Sacramento drivers who illegally stop or park in bike lanes could now receive a $150 citation as the city begins enforcement through a new AI-assisted parking program.The effort is in response to concerns about cyclists going into traffic, reduced visibility and parked cars becoming hazards for students and families. City officials said the program is intended to improve street safety by keeping bike lanes clear for cyclists, including children traveling to and from school.The city launched the program May 13 with a 60-day warning period intended to educate drivers about the new enforcement approach. Starting Monday, warnings will be replaced with citations.Three city parking enforcement vehicles have been equipped with cameras and AI-assisted technology designed to identify vehicles illegally blocking bike lanes.The initial rollout will place additional emphasis on school zones in District 1, including parts of Natomas. City leaders said they have received frequent complaints about drivers illegally stopping or parking near schools in those areas.Enforcement around campuses has previously been limited by staffing shortages, the timing of violations and the large number of drivers stopping during busy school arrival and dismissal periods.Sacramento City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan said the new enforcement will keep the community safer because vehicles blocking bike lanes can force children and other cyclists into moving traffic.“Cars have to swerve around . What if somebody is coming the other way? There may not be enough space left for two cars. If you have a kid riding their bike? They have to swerve out traffic,” Kaplan said.Some parents said the program could serve as a wake-up call for drivers who block bike lanes, even if they are only stopping for a short time.“I think that’s really good,” parent Diego Sandoval said. “As a parent of kids who use their bikes pretty often, it’s nice to know they won’t have to swerve out of the way into traffic because the bike lanes will be clear for them to use.”Sandoval said the $150 fine could encourage drivers to pay closer attention to where they stop and park.“We hear about way too many accidents of kids falling or being in the way of traffic,” Sandoval said. “People need to pay more attention to where they’re parking and how they’re parking.”Other parents support the safety goal but worry the fine could be difficult for some families.“I feel like the price itself is a bit steep,” parent Avery White said. “That could be a lot of money for households, especially with the economy the way it is.”White also questioned whether the 60-day warning period gave enough drivers an opportunity to learn about the program, particularly because much of the rollout took place during the summer.“Not everybody is going to have that experience in 60 days,” White said. “People have been traveling, it’s been summer and not everybody maybe has gotten that notice.”The expansion builds on Sacramento’s existing automated enforcement partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit, targeting vehicles blocking bus stops and bike lanes.Since February 2025, the program has recorded 32,478 bus stop violations and 25,312 bike lane violations, according to city officials. 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 | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google

Sacramento drivers who illegally stop or park in bike lanes could now receive a $150 citation as the city begins enforcement through a new AI-assisted parking program.

The effort is in response to concerns about cyclists going into traffic, reduced visibility and parked cars becoming hazards for students and families. City officials said the program is intended to improve street safety by keeping bike lanes clear for cyclists, including children traveling to and from school.

The city launched the program May 13 with a 60-day warning period intended to educate drivers about the new enforcement approach. Starting Monday, warnings will be replaced with citations.

Three city parking enforcement vehicles have been equipped with cameras and AI-assisted technology designed to identify vehicles illegally blocking bike lanes.

The initial rollout will place additional emphasis on school zones in District 1, including parts of Natomas. City leaders said they have received frequent complaints about drivers illegally stopping or parking near schools in those areas.

Enforcement around campuses has previously been limited by staffing shortages, the timing of violations and the large number of drivers stopping during busy school arrival and dismissal periods.

Sacramento City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan said the new enforcement will keep the community safer because vehicles blocking bike lanes can force children and other cyclists into moving traffic.

“Cars [who are driving] have to swerve around [parked cars]. What if somebody is coming the other way? There may not be enough space left for two cars. If you have a kid riding their bike? They have to swerve out [into] traffic,” Kaplan said.

Some parents said the program could serve as a wake-up call for drivers who block bike lanes, even if they are only stopping for a short time.

“I think that’s really good,” parent Diego Sandoval said. “As a parent of kids who use their bikes pretty often, it’s nice to know they won’t have to swerve out of the way into traffic because the bike lanes will be clear for them to use.”

Sandoval said the $150 fine could encourage drivers to pay closer attention to where they stop and park.

“We hear about way too many accidents of kids falling or being in the way of traffic,” Sandoval said. “People need to pay more attention to where they’re parking and how they’re parking.”

Other parents support the safety goal but worry the fine could be difficult for some families.

“I feel like the price itself is a bit steep,” parent Avery White said. “That could be a lot of money for households, especially with the economy the way it is.”

White also questioned whether the 60-day warning period gave enough drivers an opportunity to learn about the program, particularly because much of the rollout took place during the summer.

“Not everybody is going to have that experience in 60 days,” White said. “People have been traveling, it’s been summer and not everybody maybe has gotten that notice.”

The expansion builds on Sacramento’s existing automated enforcement partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit, targeting vehicles blocking bus stops and bike lanes.

Since February 2025, the program has recorded 32,478 bus stop violations and 25,312 bike lane violations, according to city officials.

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 | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google