Santa Monica will begin using artificial intelligence-powered cameras to automatically ticket drivers who illegally park in bus lanes starting July 1, marking the latest expansion of AI surveillance technology across the coastal city.
The Big Blue Bus system will deploy Hayden AI camera systems on buses to detect and cite vehicles blocking designated bus lanes and stops, city officials announced. The technology uses computer vision and advanced analytics to capture evidence of parking violations, which are then reviewed by human officers before citations are issued.
The enforcement program follows a successful 45-day pilot test conducted earlier this year along Lincoln Boulevard, where the city operates a designated bus-only lane. During the trial period, the AI system detected 511 parking violations without issuing actual tickets. The location with the most violations was southbound Lincoln Boulevard near Grant Street, where 90 infractions were recorded.
Santa Monica's bus lane enforcement represents part of a broader push to integrate AI surveillance technology into city operations. A second pilot program is already underway in the downtown area, where AI-equipped cameras provide continuous monitoring at trouble spots, with trained staff watching live feeds around the clock.
The downtown surveillance system aims to deter crimes such as trespassing, theft and vandalism by allowing monitoring staff to engage with potential intruders through loudspeakers, issuing warnings before law enforcement intervention.
The bus-mounted cameras include forward-facing equipment and license plate readers that generate encrypted evidence packages when violations are detected. The system focuses solely on vehicle violations and does not use facial recognition technology, according to company officials.
Cities nationwide using similar bus lane enforcement technology report significant improvements in transit operations. Municipal data shows bus speeds increasing by 36% and collision rates dropping by 34% on routes with automated enforcement, according to Hayden AI.
Santa Monica joins major metropolitan areas including New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., in deploying bus-mounted camera enforcement. The technology addresses a persistent problem that slows bus service and prevents vehicles from reaching curbs, making boarding difficult for passengers, particularly those with disabilities.
The Big Blue Bus system serves 13.3 million riders annually across Santa Monica's 58-square-mile service area. Hayden AI has installed more than 650 camera systems on buses throughout the country and contracts with transit agencies from Oakland to Philadelphia.
In New York City, where the technology has operated since 2019, 86% of violators never receive a second citation, suggesting the cameras effectively change driver behavior. Los Angeles Metro's pilot program issued 5,500 citations in its first month of operation, nearly ten times the number previously issued citywide in a month.
The Santa Monica program will begin with a warning period before full enforcement takes effect. Officials emphasize that fine revenues will be reinvested in transit and safety programs, with the ultimate goal of reducing violations to near zero as drivers adapt to the new enforcement.
