The MTA is again dipping into drivers’ pockets.
Starting Friday, city motorists might face fines up to $250 as the MTA plans to expand its bus lane camera enforcement onto three additional routes.
This automated camera enforcement program, known as ACE, targets drivers who enter bus lanes, double park on bus routes, or obstruct bus stops.
Mounted cameras on buses capture images of offenders, sending the evidence directly to the City Treasury Department. Initial fees are $50, increasing by $50 for each subsequent violation, maxing out at $250.
“It feels unfair. They’re just draining our wallets,” complained John Piedra, 42, as he fueled his car on Thursday. “Honestly, it’s becoming obvious that they’re just taking our money. Where does it go?”
“It really isn’t right,” he reiterated. “They’re just taking from us. Where is that money even going?”
Ray Maria, a 39-year-old dishwasher technician, has also faced tickets from these bus cameras. He utilizes a commercial vehicle to deliver supplies to restaurants and occasionally parks in bus lanes to drop off equipment.
“I hate parking there, but there’s no other option,” he explained, noting that the winter snow has made available parking even scarcer.
“With the snow come down, I have to park in the bus lane or by a fire hydrant,” Maria said. “They should consider this, but I doubt they will,” he sighed.
Ahmad, a taxi driver with 40 years of experience in New York City, is concerned about how these fines could impact his earnings.
“It’s honestly frustrating because it cuts into my income,” the 63-year-old shared.
“They’re just going to keep people occupied. Most folks work hard and don’t want to find themselves at the welfare office.”
The next routes set for ACE enforcement are Brooklyn’s B68 along Church Avenue/Coney Island Avenue, Manhattan’s M57 running crosstown on 57th Street, and Brooklyn’s B60 along Rockaway Parkway/Wilson Avenue.
Amara Wataro, 49, a yellow cab driver for five years, mentioned his bus lane fines have already reached $250 each. He often has to drop off passengers in bus lanes.
“I had to drop off a passenger who was heading to the port authority,” Wataro detailed. “I had to stop in the bus lane, and bam! $250!”
“We really don’t have an option but to pay. What can we do?” he added.
In the past, a ticket issued by an officer for a vehicle in a bus lane came with a flat fee of $115, regardless of the number of offenses.
“If you get hit with five fines, how does that affect your income? It plummets. Instead of feeding your family, you’re feeding the city,” Ahmad commented.
The MTA states that signs will be placed along each route to inform drivers of the camera enforcement.
Over 1,600 buses in New York City are equipped with cameras, monitoring 54 bus routes and covering 560 miles across all five boroughs.
The MTA reports that the average speed of buses on routes with automated service has increased by about 5%, with some routes experiencing speed boosts of up to 30%.
According to Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy organization that favors public transport over cars, bus cameras capture 115 drivers blocking bus lanes for every one ticketed by the NYPD.
As the camera program expanded, ACE’s revenue surged from around $22.5 million in 2024 to approximately $108 million in 2025, based on MTA financial reports.
A $141.5 million package was approved last year for purchasing, installing, operating, and maintaining up to 2,023 bus-mounted cameras with two vendors through August 2026.
The agency doesn’t provide a transparent breakdown of annual operating costs. Staff, data processing, and administrative expenses are included in the MTA’s overall budget.
Additionally, congestion fees implemented by the MTA last January have already been squeezing drivers financially, charging $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street during peak times.
Transit agencies raked in $562 million last year from these fees—$62 million more than anticipated.
However, the base fee of $9 is set to rise to $15 by 2031 under the current fee schedule effective January 2025.
“When the cars are gone, things will change,” Piedra remarked. “It never ends; there’s always something else.”
