the first day of the sixth month
following enactment, but permits the Attorney General to take prior
administrative actions in advance of the bill’s effective date.
As reported, this bill
is identical to Senate Bill No. 1305, as also reported by the committee.
