NEW YORK CITY— Three New York City bus routes will receive automated cameras to catch drivers who block bus lanes, obstruct bus stops or double-park along bus routes, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced this week.
Drivers caught violating traffic rules will receive warning notices by mail during an initial 60-day period beginning Monday.
After the warning period ends, fines will start at $50 for a first offense and rise to $250 for repeat violations.
The cameras will cover the B1 route, which runs from Bay Ridge to Manhattan Beach along Ocean Parkway; the B6, which crosses Brooklyn from Bath Beach to East New York; and the Q65, which connects Flushing and Jamaica.
The system uses cameras mounted on buses to record vehicles obstructing bus lanes and stops or illegally double-parking along designated routes.
Vehicles that obstruct active bus lanes or stops, or double-park along designated routes, can receive civil penalties after the system observes a violation and a city employee reviews the evidence.
The rules apply around the clock unless posted signs specify otherwise.
Drivers may enter an active bus lane to make the next right turn or access a parking spot or driveway. Quick passenger pickups and drop-offs are also permitted in active bus lanes, but drivers cannot use them to wait for passengers.
Vehicles that obstruct a bus stop or double-park for more than 2.5 minutes can receive a violation after two buses observe the offense.
For bus lanes, the observation threshold is more than five minutes.
The program generally issues violations at two-hour intervals for continuing illegal double-parking and bus-lane or bus-stop obstructions.
Fines begin at $50 and increase by $50 for each additional violation, up to $250 per violation.
Unpaid penalties can lead to additional fees and may result in a vehicle boot, towing or a registration block.
Drivers can pay fines online, through a mobile app, by mail or in person at a New York City Department of Finance Business Center.
Those who believe a violation was issued in error can request a hearing by following the instructions on the notice.
The civil penalties do not affect driving records or insurance rates.
City employees review violations before issuing them, and revenue from the program supports MTA operations, including bus service improvements.
The MTA reports faster bus trips along routes equipped with automated enforcement, with some segments recording speed gains of nearly 30 percent.
The agency attributes the improvements to camera enforcement combined with dedicated bus lanes and street upgrades.
The program also aims to improve access for passengers with disabilities.
When drivers block bus stops, buses may have to load and unload passengers in the street, preventing some wheelchair users from boarding safely.
The MTA's report, "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service," outlines the agency's efforts to make bus trips faster and more reliable.
The authority reports its bus network serves a broad share of New York City, with 98 percent of residents living within a quarter-mile of a bus stop.
The expansion brings automated camera enforcement to 76 bus routes since the program began as a pilot in 2024.
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