Consider yourselves warned!
The city installed cameras pointed at the new B46 Select Bus Service bus-only lane on Utica Avenue and it has begun ticketing drivers who use the lane between 7 am and 7pm when it is supposed to be used by public transit alone.
A similar camera roll-out on Nostrand Avenue caused chaos two years ago, because the city let drivers rack up piles of tickets before actually sending them out — which drivers griped was a “gotcha” move used to raise cash. A local pol is promising that won’t happen this time, but he is asking the city to give people a little leeway rather than fining them second bus-lane enforcement starts for the day.
“Give a grace period — the first five minutes and last five minutes,” said Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D–Sheepshead Bay). “No two watches have the same time. So if someone’s watch is 6:59 and DOT’s camera timer is already 7 am, it shouldn’t give someone a violation.”
The B46 Select Bus travels from Marine Park to Bushwick, and the city started issuing violations on Sept. 9 for drivers who use the lane at forbidden times.
