The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will begin using bus-mounted cameras in November to identify vehicles illegally parked in bus lanes and at bus stops along its DASH Transit routes.

The automated enforcement program aims to improve bus reliability, reduce delays, and keep bus stops accessible for riders, especially those who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

For the first 60 days, registered vehicle owners will receive mailed warning notices for violations detected by the cameras. Paid citations will begin in January 2027.

“This program marks another step forward in our commitment to providing Angelenos with safe and efficient transit services. Keeping bus lanes and bus stops clear of illegally parked vehicles is essential to ensuring that DASH buses are on time and accessible for the people who rely on our service,” said LADOT GM Laura Rubio-Cornejo. “When cars and trucks illegally park in front of bus stops, DASH bus operators are unable to safely deploy wheelchair access ramps, and are delayed by maneuvering into general traffic which slows down service and makes traffic worse for all road users.”

How LADOT's Automated Enforcement Program Works

Under the program, two forward-facing cameras mounted behind the windshields of DASH buses will automatically detect and record vehicles illegally parked in bus lanes and at bus stops.

LADOT personnel will review all potential violations before citations are issued. Payment plans will be available for low-income individuals.

The DASH initiative builds on LADOT's existing partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), which began issuing citations through its automated bus lane enforcement program in February 2025 and was expanded in May 2025.

At the time, Metro reported issuing more than 10,000 citations during the program's first phase. The agency had also installed camera systems on 100 buses to identify vehicles blocking dedicated bus lanes.

Automated Enforcement Expands Across California, Major Metros

LADOT DASH joins Metro, Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, and Culver CityBus in using bus-mounted cameras to enforce parking restrictions in Southern California.

Santa Monica began its Automated Bus Lane and Bus Stop Enforcement (ABLE) program in September 2025, using forward-facing cameras installed on Big Blue Bus vehicles to identify parking violations.

According to LADOT figures, Santa Monica recorded a 52% reduction in bus lane parking violations and a 40% reduction in bus stop parking violations in March 2026 compared with August 2025, the program's first full month of issuing warnings.

Similar programs have expanded elsewhere in California.

Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) partnered with Hayden AI on a bus stop enforcement program using cameras on up to 100 buses to identify vehicles obstructing designated stops. The program included a 60-day warning period before citations began.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, AC Transit expanded its automated enforcement program to 100 buses in 2024. More recently, the agency reported that bus-only lane citations declined nearly 50% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026, while bus stop citations decreased by more than 20%.

New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia also use automated bus lane and bus stop enforcement.

According to figures cited by LADOT, New York City's program has increased bus speeds by up to 36% on some congested road segments. By comparison, 91% of motorists who receive citations do not receive a second ticket.

The expansion of automated enforcement reflects transit agencies' efforts to address illegally parked vehicles that delay buses, obstruct dedicated lanes, and prevent operators from safely reaching the curb to board passengers.