On June 17, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the official launch of the “Camera Automated Enforcement Program” on 14 bus routes in New York City. This program aims to crack down on vehicles illegally using bus lanes or blocking buses. Additionally, enforcement will be expanded to target illegal parking at bus stops and double parking. Cameras will automatically identify the license plate numbers of violators and issue fines to the vehicle owners. The expanded enforcement will have a 60-day warning period before officially issuing fines.
Drivers caught by the cameras violating bus lane traffic rules will receive fines. The first offense carries a fine of $50, with subsequent violations increasing by $50 each time. Repeat offenders may face fines of up to $250.
Demetrius Crichlow, Acting President of the New York City Transit (NYCT), stated that the “Camera Automated Enforcement Program” (ACE), previously known as the “Automated Bus Lane Enforcement Program” (ABLE), now features cameras with a wider angle and broader coverage of lanes. This enables the real-time enforcement of illegal parking and double parking at bus stops. The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) will issue warning notices to violators based on state law, but with only a 60-day warning period.
MTA indicated that the 14 bus routes covered by the “Camera Automated Enforcement Program” include Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Each route will be marked to indicate the presence of cameras for enforcement and their operational hours. The routes include B44 SBS, B46 SBS, Bx12 SBS, Bx19, B62, Bx41 SBS, Bx36, M14 SBS, M15 SBS, M23 SBS, M34 SBS, Q44 SBS, Q54, and Q58.
Cameras installed on buses capture the license plate numbers of violators, record the violation locations and times, and send the footage to the transportation department for review. Subsequently, the Department of Finance of New York City (DOF) will issue fines to the violators.
According to statistics released by MTA, only 9% of drivers caught violating bus lanes repeat the offense after being fined. The benefits of this enforcement initiative include a 5% increase in bus speeds, a 20% reduction in accidents, and a decrease in emissions of 5-10%.
Acting President Crichlow mentioned that the new cameras have been installed on 623 buses operating on the 14 designated bus routes. By the end of this year, the program will expand to cover 32 bus routes and over 1000 buses.