NYC buses issue parking tickets

[snopes]

Comment: Got an email today. Any way to verify?

thought this would interest you and decided to send it.

This morning, Wednesday, October 3, I was on Coney Island Avenue and the
corner of Avenue K and saw the license plate of a car in the bus stop
light up on the front of the bus. I then learned the newest method being
used to issue parking tickets.

You may have noticed the newest fleet of MTA buses, and each of them is
now equipped with a camera linked to the Parking Violations Bureau. If a
bus pulls into a bus stop and there is a car there - even if the car is
running and not in park - the bus camera takes a picture of the license
plate and the registered owner of the plate photographed will be sent a
parking ticket in the mail. This is a $165 ticket. It uses the same system
as the red light cameras located at many intersections.

Save yourself the headache and save yourself the money by never pulling
into a bus stop for any reason, even if it is just to drop someone off or
pick someone up. The city has found a way to raise more money and with the
picture of your plate at the bus stop it will be very difficult to fight
this ticket.

Make sure everyone in your family is aware of this.

[KirkMcD]

The new Bus Only lanes have cameras on them but the buses themselves do not.
You are allowed to drop off/pick up passengers, but sitting there waiting for your passengers to arrive is illegal, nothing new about that.

MTA Brochure
http://www.mta.info/nyct/sbs/5Things.pdf

NYC Bus Camera Legislation
http://www.nyc.gov/html/brt/html/about/cameras.shtml

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Originally Posted by snopes

...even if the car is running and not in park...

I know there are a lot of people that think this makes a difference, but face it--if you're blocking a bus stop, you're blocking a bus stop. That your engine is running is irrelevant.

I also sometimes wonder whether people know what "No Parking, Stopping or Standing" means. And if they understand why it's necessary to list all three.

Seaboe

[Steve]

Originally Posted by KirkMcD

The new Bus Only lanes have cameras on them but the buses themselves do not.

But your second link says:

Cameras may be stationary on street poles or mobile on buses.

[Mickey Blue]

I would be totally on board with this here, I could care less what you do in a bus lane when there is no bus but if you miscalculate (or are just an idiot) and a bus shows up and you are blocking it you should get a ticket.

I missed a train the other night coming home from work at midnight cause some idiot was picking up somebody in the bus lane.. I want my inconvenience paid back in blood!

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by snopes

Save yourself the headache and save yourself the money by never pulling into a bus stop for any reason, even if it is just to drop someone off or pick someone up. The city has found a way to raise more money and with the picture of your plate at the bus stop it will be very difficult to fight this ticket.

Although I'm sure revenues are a consideration, there's also the fact that by pulling into a bus stop for your own convenience and perhaps that of your passenger(s) -- three or four of them, max, probably -- you are inconveniencing everyone who's riding, or trying to ride, at least one bus.

The only way that's okay is if you believe that your convenience is more important because you have a car, or access to one. IOW, if you're a jerk. In which case, I sincerely hope you can't fight your ticket.

[Esprise Me]

My thoughts exactly, Lainie. My inner conspiracy theorist twists itself into paranoid knots over the increasing use of cameras in public places, but the "waaaah, they're enforcing the laws that we all know about but have routinely gotten away with breaking until now" whining is silly.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

A red light camera was put on an intersection in Seattle that was notorious for the number of people turning left who did so on the red light.

So one of the Times columnists devoted a whole column to how terrible this was because since people were now obeying the light it took him longer to get to work, since he had to change his route.

My heart bled over the terrible horrible cameras that were making him late because people were now obeying the law. I also wondered why he (and the other drivers) didn't campaign for a longer left-turn light, since the existing timing was clearly inadequate.

Seaboe

[Esprise Me]

Every time I read an article like that, Seaboe, I want to scream, "and you wonder why no one reads newspapers anymore!?! When I can get the same quality of analysis on some 13-year-old's blog for FREE???" Sometimes I fail to contain myself.

[KirkMcD]

Originally Posted by Steve

But your second link says:

The first link is what was implemented. The second is the law that was passed with what they are allowed to do if they desire to.