Virginia lawmakers pass bill permitting use of bus-mounted cameras for transit rule enforcement

A recently passed bill by State Del. David A. Reid seeks to authorize localities to deploy bus-mounted cameras to monitor parking and lane usage rules on public transit. The proposal secured approval from both legislative chambers, as reported by the Virginia State House.

As of March 10, 2026, the legislation was officially enrolled after receiving a 79-14 vote in the House and a 21-19 vote in the Senate.

Filed as HB564 on Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, the measure is described by the legislature as: “Bus obstruction monitoring systems; parking, stopping, and standing enforcement.”

The following summary is based on the official bill text with clarifying interpretation.

Under the bill, local governments can authorize transit agencies to use cameras affixed to buses to help enforce local parking, stopping, or standing ordinances at bus stops and on designated bus lanes during posted time periods. Images must be screened first on devices installed on the buses, with potential violations forwarded to the locality for further action. Localities may contract vendors using a flat fee rather than a per-ticket rate. The law stipulates how summonses are sent, grants at least 30 business days for review of evidence by alleged violators, restricts image use and retention, prohibits facial recognition and other biometric identification, and requires a 60-day period for warnings only when the system is first put in place.

The House vote included 58 Democrats and 21 Republicans in support, while one Democrat and 13 Republicans voted against.

Senate approval came from 19 Democrats and two Republicans, with opposition from two Democrats and 17 Republicans.

Del. David A. Reid (Democrat-28th District) was the sole patron of the bill.

Reid earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Oklahoma State University in 1984.

Serving as a Democrat, Reid was elected to Virginia’s 28th House district in 2024, succeeding Tara Durant.

In Virginia, the legislative process starts with introducing a bill in either the House of Delegates or the Senate. The measure is assigned to committees for consideration and possible amendments before proceeding to floor debate and chamber votes. If both houses approve the bill, it goes to the governor for signature, veto, or to become law without signature. The General Assembly convenes annually for a regular session beginning the second Monday in January, with members bringing forward hundreds of bills each session. Only a fraction of these measures become law.

Information for this story comes from the Virginia State House. Find the official data here.