A NEW automatic ticketing law is coming to a major US city in a matter of days – with a fee that wildly varies.
This ruling will see a US state get serious on cars that stop in bus lanes or other no-stop zones – thanks to a little help from AI.
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Starting on May 7, cameras using artificial intelligence will begin ticketing drivers stopped in bus lanes, no stopping lanes or double parked across a major city.
According to NBC affiliate WCAU, officials from several departments joined forces in April to push through the new law.
It will see cameras mounted to buses that can catch and automatically issue tickets rather than rely on traffic officers being in the area.
The AI works by identifying illegally parked vehicles, which sends a picture to officers who then decide if a ticket is warranted.
Officials said their Automated Bus Camera Enforcement Initiative is “aimed at improving safety and alleviating congestion by using camera-mounted computer vision technology to enforce violations for blocking bus lanes, bus stops, and trolley zones.”
A three-week warning period is already in full swing ahead of tickets being sent to drivers – starting on April 16.
During this period ending on May 7, mere warning notices will be issued by mail to drivers caught by the tech, but violators will get fines in the mail once the adjustment period ends.
The ruling, coming to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will see AI cameras installed to about 152 SEPTA buses and 38 trolleys.
The no stopping, no blocking the bus zone and no double parking tickets will carry a fine of $76 in Center City and $51 in other neighborhoods.
In a news release, Philadelphia Parking Authority Executive Director Rich Lazer said: “There is no better example of intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration than our 3 agencies working together to use smart camera vision technology — to improve public safety and enhance urban mobility and local quality of life by reducing congestion and increasing traffic flow on some of our most congested city arteries.”
The roll out comes as officials hope the concern of being ticketed will make drivers reconsider blocking bus lanes and stops.
It is believed this will also help improve safety and ease traffic congestion, and should also make people with disabilities have an easier time boarding buses and trolleys.
“The camera-aided bus and trolley enforcement initiative will ease commutes for working Philadelphians, while improving the performance of SEPTA’s system,” Christopher Puchalsky, Ph.D., Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, OTIS, said.
Former Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed the law allowing SEPTA to use the Hayden AI parking enforcement systems to ticket drivers for “parking, stopping and standing violations that interfere with mass transit” back in November 2023.
“I’m proud to sign this bill into law. It is another innovative step forward to keep Philadelphians safe and traffic moving smoothly,” Kenney said at the time.
“Thanks to these cameras, we are increasing efficiency in our streets to make our city even more accessible. I want to thank everyone who made this bill possible.”
Prior to the bill being signed, a pilot program saw camera-enforcement take place over the course of around 70 days.
During that time, cameras caught more than 36,000 vehicles illegally parked on bus lanes for the route 21 and 42 buses.
How to spot a fake parking ticket
Thieves sometimes go to great lengths to squeeze money from drivers
With parking ticket scams on the rise, it’s important to know how to tell the difference between a bogus ticket and a legitimate one.
Many parking enforcement agencies, like those employed by cities, will never ask people to pay for their tickets via apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle.
A QR code should always make drivers cautious, as many times they lead to fake payment websites built by scammers to access banking or personal information.
It’s also wise to pay close attention to logos, as some scammers will even use fake logos close enough to a city’s official logo fooling those who don’t look closely.
Emails or text messages regarding parking citations should always be ignored, as most parking enforcement agencies will never use those mediums to collect a debt.
Other helpful tips for spotting false citations:
- Do some research on the lot you’re parking in, as signs are legally required to be posted to inform drivers on who is enforcing parking rules.
- Carefully examine the citation for any flaws – misspellings, incorrect logos, links, QR codes, etc.
- Evaluate the contact information on the ticket. Websites that belong to cities will always end in either .gov.
- Finally, pay with a card, as disputing an illegal charge is easier. Avoid mailing checks or cash to a suspect parking ticket.
- Look at a city’s ticketing database to double-check that you’ve been cited by an official.
Source: CBS affiliate WHNT