Hoboken will begin using automated cameras to issue parking tickets and ease traffic congestion starting Oct. 1, city officials announced Friday.
The cameras will target vehicles illegally double-parked, blocking bike lanes, stopped in bus zones, or misusing loading zones along Washington Street between Observer Highway and Eighth Street.
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The rollout follows a public education campaign and stems from troubling data on parking violations. According to the city, bike lanes were blocked an average of 4.5 hours daily at monitored sites, bus stops were blocked 158 times a day, and 68 double-parking violations were documented daily per location. Additionally, more than half of loading zone use—54%—was deemed illegal.
“Hoboken residents want a safer, more efficient Washington Street,” Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla said. “We cannot and must not wait for a serious injury or fatality caused by double parking in bike lanes or blocked crosswalks.”
Authorized by the Hoboken City Council in 2024, the system will capture images of illegally parked cars. Staff from the Hoboken Parking Utility will review the footage before mailing citations to registered vehicle owners.
Support for the program is strong: a city survey found 75% of respondents believe double parking creates serious safety risks, while 89% of cyclists reported being forced into traffic by cars blocking bike lanes.
Similar programs in Philadelphia, Miami, and Pittsburgh have proven effective, with 87% of violators not receiving a second ticket, officials noted.
For more details on Hoboken’s CLEAR program, including an FAQ, residents can visit hobokennj.gov/automated-enforcement.
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