NYC buses catching cars block bus lanes will now fine drivers

"If you've ever lingered by a bus lane in your car thinking "just one second," that second might now cost you up to $250. The MTA has quietly expanded its Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) program -those bus-mounted cameras that catch drivers blocking bus stops, double parking or cruising in bus-only lanes-and the buses themselves are now acting as ticketing agents."

"Four new routes-the Bx22, M96, M116 and Bx2-have joined the fleet this month, bringing the total to 47 ACE-enabled lines across Manhattan and the Bronx. The expansion follows a 2023 state law authorizing the MTA, NYC DOT and Department of Finance to deploy the rolling enforcement system, which aims to keep streets moving and make city buses, which currently average a sluggish 8 miles per hour, just a bit faster."

"Here's how it works: cameras on the buses capture video, images, license plates, timestamps and location data of offending vehicles. Those clips are reviewed by city employees and tickets are mailed to violators, starting at $50 and increasing by $50 for each repeat offense, up to $250. The city says fines are civil penalties, meaning they won't affect your insurance or driving record, but unpaid ones can still lead to late fees, tows or even a boot."

MTA added four ACE-equipped routes — Bx22, M96, M116 and Bx2 — bringing the total to 47 ACE-enabled lines across Manhattan and the Bronx. Cameras capture video, images, license plates, timestamps and location data of offending vehicles. City employees review clips and mail fines starting at $50, increasing $50 per repeat offense to a $250 maximum; fines are civil penalties but unpaid fines can prompt late fees, tows or a boot. Routes with cameras have seen average bus travel time improvements of 5 percent and up to 30 percent, a 20 percent drop in collisions and a 5–10 percent reduction in emissions. Blocking bus stops forces riders with disabilities to board from the street.

Read at Time Out New York