hoboken

Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken today announced the launch of CLEAR, a new Vision Zero initiative that uses automated camera enforcement to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, by reducing illegal parking, and easing traffic congestion along Washington Street for emergency vehicles and commuters.

CLEAR, which stands for Camera-based License plate Enforcement for Access & Response times, is designed to address longstanding issues of unsafe and illegal double parking in bike lanes, parking violations in bus stops, and improper and prolonged use of loading zones. The initiative seeks to protect all road users, including cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians, by clearing blocked travel lanes, improving intersection visibility, and reducing delays caused by vehicles obstructing critical areas of the roadway.  

As part of the rollout, the City will begin a public education campaign to inform residents, commuters, and businesses of the new enforcement procedures. Automated enforcement will officially begin on Oct. 1, 2025.  

The system will rely on cameras authorized by the Hoboken City Council in 2024, which will capture images of vehicles parked illegally along Washington Street between Observer Highway and Eighth Street. These images will be reviewed by staff from the Hoboken Parking Utility, who will determine whether a summons is warranted. If a violation is confirmed, a citation will be issued by mail to the registered vehicle owner.

The introduction of CLEAR is a direct response to community feedback and empirical data showing significant safety and congestion concerns caused by parking violations. Hoboken’s Vision Zero Action Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2021, includes two related action items. Recent curb usage data, collected over several months, revealed that illegal parking is both widespread and disruptive. According to the findings,  

• Bike lanes were blocked for an average of 4.5 hours per day at each monitored location
• 68 double parking violations occurred daily per location
• Bus stop blocked an average of 158 times per day per location
• 54 percent of loading zone usage was found to be in violation of City code
• Only about 6 percent of violations from March to August involved Residential Parking Permit holders.

These behaviors have not only reduced the efficiency of the street but have created hazardous conditions for all users, including bus riders, who must load and unload in travel or bike lanes, and motorists, who must navigate into oncoming traffic around double parked vehicles.

The City also recently conducted a public survey of Hoboken residents and stakeholders to assess their concerns about illegal parking.  

• 75 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that double parking causes serious safety issues.  
• 71 percent of respondents supported regulations of parking in bus stops
• 68 percent of respondents believed the City should increase enforcement of double parking violations along Washington Street  
• 89 percent of cyclists reported that they regularly encounter double parked cars in bike lanes, forcing them into traffic  

A key takeaway from the survey was the need for safer cycling infrastructure. By providing clear bike lanes, free from double parking, the CLEAR initiative will help reduce the need for cyclists and e-bike users to resort to riding on sidewalks, providing them with a safer and more effective space to ride.  

Respondents also submitted dozens of comments echoing these concerns, with many noting that double parked vehicles obstruct sightlines at crosswalks, force delivery trucks into bike lanes, and significantly increase the risk of crashes.

“Double parked cars on Washington Street make it difficult to cross the street safely — especially with children — by obscuring views of oncoming traffic," wrote one respondent. Another wrote: "Attempting to navigate Washington at any hour via bicycle is an exercise in swerving. The vast majority of my trips involve a double parked car on EVERY SINGLE BLOCK."

The feedback from commercial delivery drivers, who participated in the City’s “Curb Reimagined” survey, further supported the need for stronger enforcement. All delivery professionals responding to the survey indicated that the lack of parking enforcement in Hoboken is an “extreme issue.” Among all respondents, 61 percent said that curbside violations represent either an extreme or major concern. Common complaints cited dangerous conditions created by double parked vehicles and an overall lack of turnover in short-term parking zones, which are vital for deliveries and quick stops negatively impacting businesses.  

“The results of the survey are clear: Hoboken residents want a safer, more efficient Washington Street,” said Mayor Bhalla. “We cannot and must not wait for a serious injury or fatality caused by double parking in bike lanes or blocked crosswalks. The time to act is now, and the CLEAR initiative is our response. I understand that enforcement is often unpopular, but when the data and public sentiment show that certain behaviors are putting lives at risk, we have a responsibility to act. I want to thank the Department of Transportation & Parking, the Hoboken Parking Utility, and everyone in our administration who helped bring this initiative to life in service of public safety.”  

Camera-based enforcement has been shown to be highly effective at changing driver behavior. In other cities where similar programs have been implemented, including Philadelphia, Miami, and Pittsburgh, 87 percent of violators did not receive a second citation, indicating a significant drop in repeat offenses.

In addition to its safety benefits, CLEAR will also help improve operational efficiency. The automated enforcement system will allow HPU to redeploy staff to other areas of the city where parking enforcement is needed, while also freeing up police officers to focus on other enforcement initiatives instead of issuing tickets for common violations like double parking. This reallocation of resources will support broader traffic safety goals and allow for more responsive enforcement citywide.

For more information on the CLEAR program, including an FAQ, please visit hobokennj.gov/automated-enforcement.