WASHINGTON — Are you driving in D.C.'s bus lanes or blocking bus stops with your vehicle? The District plans to start fining you $100 starting Wednesday.
The Clear Lanes Initiative is a program implemented by D.C. and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to help keep the "bus-only" lanes clear of commercial vehicles.
WMATA added cameras to each Metrobus that runs along the 31 routes with bus-only lanes, totaling 140 cameras.
The cameras will take pictures of cars parked, stopped or driving in the bus-only lane and record videos of the license plates. Drivers who violate the new traffic law will be fined $100 for being parked or stopped in a bus zone or for driving in a bus lane. The money collected from the fines will go towards the D.C. general fund.
The fines were supposed to go into effect in September but were delayed. DC Council passed emergency legislation last week to speed up the start of enforcement against vehicles.
DC Councilmember Charles Allen said that the legislation resolves a concern raised by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) about an inconsistency between the fine for blocking a bus stop ($100) and blocking a bus lane (originally $200) by setting both fines at $100.
“We can’t keep kicking the can on enforcement at the expense of faster and predictable service and traffic safety. Bus riders – who include everyone from students to service workers to seniors to office workers – are tired of always being stuck in traffic when a car double parks without regard to the people around them,” said Allen. “My hope is we see the Clear Lanes Program begin as soon as possible. DC has provided months of warning notices, and the painted red lanes are pretty clear in the first place. We’re making the investments. It’s time to speed up the bus.”
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