Cameras to be installed on B38 and B103 bus routes to ID those who park in bus lanes
For many drivers, getting a ticket while making a brief stop is a frustratingly familiar experience.
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If you've ever left your car at a bus stop or in a bus lane for a quick errand and come back to find a ticket on your windshield, you're not alone. And soon, avoiding those fines could become even more difficult.
The MTA is expanding its automated camera enforcement program to include the B38 and B103 bus routes in Brooklyn. The cameras are designed to identify drivers who park or stand in bus lanes, helping keep routes clear for public transit.
For many drivers, getting a ticket while making a brief stop is a frustratingly familiar experience.
"I have," said Patrick Wellington, a local driver. "Right in front of my building because I was taking something upstairs."
Maria, another Brooklyn driver, recalled a similar experience.
"That happened to me once. I just ran into the store. When I came back, I had a ticket on my car," she said. "I was like, I don't know where they were hiding."
While some residents support stricter enforcement to keep buses moving, others say the reality of finding parking in Brooklyn makes the situation challenging.
"I live directly on a bus route and it's no parking ever," Wellington said.
Maria believes limited parking options are making things more difficult for drivers.
"It's hard to get parking," she said. "Where we're supposed to park, they put bike lanes all on the street."
Some drivers told News 12 they already assume any bus could be equipped with a camera and capable of issuing a violation. Others say additional enforcement won't significantly change driver behavior because of the growing number of traffic regulations already in place.
"Drivers are at the mercy of the city," Wellington said. "We've got speed cameras, we've got to do 25 miles an hour. There are so many rules."
With the addition of the B38 and B103, automated camera enforcement is now active on a total of 67 bus routes across the city.
According to officials, the program helps buses operate faster, more safely and more reliably by reducing obstructions in dedicated bus lanes.
"If it works for the MTA," Wellington said, “then no one is protesting. Who's going to listen to the drivers when the city's in control?"
For drivers tempted to stop in a bus lane, even briefly, the cost of a ticket can be a significant deterrent.
"The ticket is $65. That's a lot," Maria said.
According to the MTA, if a vehicle has more than one bus operation-related traffic regulation violation captured by an MTA bus camera within a 12-month period, the driver must pay $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, $150 for the third offense, $200 for the fourth offense, and $250 for each additional offense.
The message from transit officials is clear: If you're thinking about parking in a bus lane, even for a few minutes, you may want to think twice.
