Drivers who like to sneak into bus lanes on the B15 in Brooklyn or the M31 in Manhattan are about to get some very unwelcome mail. The MTA is expanding automated camera enforcement to those two routes, launching a 60-day warning period on Monday, April 13. During that window, motorists will receive mailed warnings instead of fines, as the agency ramps up a broader citywide push to keep bus lanes and stops clear so buses can move faster and more reliably.
According to NYC DOT, vehicles that drive, park or double-park in active bus lanes, or block bus stops, will get mailed warnings during the initial 60-day period. After that window closes, civil summonses may be issued. Fines start at $50 for a first violation and can climb to $250 for repeat offenders. DOT notes that every notice includes a photo and a PIN so recipients can view the video used to document the violation, and that each case is reviewed before a notice goes out.
As reported by PIX11, the MTA will install cameras on the B15 and M31 and begin the 60-day warning period on Monday, April 13. For those two months, drivers in those corridors will receive only warning letters. Once the grace period ends, summonses and fines will begin.
Where the cameras already operate
The MTA’s Automated Camera Enforcement page, updated April 7, 2026, lists dozens of corridors and shows that buses and routes across the city are already equipped for expanded enforcement, according to the MTA. Routes with camera enforcement have posted measurable gains, with average bus speeds up about 5 percent and sharp drops in incidents where buses get stuck behind blocking vehicles, per amNY.
Neighborhood reaction
Not everyone along the routes is cheering. Delivery drivers, small-business owners and some motorists say the penalties pile on stress in neighborhoods where curb space is already scarce. As drivers face rising fines, they argue that even brief curb use for deliveries or quick drop-offs can trigger a notice. Transportation advocates counter that stepped-up enforcement, especially with an initial warning period, delivers faster and safer bus service for the hundreds of thousands of riders who depend on it every day.
How to avoid a ticket
To stay out of trouble, pay attention to posted signs along camera-enforced corridors and follow the bus-lane rules. If you do get a notice, it will include a PIN and a link so you can watch the footage behind the citation. The NYC DOT outlines how the program distinguishes legal bus-lane use from violations and how notices are processed, while the MTA’s ACE page explains payment and appeal options. Anyone who receives a notice should follow the instructions printed on the back to contest or pay through the Department of Finance, which offers online tools for handling camera-issued violations.
