Maryland state legislature have proposed creating "Bus Lane Monitoring Cameras" which would fine drivers $100 for illegally using bus-only lanes.
Two bills, HB0749 in the House and HB0551 in the Senate are sponsored by four politicians and would fine vehicle owners who are caught on these proposed new cameras. New York City claims that installing a series of bus lane monitoring cameras resulted in a revenue of $17 million in 2016.
Supporters of the two bills say the cameras and fines would result in an increase in safety and increased bus route efficiency, while others argue that there is not enough evidence to support the claim in increased safety and that the cameras are invasive to privacy for non-safety reasons.
Public comments on the issue show concern that people would get fined for moving into the bus lanes to accommodate emergency vehicles and that the city's existing red light cameras are plagued with issues.
If the bills pass, the cameras would most likely appear in Baltimore City first.
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