Councilman Greenfield is spreading the word – bus lane cameras have come to Brooklyn. If you drive, park, or stand in a Select Bus Service (SBS) lane during hours of operation, you will face a fine ranging from $115 to $150. Bus lane cameras have been installed along bus lanes to catch violators and NYPD routinely patrol bus lanes and issues tickets in the form of both parking and moving violations. Many Brooklyn residents have received bus lane tickets along the B44 route on Nostrand and Rogers Avenues months after the violations occurred, some resulting in thousands of dollars in fines. Greenfield reached out to the Department of Transportation who cited backlog as the reason residents have only just received numerous tickets. Happily, the Department of Transportation agreed to void bus lane camera tickets that occurred from March 17 to July 25. Driver who received tickets will be excused for all tickets after the first ticket issued.

Brooklyn drivers have received bus lane tickets after being captured on camera driving in dedicated B44 Select Bus lane by city-activated ticketing cameras. The dedicated lanes were painted along the B44 SBS route stretching from Sheepshead Bay to Williamsburg in late November last year, but drivers used the bus lanes consequence-free for nearly four months until the city switched on a series of cameras on March 17, when they began photographing license plates and automatically issuing $115 tickets for each violation.

Select Bus Service is New York City’s version of rapid bus transit, which offers faster and more reliable service along high-ridership bus routes. Select Bus Service began in Manhattan in 2010, and started in North and South Brooklyn in early 2013.

Councilman Greenfield and Councilman Deutsch intervened to assist Brooklyn drivers who have received multiple violations. However Councilman Greenfield advises residents that enforcement along the Select Bus B44 Route and other camera-related routes will remain in effect.

“It was ridiculous that New York City waited months to issues these tickets, allowing unsuspecting drivers to rack up thousands of dollars in fines,” said Councilman Greenfield. “I am grateful that the Department of Transportation has given drivers some relief by dismissing all but the first bus lane ticket, and urge all drivers to avoid driving in dedicated bus lanes.”

The B44 Select Bus Service route travels along Nostrand, Rogers, and Bedford Avenues. Along the B44 route, motorists are prohibited from driving in the lane during the bus hours of operation. Weekday service for the express B44 operates between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM southbound and between 5:00 AM and 11:00 PM northbound. Local B44 bus service continues to operate 24 hours a day. If you received more than one bus lane ticket, please call the Office of Councilman Greenfield at (718) 853-2704 for any help getting these tickets dismissed.

(YWN Desk – NYC)