NYC Violation Code 7B: Bus Lane Camera Violation
Camera violation · $115 base fine · 4-stage penalty escalation
Fine Breakdown
Base Fine
$115
Maximum (before judgment)
$190
Penalty Escalation Timeline
Base Fine
$115
At issue
+$25 Late Penalty
$140
After 30 days
+$50 Late Penalty
$190
After 60 days
Judgment Entered
$190
After 75 days
Quick Tip
Bus lane cameras have specific operating hours. Check if the violation occurred during restricted hours and verify the camera warning signs were posted. If you were making a legal right turn within 200 feet of an intersection, this is a valid defense.
When this ticket gets issued
Code 7B is a bus-lane camera violation issued automatically when an NYC MTA or DOT camera photographs a vehicle in a designated bus lane during restricted hours. The camera captures the vehicle traveling in or standing in the lane outside the permitted exceptions (legal right turns within 200 feet of an intersection, active commercial loading in specific lanes). The ticket is mailed to the registered owner under owner liability. Fleets see code 7B when drivers use bus lanes for travel, when loading occurs in a bus-lane stretch, or when drivers misjudge the posted hours.
How to fight code 7B
Vehicle was in the bus lane outside restricted camera hours
Check the posted sign hours against the camera time-stamp. If the camera captured your vehicle outside restricted enforcement hours, the ticket is invalid. Photograph the sign showing hours and note the ticket time in your dispute. This is one of the strongest defenses on bus-lane camera tickets.
Evidence to bring: written_account, photo_of_sign
Camera warning signs were not posted
NYC is required to post camera warning signs on bus-lane corridors. If signs were absent or obscured on the date of the violation, photograph the scene and request DOT sign-placement records. Missing camera-warning signs have produced dismissals — the statute requires notice.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_location, photo_of_sign
Vehicle was stolen at the time
Submit the police report filed before the camera incident plus recovery documentation. Stolen-vehicle status predating the violation is a recognized defense on camera tickets. Include precinct and report number.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Wrong plate number on the ticket
Request the camera images and compare the plate to your registration. OCR errors on bus-lane cameras are common because vehicles are often captured at angles. A plate mismatch means the ticket was sent to the wrong owner and should be dismissed.
Evidence to bring: photo_of_plate, photo_of_registration
Ticket contains errors (wrong date, time, location, or vehicle description)
Verify the cited bus lane is actually camera-enforced and that the time falls within restricted hours. If the driver was making a legal right turn within 200 feet of an intersection, the camera footage should show the turn and the ticket is defective.
Evidence to bring: written_account
I was not the driver / owner at the time (camera violations)
Owner liability applies. This defense is rarely successful on bus-lane camera tickets. Focus your dispute on the stronger paths above. Use this only paired with a theft report or clear plate-error finding.
Evidence to bring: written_account
Frequently Asked Questions
My driver made a legal right turn and got a 7B ticket anyway — how do I fight that?
Request the camera footage and show the vehicle was within 200 feet of the intersection preparing to turn. The right-turn exception is codified; if the footage supports the turn, hearing officers dismiss. Also check whether the intersection actually allows right on the cross street.
Are bus lane cameras active 24/7, or only during rush hours?
Posted signs govern. Most bus lanes in NYC are camera-enforced during specific hours (often weekday peak periods), though some select routes are 24/7. If your 7B ticket was issued outside posted enforcement hours, photograph the sign and attach to the dispute. This is a common successful defense.
Does owner liability mean I cannot fight a 7B ticket by naming the driver?
Correct for the city's purposes — naming the driver does not shift liability. However, internally your fleet can recover the fine from the driver through payroll or policy. The city holds the registered owner responsible for the $115 fine regardless of driver identity.
What this means for commercial fleets
Code 7B is the most expensive common camera violation at $115 per ticket, and routes through bus-lane corridors accumulate them fast. Route planning should avoid bus lanes during restricted hours whenever possible, and drivers should be trained on the right-turn exception. Telematics lane-position data combined with camera-ticket records identifies habitual bus-lane users for targeted coaching. A 50-vehicle fleet can easily see $10,000 in annual 7B tickets without discipline.
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Disclaimer: Clear Plates is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The information on this page is general educational content about NYC violation code 7B and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney. Defenses, evidence strategies, and hearing outcomes depend on facts specific to each ticket. For legal advice about a specific violation, consult a qualified attorney licensed in New York.