hey MO: sharing an experience I learned a few days ago. As some may already know MTA buses can video and capture cars that blocking pathway of the bus. I learned a hard lesson as I received a ticket for doing so. I was dropping off a friend and was doubled parked as I helped unload their groceries for them. I was not in a bus lane, but on a two way street.

In the ticket I learned that the MTA takes two pictures of your vehicle. The first bus documents your car and if a second bus passes and your car is still there, Im guessing it generates a ticket. Though I was parked for only 7 minutes, I did receive a ticket in the mail. What this tells me if two buses are not at far distance from each other, the secondary bus will generate the violation.

Sadly I am in the wrong and it was a pricey lesson. If anyone for any reason needs to double park, make sure its not on the pathway of MTA buses.

hey you: thank you for sharing your experience—you’ve got it right. The MTA piloted its Automatic Camera Enforcement (ACE) bus routes in late 2019, and the program became permanent in 2022. As of now, 39 routes are ACE-equipped, and nearly 1,000 buses—about a third of the fleet—have on-board cameras. Initially, these cameras issued tickets to vehicles stopped in bus stops or blocking bus lanes. By 2023, enforcement expanded to include double parking. A violation is triggered if two buses pass the same vehicle more than five minutes apart and both capture the license plate.

Fines start at $50 for a first offense and rise to $75 for a second, $100 for a third, $150 for a fourth, and $250 for a fifth or more within a year.

However, like any rule, camera violations do have exceptions. Learn more here: MTA Bus Camera Violations.

what you can do:

• If you need to double park for more than 2.5 minutes, don’t do it on a bus route.
• If available curb space is always hard to come by, submit a request on NYC DOT’s Loading Zone Map or contact your community board or council member to ask for the addition of a dedicated loading zone—so loading or unloading can happen without the risk of a ticket. 
• Suggest additional exemptions to the program by submitting feedback to the MTA, participating in public comment periods, advocating through elected officials, and proposing changes to the IDEP application.
• Seek support from local  advocacy groups like LiveOn NY and Rider’s Alliance. 

*askMO submissions are italicized and published as received. **This post is featured in The Sunset Post.

Have a story to share? Confused about street traffic regulations and policies? Write to askMO!