California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation extending Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District's (AC Transit) authority to use forward-facing bus cameras to enforce parking violations in bus-only lanes and at bus stops.

Assembly Bill 1837 extends an existing statewide authorization that was scheduled to expire on January 1, 2027. The cameras are used to identify vehicles illegally parked in bus lanes or blocking bus stops, which can prevent buses from safely reaching the curb and create accessibility issues for riders.

Camera Enforcement Expands Across AC Transit

AC Transit began deploying automated forward-facing cameras along the Tempo Bus Rapid Transit corridor in June 2024, targeting vehicles illegally occupying bus-only lanes and blocking station platforms.

The agency initially relied on bus operators to identify potential violations by pressing an onboard button. In August 2024, AC Transit expanded automated enforcement to 100 buses throughout its service area, with each vehicle equipped with two small forward-facing cameras mounted on the windshield.

Data compiled with Hayden AI, the developer of the camera technology, showed declines in both bus lane and bus stop violations. Bus-only lane citations dropped from 1,241 in the second quarter of 2025 to 631 during the same period in 2026, a decline of nearly 50%.

Bus stop citations fell from 5,207 to 4,068 during the same year-over-year period, a reduction of more than 20%.

AB 1837 Keeps Enforcement Program in Place

“I thank Governor Newsom for taking action to make public transportation safer and more accessible. Vehicles illegally stopped in bus-only lanes or blocking bus stops create more than an inconvenience,” said Salvador Llamas, General Manager and CEO. “They delay service, disrupt trips, and can create serious risks for riders with disabilities and other vulnerable riders who need safe access to board and exit our buses.”

Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles) authored AB 1837, with Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland) as principal co-author. According to AC Transit, the legislation advanced through the Legislature with bipartisan support.

The agency also cited regional support for continued automated bus lane and bus stop enforcement from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the City and County of San Francisco, and the Alameda County Transportation Commission.

With AB 1837 now law, AC Transit can continue using the camera enforcement program as it provides service to more than 3 million riders each month.