Exclusive look at technology CTA will use to record blocking of bus, bike lanes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Drivers beware.

If you're parked in a bus or bike lane starting Wednesday, you could face fines if you're spotted by new technology on select CTA buses.

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The CTA is rolling out six buses with new artificial intelligence cameras designed to capture video when a driver is parked in a bus or bike lane.

The buses are equipped with Automated Bus Lane Enforcement technology, or ABLE for short, from Hayden AI.

The buses using the technology will have an on-board processor along with two windshield-mounted cameras.

After the violations are recorded, the Chicago Department of Transportation reviews the video to issue warnings or fines.

I think anyone who spends time, especially in dense downtown area, could attest that there's a lot of parking behavior, people parked illegally in bus lanes and in bike lanes, which, as you know, provides a, most importantly, a safety hazard for people, whether having to cut back into traffic, but also one vehicle illegally stopped in a bus lane can slow down traffic for a bus full of commuters," CDOT Director of Public Affairs Erica Schroeder said. "It's been a problem in Chicago and we're just hoping that this, you know, helps improve that enforcement."

The ABLE technology was previously used on eight transportation and finance department vehicles, leading to 11,000 warnings and nearly 1,400 violations.

Drivers get a warning on their first offense before a fine is issued.

With the six CTA buses now in play, Chicago will join other major cities like New York in using the technology.