The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will begin mailing warning notices Monday to the registered owners of vehicles detected illegally parked in bus lanes or at bus stops by cameras mounted on DASH buses, the agency announced Thursday.
Warnings will be issued for the first 60 days of the automated enforcement program, with citations requiring payment beginning Jan. 2, 2027,according to the department.
Two forward-facing cameras mounted behind the windshields of DASH buses will automatically detect and record vehicles obstructing bus lanes and bus stops. All potential parking violations will be reviewed by LADOT personnel before citations are issued, officials said.
Payment plans are available to people with low incomes, according to the department.
“As Mayor, my focus remains on building a transit system that Angelenos deserve and demonstrating that Los Angeles can operate an effective, world-class transit system,” Mayor Karen Bass said. “By leveraging this new technology, we’re ensuring that buses arrive on time, are accessible to everyone, and connect communities to opportunities.’”
LADOT General Manager Laura Rubio-Cornejo said vehicles blocking bus stops can prevent operators from safely deploying wheelchair ramps and force buses into general traffic.
“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,” Rubio-Cornejo said.
DASH joins Metro, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus and Culver City Bus in using bus-mounted cameras to enforce parking restrictions in bus lanes and at bus stops.
According to LADOT, Santa Monica recorded a 52% decrease in bus-lane parking violations and a 40% decrease in bus-stop parking violations in March 2026 compared with August 2025, the first full month in which unpaid warnings were issued.
Similar technology is also used in New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Sacramento and the East Bay. LADOT said the technology has increased bus speeds by as much as 36% on some congested road segments in New York City, and 91% of violators there have not received a second ticket.
