LA's Metro Buses Will Use AI To Ticket Drivers Parked In Bus Lanes

Heads up drivers — Los Angeles Metro buses will install AI-powered cameras to ticket vehicles parked in bus lanes.

About the program

There will be two cameras installed inside the windshield of the buses scanning the bus lanes in real time. Once they detect that a vehicle is parked inside a bus lane or in front of a bus stop, those cameras will take videos and photos of the license plate to create an "evidence package" to be sent to local parking enforcement agencies.

Those cameras will be angled to capture parking violators and "not unnecessarily capture identifying images of people or vehicles that are not parked illegally," according to a statement from Hayden AI, the company providing the cameras to Metro.

Local law enforcement agencies will then issue out a ticket to the owner of those vehicles.

Community reactions

Katrina Kaiser of Streets For All, a street safety advocacy group, pointed out that the recently added dedicated bus lane on Venice Boulevard gets congested with car and other vehicle traffic during peak hours.

"You've got trucks, you've got gig economy delivery drivers, ride hailing drivers who stack up in the bus lane, or sometimes even bike lanes," Kaiser said.

But Kaiser also noted that they have heard some concerns in the community.

"They're worried about surveillance. They're worried about a Big Brother kind of thing," Kaiser said. "So even while I'm advocating for that, I'm hearing, you know, concerns from neighbors that are confused about this technology and suspicious about this technology."

Jenna Fortunati of Hayden AI said she understands where people are coming from and that the technology is meant just for parking enforcement.

"This kind of bus lane and bus stop enforcement, it's all about improving transit service for people riding transit," Fortunati said.

She added that it can be dangerous when cars and other vehicles block the ramps to bus stops for wheelchair users.

"If the dedicated bus lanes aren't actually dedicated to buses, if we still have car congestion, whether parked or moving, in the bus lanes, then that makes transit continue to be a less appealing option for the marginal rider," Kaiser said.

A representative for Metro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How the program will work

According to Hayden AI:

• Video images of parking violations must be destroyed within 60 days after final disposition of the parking citation.
• Any video images that does not include evidence of a parking violation must be destroyed within 15 days.
• The cameras must be angled and focused to capture parking violations and not unnecessarily include identifying images of people or vehicles that are not parked illegally.
• Transit agencies may share the relevant data, video, and images of parking violations with the local parking enforcement entity but not with other agencies.

Cameras will be installed over the winter, and are expected to be ready to use by spring 2024.