ASHLEY ZAVALA WILL BE IN COURT AND BRING US ANY DEVELOPMENTS AS THEY HAPPEN. MEANTIME, THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO WARNING RESIDENTS NOT TO BLOCK BIKE LANES, PARKING. SO STARTING TODAY, THEY HAVE A NEW WAY TO KEEP DRIVERS FROM DOING JUST THAT. LET’S GO TO KCRA 3’S ERIN HEFT LIVE FROM NATOMAS WITH MORE ON THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL HELP ENFORCE PARKING RULES. YEAH. GOOD MORNING GUYS. IF YOU PARK IN SACRAMENTO, YOUR PARKING CITATION MIGHT BE COMING FROM A VEHICLE THAT USES STRICTLY AI. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE BIKE LANES. AND IT STARTS TODAY. BUT THAT TICKET WOULDN’T HIT YOU QUITE YET. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT IT. SACRAMENTO IS EXPANDING AUTOMATED PARKING ENFORCEMENT. THIS NEW TECH WILL BE USING AI ASSISTED ENFORCEMENT CARS IN THE CITY. THEY HAVE THREE OF THEM. BASICALLY, THE NEW TECH FINDS CARS ILLEGALLY BLOCKING BIKE LANES, SPECIFICALLY NEAR SCHOOL ZONES. AT THE TIME BEING, THE CARS WILL BE OUT STARTING TODAY AND YOU’LL GET A WARNING FOR THE TIME BEING, LETTING YOU KNOW THE RULES THAT ARE NOW IN PLAY, BUT THAT ALL CHANGES IN 60 DAYS BECAUSE COME JULY 13TH, REAL TICKETS WILL GO OUT THE GOAL. WELL, THE CITY SAYS IT’S ALL ABOUT SAFETY SINCE BLOCKING BIKE LANES FOR CYCLISTS INTO TRAFFIC. BACK OUT HERE LIVE COUNCIL MEMBER LISA KAPLAN PUSHED FOR THIS TO ROLL OUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE DISTRICT THAT I STAND IN RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS DISTRICT ONE, NEXT TO SCHOOL ZONES AND THE BIKE LANES. SO BE AWARE OF WHERE YOU’RE PARKING THAT CITATION. IT’S PRICEY. BACK TO YOU GUYS. ERIN, THANKS SO MUCH. AND SPEAKING OF THA
Sacramento launches AI parking enforcement to target bike lane violations near schools
Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who has advocated for the safety improvements, said the program is intended to make neighborhoods safer for children walking and biking to school.
Updated: 11:29 AM PDT May 14, 2026
The City of Sacramento is rolling out a new AI-assisted parking enforcement program aimed at improving street safety, especially around school zones.Starting May 13, the city began deploying three enforcement vehicles equipped with AI technology to identify cars illegally stopped or parked in bike lanes. Officials say the effort is designed to address a growing safety concern, as blocked bike lanes can force cyclists into traffic, reduce visibility and create hazards for students and families.For the first 60 days, drivers who violate the rules will receive warnings instead of citations while the city conducts public outreach and education. Actual citations are set to begin on July 13.The initial rollout will place special emphasis on school zones in District 1, Natomas, where city leaders say complaints about illegal parking have been frequent. Enforcement in those areas has previously been limited by staffing shortages, timing and the high number of violations during busy school travel hours.Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who has advocated for the safety improvements, said the program is intended to make neighborhoods safer for children walking and biking to school.City officials say the expanded enforcement program will improve visibility, reduce conflicts on the road, and support safer streets across Sacramento.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The City of Sacramento is rolling out a new AI-assisted parking enforcement program aimed at improving street safety, especially around school zones.
Starting May 13, the city began deploying three enforcement vehicles equipped with AI technology to identify cars illegally stopped or parked in bike lanes. Officials say the effort is designed to address a growing safety concern, as blocked bike lanes can force cyclists into traffic, reduce visibility and create hazards for students and families.
For the first 60 days, drivers who violate the rules will receive warnings instead of citations while the city conducts public outreach and education. Actual citations are set to begin on July 13.
The initial rollout will place special emphasis on school zones in District 1, Natomas, where city leaders say complaints about illegal parking have been frequent. Enforcement in those areas has previously been limited by staffing shortages, timing and the high number of violations during busy school travel hours.
Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who has advocated for the safety improvements, said the program is intended to make neighborhoods safer for children walking and biking to school.
City officials say the expanded enforcement program will improve visibility, reduce conflicts on the road, and support safer streets across Sacramento.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel