The MTA is enforcing a new traffic rule starting this Friday, April 17, and New York drivers found driving or parking in the wrong lane can get hit with fines up to $250.
The new driving rule is part of the MTA’s Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) program, which helps make buses faster and more reliable by keeping bus routes clear.
🚙 The New Rule: What New York Drivers Needs to Know
According to a recent press release from the MTA, two more bus routes will now be enforced under the Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) program. The program equips MTA buses with cameras to catch and record drivers who impede bus drivers’ ability to quickly move around the city.
ACE rules will now fully be enforced on the following two bus routes:
- Q17: Flushing to Jamaica
- Q27: Flushing to Cambria Heights
🏙️ What This Means for Drivers
Bus cameras will take photos of drivers who improperly use busways and bus lanes. This includes:
- Driving, standing, or parking in a bus lane
- Standing or stopping in front of a bus stop
- Illegally double parking in bus lanes
- Waiting for passengers in a bus stop
Those images, along with license plate information, will be sent to the city’s Departments of Transportation and Finance for review. Drivers will then receive summonses in the mail.
📆 When Does This Go Into Effect?
The new rule officially becomes enforceable as of Friday, April 17, 2026, following a 60-day warning period which began on Monday, February 16.
✅ Fines & How to Pay a Violation
Now that the 60-day warning period has ended, drivers not following the new rules will face the following fines:
- $50 to start
- $250 for repeat violators
Violations can be paid online, by mobile app, by mail, or in person at an NYC Department of Finance Business Center. Follow the instructions on the back of your notice for more information.
Be aware that late penalties may be applied if violations go unpaid.
🚍 Bus Service Picks Up Speed Under the ACE Program
Since launching in June 2024, the ACE program has focused on one clear goal: improving bus service by ensuring drivers follow existing traffic rules.
So far, the impact has been significant:
- 58 routes are now actively enforced
- More than 1,700 buses are ACE-equipped, covering 560 miles of service
- Some route segments have seen travel time improvements of nearly 30%, along with a 20% drop in collisions and an estimated 5%–10% reduction in emissions
- Blocked bus stops have decreased by 40% along ACE routes
- On an average weekday, more than one million riders are benefiting from the program
The program has demonstrated measurable success in improving bus speeds, reducing collisions, and keeping bus stops clear, ensuring more reliable service for daily bus customers.
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