[TRANSIT] Watch out for Utica Avenue bus lane tickets!

See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.

By Julianne Cuba

Brooklyn Daily

Consider yourselves warned!

The city installed cameras pointed at the new B46 Select Bus Service bus-only lane on Utica Avenue and it has begun ticketing drivers who use the lane between 7 am and 7pm when it is supposed to be used by public transit alone.

A similar camera roll-out on Nostrand Avenue caused chaos two years ago, because the city let drivers rack up piles of tickets before actually sending them out — which drivers griped was a “gotcha” move used to raise cash. A local pol is promising that won’t happen this time, but he is asking the city to give people a little leeway rather than fining them second bus-lane enforcement starts for the day.

“Give a grace period — the first five minutes and last five minutes,” said Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D–Sheepshead Bay). “No two watches have the same time. So if someone’s watch is 6:59 and DOT’s camera timer is already 7 am, it shouldn’t give someone a violation.”

The B46 Select Bus travels from Marine Park to Bushwick, and the city started issuing violations on Sept. 9 for drivers who use the lane at forbidden times.

Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 260–4577 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @julcuba.

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[TRANSIT] Watch out for Utica Avenue bus lane tickets! : Brooklyn Daily