Cameras Ready To Snitch On Bad Parking Jobs In Culver City Launch This Week

CULVER CITY, CA — Starting Thursday, motorists in Culver City should be aware of watchful eyes ready to rat them out for parking in bus lanes — an offense that will soon come with a nearly $300 fine.

Culver CityBus on Thursday will launch the first phase of a new enforcement program that aims to catch people parked at bus stops or in bus-only lanes using cameras mounted on buses. Over the next 60 days, violators caught by the buses' cameras will be mailed warnings. After that, the city will begin issuing tickets to violators.

The program's launch comes after a similar one was implemented in the city of Los Angeles at the end of last year. Similar programs are in place in Santa Monica, Sacramento and New York City.

“Keeping dedicated transit zones clear for everyone who chooses to ride public transit or utilize the shared bike lane is essential to making Culver City safe and accessible,” said Culver City Mayor Dan O’Brien. “We’re excited to deploy proven technology solutions that will help improve longstanding problems created by parking violations in our bike and bus lanes and bus stops.”

City officials said such illegal parking jobs create a problem for disabled people — if a bus stop is blocked by a vehicle, bus drivers are unable to safely deploy wheelchair ramps. Illegal parking in bus stops and lanes also creates other safety issues when transit riders are forced to step into traffic lanes.

The bus cameras will be able to catch motorists for violations that currently require an enforcement officer's own two eyes. But the ticket's won't be sent automatically — evidence will be reviewed by officials before issuing warnings or fines, according to the city.

Fines will begin being issued with evidence from bus-mounted cameras in Culver City on May 19.

• Read more about LA Metro's growing program of bus-mounted camera enforcement.