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Nov 08, 2024

LA, Metro Launch Bus-Lane Parking Violation Camera System | Los Angeles, CA Patch

LOS ANGELES, CA — Starting Friday, motorists in Los Angeles should be aware of watchful eyes ready to rat them out for parking in bus lanes — an offense that will soon come with a nearly $300 fine.

LOS ANGELES, CA — Starting Friday, motorists in Los Angeles should be aware of watchful eyes ready to rat them out for parking in bus lanes — an offense that will soon come with a nearly $300 fine.

Metro and the city on Friday launched the first phase of a new enforcement program that aims to catch people parked at bus stops or in bus-only lanes using cameras mounted on Metro buses. Over the next 60 days, violators caught by the buses' cameras will be sent "non punitive" warnings. After that, the city will begin issuing tickets to violators.

The program is expected to be expanded in the future, which comes as transit officials are beefing up the number of bus-only lanes across Los Angeles County.

Metro officials called out what they say are selfish motorists whose bad parking jobs and can delay the transportation of dozens of people riding a bus.

"It’s not fair that a single car blocking a bus lane can hold up a busload of people,” said Metro Board Chair and LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Those riders deserve to reach their destinations safely and on-time. This new ticketing system is important, and I hope people don’t take the risk and move their cars out of the bus lanes.”

As part of this first phase, cameras have been installed on 50 buses that serve the 720 bus line — which runs the length of Wilshire Boulevard from Downtown LA to Santa Monica — and the 212 bus line, which runs between Hollywood and Downtown Inglewood on La Brea Avenue.

Each of those 50 buses has two cameras installed behind their windshields. The first camera scans for vehicles parked in bus lanes or at bus stops. The second camera records the vehicle's license plate.

An LA Department of Transportation traffic officer will then review the evidence captured by the cameras and review it for accuracy before issuing a ticket, according to Metro.

Those tickets will turn into fines at the start of 2025. The City Council approved an ordinance last month establishing fines for drivers who park in bus-only zones: Penalties start at $293, increase to $381 for late payment, and increase further to $406 for subsequent failure to pay on time.

Metro plans to conduct outreach to educate motorists about the new law before the fines kick in.

Cameras will be added to more buses at a to-be-announced date, starting with Silver Line 910 and 950 buses that run between Union Station and San Pedro and buses that serve the 70 bus line, which runs between Downtown LA and El Monte.

The program comes as transit officials are increasing the number of bus-only lanes across the region as part of Metro's efforts to expand public transportation. Among the recently opened bus lanes are ones on La Brea Avenue between Sunset and Olympic boulevards.

"This new program will help our officers ensure we continue to realize those benefits as we expand bus lanes to additional routes across our transportation system," LADOT General Manager Laura Rubio-Cornejo said.

Here's a look at some of the new planned bus lanes:

Similar camera ticketing systems are already in use across the Bay Area and in New York City, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.