Last Updated on July 8, 2021 by Lawrence Berezin
Bus lane camera installed on MTA buses to nab bus lane blockers
Should you be worried about getting caught by the new bus lane camera attached to certain buses in NYC? Absolutely.
NYPD issued more than 14,000 bus lane parking and moving violations in 2019 — more than double the violations doled out during the same period last year, according to Irick. Police also issued more than 63,000 bus stop parking violations through that date, which represents a 9 percent increase over the same period last year, he added.”
What can you do about it? Don’t ignore the bus lane rule because the Evil Empire has its eyes on you!
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What is the bus lane cameras pilot program?
“The cameras, the first of their kind, are coming to a small number of buses — 123 to be exact — on the B44 Select Bus Service route in Brooklyn and the M15 SBS route in Manhattan. The technology would also make its way to some buses on the anticipated M14 SBS service. It was not immediately clear when the $6.2 million pilot would begin, though the MTA has stated new buses equipped with the cameras would be delivered beginning in 2019 through early 2020.”
Commentary
It appears that the bus lane cameras pilot program is set to start any time now. It is time to follow the bus lane rules religiously.
The new cameras can not only nab you but can issue a parking ticket, too.
Here is a link to a blog post that will help you with the bus lane rule.
A special thanks to Vincent Barone, who has covered transportation for amNew York since 2016, and wrote this excellent article from which I liberally quoted from.
I would do my best to stay out of bus stop zones because the odds are you’ll get a ticket. The bus stop rule states:
Bus stop. No person shall stand or park a vehicle other than an authorized bus in its assigned bus stop when any such stop has been officially designated and appropriately posted except that the operator of a vehicle may temporarily stand therein for the purpose of expeditiously receiving and discharging passengers provided such standing does not interfere with any bus about to enter or leave such stop. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, an authorized bus shall not park in an assigned bus stop when such stop has been officially designated and appropriately posted.”
In life, a Warrior or Cop probably isn’t going to watch you enter the bus stop zone, stop temporarily, and watch you expeditiously drop off a passenger and leave immediately without blocking a bus. What she’ll see instead is your car stopped in a bus stop zone and issue you a ticket. And, bus stop tickets are tough to beat.
Oops, don’t forget a bus stop zone starts at the bus stop sign, extends in the direction of the arrow(s) until the next parking sign or if none, the end of the block. Please, please, memorize this definition because of excuses like:
“I parked far away from the bus stop sign”
“I parked 25 feet from the bus stop sign. A bus had plenty of room to enter and leave.” Problem is a bus is about forty-two feet long.
The list of excuses for not knowing the length of a bus stop is longer than a bus stop! Stay out of a bus stop zone.
I recently got a guilty verdict for having a portable device in my hand while driving. I actually didn’t have it in my hand and the judge did not even look at any phone records at all. How does a cop get away with that when there’s no visual evidence? Anyabdvice on this would be helpful, thank you for what you’re doing!!
Hi, Mark,
Oh man, what a shame.
I don’t handle traffic violations, only parking violations.
Did the cell phone law prohibit holding a cell phone or talking on a cell phone, or both?
Regards,
Larry
These cameras have been operating for some time on 1st Avenue above 72nd street
I have received 2 tickets and beat them both.
If we just obeyed the bus lane rules, then maybe the city will realize they are NOT working and take them away. I also wish the bicyclists would be ticketed for not obeying the rules, they are always blaming drivers, yet they weave in & out, ignore traffic lights, etc.
Hi, Susan,
Well-said!
Regards,
Larry
How’d you beat them?
Hi Larry!
Two questions for you – 1. Will standing at a bus stop be part of this program -or would this only affect chariots standing/parking in Bus Lanes? 2. Do we know whether FHV will be subjected to this? (Guessing the answer is yes). What if a driver had to wait for a passenger for a few minutes (since riders are not always on time), will they still get a ticket?
Thank you for your expert help!
Hi, Christina,
Good morning. Great questions.
1. The Bus Lane Pilot Camera Program only involves Bus Lanes. But, there has also been a significant increase in bus stop tickets. It appears the Evil Empire is devoting more troops to prowl bus stop zones and issue tickets. Yikes!
2. I’m sorry, but what is “FHV?”
3. Christina, you cannot wait for a bus passenger in the bus stop zone. You are only permitted to stop temporarily to expeditiously drop off or pick up a passenger and leave the area immediately. If you wait in the bus stop zone, you’re going to get a ticket.
Regards,
Larry
I wonder if there are electronic jamming devices that can scramble the cameras as you drive by them? Some gadget that sends out a strong RF signal that momentarily prevents the camera from reading license plates. Just wondering. Not that I’d ever encourage such an awful use of technology.
Hi, Johnny,
You wonder well.
Regards,
Larry