Drivers face $76 fines as new 'automatic ticket' law takes effect
City officials are increasingly using technology to cash in on motorists who break the rules.
Starting Wednesday, drivers in Philadelphia will be monitored by cameras mounted to almost 200 pubic buses driving around the city.
The cameras scan streets for vehicles illegally parked in bus stops and no-parking zones. If one is spotted, the system snaps a photo and sends it to law enforcement, where an officer decides whether to issue the city's $76 parking fine.
Philadelphia joins cities like New York and Los Angeles in using automated camera enforcement.
While the technology is widespread in Europe — especially in the UK, where speed cameras blanket major roads — it's still relatively rare in the US.
'Gone are the days we're gonna tolerate people going through here with an attitude that, "I'll take my chances because I'll never get caught,"' said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. 'You will get caught.'
Philadelphia Parking Authority executive director Rich Lazer said the initiative is a collaboration among three city agencies, aimed at improving safety and easing traffic.
He added that the cameras will help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.
Officials praised the tech, saying it will aid a police agency that has reported record low staffing and record high department vacancies.
They're also saying it will free up areas in bus stops where wheelchair users board, plus also speed up first responder times.
'It is another innovative step forward to keep Philadelphians safe and traffic moving smoothly,' Jim Kenney, the city's mayor, said.
'Thanks to these cameras, we are increasing efficiency in our streets to make our city even more accessible.'
The city says 152 SEPTA buses and 38 trolleys will get the ticketing tech.
On April 15, the city started sending warning tickets to drivers caught by the buses. They will replace the warnings with full-blown tickets starting May 7.
The $76 fines are for drivers caught near the Center City, while car owners illegally parked in other neighborhoods will face $51 fines.
New York City's MTA launched the automated camera enforcement (ACE) program that also mounted cameras onto hundreds of buses that monitor parking infractions.
The city will send tickets up to $76 to car owners starting May 7
Los Angeles also popped the cameras onto public buses last year. Officials announced the tech generated $1.6 million in payments from around 10,000 citations.
But as rule enforcement agencies are turning toward more technology to aid their enforcement, drivers are responding with other illegal tricks.
New York officials launched a crackdown on drivers removing their license plates from the back of their vehicles.
Without the plates, New York's buses — and its controversial Congestion Pricing tolls in Manhattan — are not able to assign fees to car owners.
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