It’s common knowledge that bus lanes are reserved for buses, right? It’s also common knowledge that not all drivers obey the rules of the road. This has forced lawmakers to implement solutions to ensure the safety of all road users, and some states are clamping down more harshly than others.
An innovation that’s come with the development of artificial intelligence is being applied in the process of identifying and fining drivers who misuse the bus lane, so just because there are no traffic cops around, it doesn’t mean you won’t be nabbed.
One state is using AI to bust drivers taking advantage of the bus lane
This new system sees city buses fitted with Hayden AI cameras, which are designed for traffic and public safety applications. They will use computer vision and machine learning to capture the license plates of drivers who are parked in the reserved bus lane or blocking a bus stop, who will then be sent a fine in the post.
The state that’s chosen this state-of-the-art method to replace the job traditionally done by traffic officers is California, specifically, the City of Los Angeles. The amount that drivers will be fined for violating lane laws is $293 each, which is a high price to pay for choosing convenience over legal compliance.
How does the AI fine-issuing process work?
Around 50 Hayden cameras have been fitted to LA Metro buses to scan their vicinity and record vehicles that are obstructing the designated public transport lanes or bus stops. The endeavor is a joint operation between the bus operator and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and cost a substantial amount of taxpayers’ money to install the hardware and software.
The fine process is almost entirely automatic, cutting down on the hundreds, if not thousands, of human hours it would ordinarily take traffic officers and department admin workers to process fines issued to noncompliant drivers. There is, however, some human labor involved as all data capture will be reviewed by LADOT officers before the citations are issued.
Once the AI cameras have caught you parked where you shouldn’t be, you’ll be sent a fine of $293. More than 5,500 citations were issued along the two initial routes in the program’s first month alone, totalling more than $1.6 million in fines. It is expected that other states will follow suit with similar systems before long. This could be a solution for left-hand lane violations in Arkansas.
The new AI fines system has secondary aims
In addition to helping in the fine process, the Hayden cameras are also intended to help improve bus times, increase ridership, and address mobility issues. A Metro board report explains:
“Blocking bus stop zones can create accessibility issues for passengers with disabilities, who rely on level boarding between the bus stop curbside and boarding the bus.”
What else do LA drivers need to know?
Below are two FAQs about the automatic fine system.
- When did the law go into effect?
There was a grace period for road users to get used to the new way of being observed that started in November 2024, and the program went into effect on February 17, 2025. This means that no further allowances will be made and you’ll simply have to obey the law or pay as fines have already started being issued.
- Which sections of road are monitored?
For now, only Lines 720 (Wilshire Boulevard) and 212 (La Brea Avenue) are being monitored in the first phase. There are plans to expand the program to Lines 910/950 (Metro J Line) and Line 70 (Olive Street/Grand Avenue) in the second phase.
Drivers will have to be more conscientious about their parking and lane use habits if they want to escape being penalized with fines. Another law affecting drivers in a different state has to do with driving too slowly in the left-most lane.
Read the whole thing?
Get the week's signal, not the noise
Our sharpest reporting on energy, climate and nature — free, once a week.
